The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
DRILL NINE WELLS
 IN NFAYETTEF|ELD Providence Company Gets
 5O,OOO Acres More TO MAKE FULL TEST President Frank Nelson, Jr, Issues Statement Informing the Public
 About the Work That Is
 Now Being Done

That the Providence oil and Gas com- pany would immediately start drilling nino new gas wells, and that the com pany had secured 5o,OOO acres in addition to the present large holdings, was the announcement made yesterday by Pres ident Frank Nelson. Jr.. of that com pany.
 In addressing a formal statement to tine public, MT. Nelson says that he real izes that the people of Birmingham are entitled 10 know what is being done with the Fayette gas properties. He said that the development of the gas holdings was of extreme importance to every man, woman and child here. and he anticipates the acute interest by ad- vising them of the recent visit of R. H. Baker of Dallas, Tex, who owns more stock than any other one man in com pany.
 The statement of MT. Nelson follows:
 R H. Baker, president of the Texas Central railroad accompanied by his private secretary, reached here Tues day morning.
 "He Is the largest stockholder and a director of the Providence Oil and Gas company. and came to Birmingham to talk over the affairs of the company with the president and to make a per sonal inspection of the property.
 "On Wednesday, accompanied by w. II. Hassinger, H. w. Coffin, w. R. Brown E. l.. Brown and myself, he went to the gas fields at Fayette and spent the day in going over the property and consulting with the directors about fur ther developments.
 MT. Armstrong of Pittsburg. superin- charge of the operations, was with them. MT. Armstrong is one of the most ex- per.enced and practical gas mep in the United States and was brought here to develop the field. For several months he has been getting things in shape. studying the situation with a view of inn proving the field.
 MT. Baker and the other directors were exceedingly pleased over the situ- aton and decided to commence opera tions on a large scale immediately. The contract to drill four new wells was let a few weeks since and the work on them has already started On yesterday a contract was let for five additional wells, making total of nine wells to be drilled Immediately.
 Tt is felt by the new management that this work will thoroughly prove the field and it is confidently expected that within a short time a pipe line to Blr- mingham will be arranged. "The most important result of MT. Bakers visit, however. was the arrange ment whereby the Providence Oil and Gas company will come into possession of some 50,O00 acres of land, all situated Tn the right location from the wells and carefully selected with reference to gas and oil prospects.
 "A meeting of the stockholders will be called to pass on this matter
 "rhe one weak point with the Provi- dence Oil and Gas company heretofore was the fact that It was feared that it's territory was too limited. With this overcome, and with it's affairs in the hands of careful and capable business men, who have invested their own money in the enterprise, and who have faith in it's future, it would seem that Bir- mingham and the district will soon see the gas fields fully developed
 The directors are R. H. Baker, w. H. Hassinger, w. R. Brown, R. E. Col lins, H. w Coffin. E. l.. Brown, H. G. Woodward. J. L. Davidson and myself"