Semi-weekly herald., 1913-03-10
ANENT THE OIL STRIKE.


proportions, the oil strike in the
Meadows below Harrington, has made
its appearance in the commercial life
Of the San Juan basin, much interest
has been manifested in the Messrs.
r. c. and G. E. Mattox, the men who
demonstrated to the world that oil
exists in this section. Incidentally
they have suddenly risen from the Wis
ionary class to the front ranks of the
far-sighted.
Last evening the junior member of
the firm, G. f. Mattox, arrived in
the city to confer with the representa-
tives of the company who are arrang-
ing to put drilling rig in the field.
One might imagine his mission was
wholly to make acquaintance from
the number of men who have sought
the. opportunity to meet him.
Mr.. Mattox was born, bred and but
tered in the west--in the shadow of
mining camps. Every feature of the
joys and tragedies of mining life had
part in his early experiences. He
saw fortunes made in one season and
lost in another by the possessors who
were playing for higher stakes. All
the practical and technical part of
mines are portion Of his store of
knowledge.
About ten years ago Mr.. Mattox
became interested in oil wells. AS
was his custom regarding any subject
in which he gave his attention he
started to familiarize himself with
everything that existed in fields that
were developed sufficiently to be of
commercial value. He studied condi-
tions in Illinois, Oklahoma, Kansas,
California and even in the far east
He knew wells from top to bottom as
we knew the streets of our city. He
was perfectly familiar with all things
common to oil fields and also noted
what features were foreign and which
had been found in places where drill
irg for oil had been done without
results.
Meanwhile the Senior Mr.. Mattox,
who is stoop-shouldered veteran of
life. was seeking information along
the same lines and his knowledge
was not far short of the one who
had devoted so much time to it.
The interest of the father and son
in the oil possibilities of the San Juan
basin dates back about six years
From various sources they learned OF
the many indications of oil found in
this territory and determined to spend
their time inspecting it until they
found the place where the main de-
posit was located and then commence
drilling. They drove from east and
| west, from north and south, from Pa.
gosa Springs to sixty miles below
Bluff City. They went as far south
as Gallup and across the Sever. Lake.
country and in one or two instance!
they bought small tracts of land, bu
not until they examined the Meadow.
two years ago did they begin opera
tions in earnest.
Here they found perfect surfac,
indications and as the work of drill
ing progressed, which on account O
lack of funds was done intermittingly
they found all conditions to compl,
| perfectly with those in fields wher
development work had been rewarde,
with perfect flow of oil, Just wha
deprivations they endured to carry OF
their work will probably never b
known--but these were quite beyon
anything that we often see in thi
day and age.
In order to increase the funds s.
that work might not be delayed the,
tried to interest the people of tn
basin in the project but with smal
success. A few came forward wit
money but for the most part the
were looked upon as visionary. No
q few of the land owners, who agree
they might strike something, assume
the attitude, 1--WE are perfectly will
ing to share your feasts but the fam
inc you may have all to yourself.
Many who would willingly have ad
vanced money were so affected by tn
flood and fruit failures of eightee
months ago, they were utterly unabl
to lend assistance. So things wen
from bad to worse, but the faith of tn
Mattoxs never feltered, though fund
and groceries run low. Just as gen
orally conditions seemed their yer
worst, oil was struck. The history O
the we'll from that moment is 10
we'll known to our readers to make tn
recounting necessary from that me
ment.
Neither of the Messrs. Mattox hav
one cents worth of stock for sale bu
what they desire to do is to hav
practical and experienced operator
come in the fields and demonstrat
the commercial value Of the strike
and assure the place financial recoe
milton. To this end they have offere
to give tracts of 800 acres of Ian
adjoining their well to the first thre