The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-05-26
WORK TO BEGIN SOON.
Great Things in Store for Vim
lta DOwingviIle OIL and
Gas Company to Drill
2,000-FOOt Well,

tions Is, l6, q, -, township %, range
20, east, "a model little city called
Vinita-but what lies beneath the
surface has thus far been mystery.
True, an inexhaustable supply Of
delightful artesian water Is flowing
from score or more wells, all of which
are five hundred feet and over in depth.
And it is also true that In the drill
ing of each Of these wells a quantity
Of gas end oil has been encountered
II Is likewise a fact that no especial
and well directed effort has been made
to further develop these oil and gas
deposits.
Recourse TO shooting has never been
had for various reasons, the principal
one being that well owners were after
water and having obtained that, did
not care to incur the fancied danger
from the explosion OF nitro-glycerine.
Butasystematica and thorough search
for oil and gas is now to be prosecuted
by the Downingville OH and Gas Co.
a. contract has been let on the favor
y ble terms Of si.25 foot for any depth
short Of the Mississippi limestone,
which has thus far defed the assaults
OF drlllers The expectation Is that
1900 feet can and viii be accomplished,
If it Is found necessary to go TO that
depth.
a derrick 90 feet high will be re-
Quired and work on hisstructure was
begun Friday, and viii require ten days
TO build. BY the time work on the
derrick is completed the contractor
expects 20 have his machinery here and
be ready to begin drilling and expects
to be able 70 make 100 feet a day.
The large timbers for the derrick
will be cut and hewn In the woods, In
order TO save time.
The experts are all agreed that along
Bull creek IS the most likely place to
drill, and as the identical spot upon
which to begin op rations one Of the
lsbell lots near the old mill. IN the
eartern extremity OF the city, has
been selected.
The plan advised, and the one that
will probably be followed, Is 70 shoot
the well as soon as the oil prospect is
disclosed; aud oil experts hazard the
prediction that from that moment
Vinita Will be permanently placed IN
the oil producing belt that IS adding
millions annually 10 the income Of
southeastern Kansas and the Indian
Territory.
The theory Of these experts Is that
the water, drill cuttings, aud othe-
obstructlonshave heretofore prevented
.he sfl from flowing. However that
may be, we are soon to know for good
and all II OIL or gas IS not found at
the aftesian water level the water viii
be cased out and drilling continued.
That gas, al least, will be found In
quantity is hardly to be doubted, as
every well heretofore drilled IN the
city has disclosed fair flow, and from
some Of them the gas supply IS being
utilized for heating and lighting pur.
poses.
II Is needless 70 speculate on what
the present effort means to Vinita,
nor are the most extrayagant flights OF
fancy likely to exagerate the possibili-
ties OF the towns advancement within
tie next few months.
In this connection the Chieitain
wishes 70 counsel against the tendency
already manifestlng itself in the with
holding Of city property from sale TO
men who come here TO locate and IN
vest. As between two citizens OF the
town holding a lot for speculation,
other parties have no interest: but 40
new or prospective resident leave town
because the price Of lots Is too high.