The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-05-30
OCALA CAPITAL DIGGING OIL
Continued from First Page)

pump, declaring it's showing" indi-
Gated as good a well as any in the
field.
The Ocala company has two large
storage tanks, and, neatly housed, a
pumping outfit capable of forcing a
barrel Of oil a minute through their
pipe line TO the tank cars on the sid
ing. arther up the slope is the we'll
pumping station, equipped with new
oil-burning engine.
Most of the pumping outfits in the
field are being equipped with internal
combustion engines using crude oil
right out of the wells instead of gaso-
line. The richness of the oil in this
pool makes the service of these en-
gines as satisfactory as it is econom-
ical. This 10-horse engine can easily
pump 20 wells at once, as all the wells
in the Rodemer field are only $50 to
300 feet deep. Power is transmitted
from the engine house to the pump at
the well through wire cable.
At each storage tank is smaller
separating tank" into which the oil
is first pumped. All oil, as it comes
from the wells, contains more or less
water. In the first tank the different
specific gravity of the two liquids
causes the heavier water to collect at
the bottom, where it is siphoned off,
while the oil, rising, flows from the
top of the separator into the big stor-
age tanks.
After some time spent in inspect
ing the impressive development made
by the Ocala Oil company, and it's
splendid, up to date equipment, Mr..
Huntsman led the way onto the ad-
joining easle of the White Plains Oil
company-more often referred to To-
cally as Snowden Brothers, because of
its being owned by that well-known
firm. Near at hand drill crew was
busily at work on this company's we'll
No. 20, having already reached a
depth of 200 feet. Across a small ra-
vine the pump was plying in No. 15-
the banner well of the entire pool,
yielding rs barrels of richest oil daily
Some $50 yards beyond was the new
pumping station of the White Plains
company, in which was being tested a
newly 25-horsepower oil en-
CINE. From this central station long
straigt rows of posts-like fence
posts set in position in all
directions, like spokes from a wheel
Each row leads to well, near or far
From the tops of these posts, swinging
hangers suspend steel ropes big as q
mans finger. The machinery at the
power plant alternately pulls and
Stacks on these, so that they ply back
and forth, each operating a pump a,
it's farther end.
A little beyond this, the visitor
comes out nthe brow of hill
where he obtains the best view of the
oil workings. Below him, in a mar
row valley, are three pumping plants
those of the Good Luck Oil com
pany and the original Allen and White
Plains companies. In each power
house an engine is busily swapping
away, and into the storage tanks OF
each plant numerous pipes are pour.
ing their contribution of thick, black
oil. On every side are scattered
pumps in motion. The long cables
stretch all about, crossing and branch
ing like giant spiders threads; though
their silent movement to and fire.
amid grass and bushes, rather sug,
gests the gliding of stealthy serpents
The ground about the wells ane
tanks is saturated with oil; the ali
everywhere is saturated with it's odor
The trimming tanks, the rafting
machinery, the busy workmen al
combine to make panorama which
well may cause the beholder to won
der il he really is in quiet, agricul
tural old Allen county, or has, b.
some magic, been transported to the
famed petroleum fields of Pennsyl
vania or the West.
The trip was a revelation-and {
happy one-to the Times man. Ane
the pleasure, as well as the interest
of his visit was enhanced by the kind
ness, not only of Mr.. Huntsman, bu
Of Managers Blick and Schoonover
of the Good Luck and White Plain,
companies, respectively, and by tn,
courtesy shown by employees general
ly.
After seeing what is regularly go
ing on at Rodemer, one is inclined tt
agree with Manager Huntsman, tina
his estimate of 500 barrels developed
daily production in this field, is ever.
reasonable" Not that so much oil il
actually being marketed, but a mum
Der of the better wells are now idle
awaiting completion of the new pump
ing systems. This estimate include.
the seven wells of the Ocala com
pany; the 10 wells of the Whit.
Plains company on the Frost lands
with four on the Grove lease and tn,
two pioneer wells at the railroat
crossing which, by the way, are sail
to pump as strongly now as when frs
drilled; and it includes IL wells of the
Good Luck company on the Martha
Keene lease.
Ocala No.
Since the foregoing was written
White Plains moll No % har hoax