Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-13
Sights in the Great Oil
and Gas Region.
John Quill Tells Of Travels in
Indian Territory.
Welcomed Everywhere With a Band and
Used Like a Prince.

train returned to Guthrie in the early
leycning, where we sidetracked ana were
the recipient of many acts of courte-
sizes from the people, little things that
go to make life pleasant. We We're
scheduled to leave Guthrie, over the
KATY system at p. NJ. but owing TO
the strenuous life we had led the train
crew, the decided that little much
needed rest was the proper thing SO
we had chance once more
to test our friends hospitality
until long after midnight, or
until tired nature asserted itself and
we rolled in. Sometime between mid
night and dawn, l awoke to feel the
motion of the train and hear the rum
bic of the wheels as we reeled off mile
after mile of our journey toward the
Gateway of the territory.
Morning found us in Cleveland, the
oil city of Oklahoma, Il city that mas
sprung up like magic. almost III 4
night, Il city whose development and
growth is simply phenomenal, ana
whose story as told by its people reads
like chapter from the Arabian
Nights. Her people believe in ClcVe-
land, and her future. and oil is the
keystone Of the arch of her prosperity.
Fortunes are made in IL day, as the
Hon. r. L. Lunsford, very APPLY said,
in his able address OF welcome. I'VE
get three crops in year, here IT.
Cleveland two off the surface of the
earth and one from underneath"
"A little over year ago Cleveland
WIS hardly plotted out on the map,
La, loud of doubtful w Inc few
stra ggling houses here and there.
Along came a prospector, who bored
for oil. struck it, the news spread like
a prairie fire, and the boom was on
Today. Cleveland is one of the richest
oil fields in the southwest. Its popula-
ton is $500, an increase in one year OF
something like 400 per cent. She has
200 gushers in operation and her daily
output or production is 1900 barrels
of oil. Next came the gas discovery,
and Cleveland. today, has ten gas
wells. with an average production OF
100, 900, 900 feet. From an abscure out
post she became a bustlng. busy city,
prospcctOrS and capitalists flocked in,
lumber and building material were in
demand, the NJ. X. T. & r. r. (KatO
recognized her natural resources, and
bright future, pushed their line
through and made Cleveland a part of
the Katy system.
The lean-to's, or builtin-a might
buildings one story with square
front, are fast disappearing, good solid
substantial buildings are taking their
places. Modern up-to-date blocks OF
wood and brick, line the side of the
business streets. Immense ware
houses have been erected, and the baby
town Of IA months ago has shed her
SWaddling clothes and blooms out with
| long frocks. On the arrival of our
special, the entire population of the
town turned out to bid us welcome,
banners and streamcrs were floating
from STATS and flag poles. and bunting
fcstuned buildings. Under the es-
ccrt of committee headed by the
Cornet band. we marched through the
gayIy decorated streets to the hotels
to breakfast, and at A. NJ, we as
Sembled at the corner of Prairie ana
Division street, where the Hon. r. l..
Iunsford delivered the address of well
come. Then came the shooting the
oil wells 100 quarts of nitro glycerine
being used. The wells had been
drilled to a depth of 1850 feet, and had
| been prepared for shooting i'll honor OF
our visit First came the Ohio and IN
Giana Oil and Gas Co.'S NO. 8, followed
| in olick succession by the Kansas Ma
tional Oil Co.'S No. 5. and James Tay-
| lor. No. l. To the tenderfoot, whose
experience had been limited to paying
fifteen cents for the finished product, 1t
was quite sight An oil well is ra-
| Their a curious looking object, the SPIN
die or frame work over the well runs
| up some so or - feet and consists or
open frame work some thirty FOOT
square at the base and comes to a
point at or near the top like an i'm
meuse derrick. Inside the frame work
| is the pipe and machinery connecting
with the we'll below. Power is fur
nishcd by a stationary engine. located
some 100 feet back from the well. For
fuel they use the crude oil, as it comes
/ from the earth.
An oil outfit complete and ready to
commence operations stands the own
| er approximately, $4,000. Some outfits
will exceed this amount. others Will go
a tritie under, but $4,000 is about the
average. Standing on a little rising
ground and looking over the city,
| Cleveland presents rather an odd APP
| pearancc. The oil spindles look like
| church steeplcs. Adjoining the COD
work. at the surface Of the we'll are
immense tanks. some 40 feet in cir
conference to receive and hold the
oil as it gushes forth. The wells are
also pped directly to the railroad
where Il long train Of tank cars receive
It and freight it to the refinery. The
earth all through this section seems to
be saturated with oil. little pools of it
standing here and there. We waited
for the adjustment of the wires and
the touching of the button, then the
warning was given and we FASTENED
ND to windward out of harms way.
The superintendent touched the button,
and a solid column of oil shot hun
drnds of feet in the air. The modus
operandi of shooting the other wells
was practically the same.
Having seen Cleveland and her