The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-05-23

ASSuUltu ItSSCSSioli IN sShJ
Time Preceded This Stage OF Final
Aareement-Well Men of Note and
Prominence on the Ground with
the Representatives OF the State
Fair AsSOciatiOn-A Great Danger
Nenacing-The Well Is now Sc
cure.
The gas we'll at the Fair Grounds
is now in the full possession and
control of the city through Its
Mayor, who was elected to repre-
sent all the people, that is, all the
men, and all the women, and all the
children within the bounds of the
municipality.
Since its development the we'll
has varied considerably, threatening
to yield only salt water, for which
it was bored.
The we'll with it's demonstrated
gas capacity should have been held
in full control on the day or the
next day following its yield OF gas
but there were delays more OF less
aggravating which threatened the
destruction of the we'll.
1t was Tuesday morning that the
we'll instead of discharging gas was
spouting great volumes of salt wa
ter. It was then believed that the
gas we'll was killed" and dead,
but the drilling contractors, Agurs
& Josey. expressed their confidence
in the restoration of gas before the
sunset of that day.
On Tuesday before starlight the
we'll had been capped. 1t was be-
lieved to be secure, view which
was shared by the Mayor, but Mr
E. X. Smith, vice president of the
Commercial National Bank, who is
thoroughly informed on gas and oil
wells, advised that a policeman be
left on guard to watch the well.
1t was near midnight when this
| officer realized that there was
something wrong with the WelF' anC
he telephoned the Mayor from the
club house. The Mayor responded
Immediately and the well was un
capped. By this timely warning anc
prompt action a calamity was avert
ed. The we'll was left uncapped ane
1.-THE gas escaping with roaring
| plainly audible distance of ovel
half a mile filled the atmosphere
as if it were haze clustering over
about and beneath the trees il
| Schumpert's park which is an addi
| ton to the Fair Grounds.
| This condition was viewed witt
alarm by men who are experts a
drilling and managing gas and OF
> wells and so advised Mr.. 3. h
: Smith who communicated with tn
Mayor. It was then agreed that
conference should be held at tn
Fair Grounds between $3.50 and
o'clock. On the invitation of Nj
E. X. Smith. who is a director OF tn
Estate Fair, there came to this cor
ference E. G. Palmer, president
the Standard Oil Company of Loui:
lana; C. P. Clayton, field manager
I the Producers Oil Company, an
Mr.. Devore oil and gas e.
perts, S. S. Hunter, one OF tn
!, pioneers in gas and oil developmeI
: in this section, C. C. MeCloud, pre-
ident of the State Fair Associatlo
8 with S. H. Bolinger and E. X. Smit
! directors, and J. H. Eastman, Mayo
Instead of the conference leadir
to an harmonious understanding
r was anticipated, there was precir
oil tated a wrangle of which the drlI
Il ing contractor, Mr.. Josey, was II
: central figure.
'2l He expressed his determination
,9 holding his possession of the WI
a and insisted that he had been u
fairly and unjustly criticised. 1t w
pointed out that danger surroundll
Il the well and those who would cor
I0l within its range. 1t was explain
oil that the experts had been invited
oil assist him without cost if he need
So their counsel, but he remained {
oil durate.
oil A climax had been reached. I
OOI situation was perplexing wh
II there appeared on the scene g
62I tleman who suggested settleme