Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-21
RURAL WORKERS
SHARE IN WEALTH
Figures to Show How Oil
Business Distributes Riches
to All Citizens of State.
BENEFITS ARE STATEWIDE
Bonuses of $l,2S3, 3,26780 Paid
in 40 Counties by One of
Smaller Companies.

Special 10 The World
OKLAHOMA CITY. Jan. 20.-"EN-
dcnce If the oil industly's intimate re-
lailonship to the prosperity OF Okla
homas farmers Is rapidly developing
for public Information" said Georr,
T. Black OF Tulsa. discussing the re.
cent attempt 10 have the legislature
taisc the burdens imposed upon the
ductiOn tay.
diction that the Development and ex-
II" continued. Amazing contrast
between the realty aud the condition
allceed bV rsstiuuts of proposal TO
reduce The gross production tax FROM
to , per cent is being brought u
public attention. discrediting those
statements Of which malice. envy and
ignorance we're PROMINENT factors and
converting crstwhilo uniformed eHu
mics into earnest supporters OF the
movement 10 relieve our greatest in
cuFtry Of an unjust and oppressive
burden.
I'VE wish TO present two substantial
proofs ~ the statewide bench,
wrought by the oil industry and to
show without pcradVenturc Of contra
dctiun that the development aud ex-
tension Oh our oil fields mean great
thinrs for our farmers. AS "a matter
Of fact, the oil peoples progress and
relentless activity already are bringing
Ncriiab!c bumper financial crop TO
scores of our farmers. evon tho the
lands which are to be explored have
mover vet been reached for develop
mont
For Example.
"a certain oil company Of ONLY mo
dium si2e-nut on" of the giant cor
porations also doing business in okla
homa-paid in rentals i'm Oklahoma
during 1916 tho sum of s4s0.6G7.13.
That the same rental, at least no iess.
viii he paid ont by this company IN
1917, for it represents 4SO, O,G67.73 acres
leased at 81 an acre. Farmers who
own these properties are enjoying s.
IN acre income from tens Of thousands
Cf acres drlll has never touched. nor
has there been any Interference what
soever with tho filling OF the soil or
other uses To which these lands might
have been put ordinarily. Thess
rentals have been absolutely clear
profit.
"ln addition, this company has paid
to farmers royalties of 274.91g.32 bar
rels OF oil; TO labor. $402.155.3s. for
office expenses. sl74,077.15; for team
ing. 500. .36s.50 In December it en-
Tloyed IN average of 976 persons Its
plyrolls in 1916 amounted to sC69.-
COL .0S. Furthermore. IL was constantly
drilling an average of thirty contract
wells, with four men on each contract
at a total wage of s26 daily, or $3.50 a
month, nj each well
Money 10 the Farmers
This company paid bonuses argre-
eating Sl.2S3.267.5O distributed thru
forty-nine counties In oklahoma
'rhqga hpnnu,e -. M L.,
Cne county to Sll7,Sl5.75 in another.
Surely, the charge cannot stand which
states hat the rural districts of okla
homa do not share in prosperity the
oil industry establishes. Surely no
body can dispute tho reality Of the
boon the oil industry brings to farmers
H. the form of rental and bonus.
In Payne, Carter. Creek, jefferson.
Lincoln and Tulsa counties this con
Germ paid total OF sl99,517S7 in
taxes. Its gross production tax was
S5S,3Sl7S on top OF that. Its gros-
oil production in 1916 was 2,205. .OTg.6gI
barrels and farmers received Pa
Sl9.32 of that
Here's other evidence that all is
not clear profit in the oil game, n
some would have the uniformed pub
lie believe This is the statement Of
comparatively small company. cover
ing eleven months Of 1916. the figures
for December not being included.
Payroll and salaries. s4O6, S92.52;
contractors, 1858, ,96S.O9: supply
houses, 5000. 1S6.22; Insurance. SIG
29770; personal injuries. 1000. de-
probation. x9ll,265.29; rentals. $l2,-
cS3.Si; royalties. S570,751.73 taxes,
N3,4Si3S, superintendent and offic,
expenses, $1,S5471 auto expense,
s5.5g3.16; interest. secs, S,O06.22; mis-
ccllaneous general expense, $4,l97.70:
total expense, $S,S62, 5S2.11.
This same company drilled ten dry
Naoles in 1916, a dead loss OF tens Of
THOUSANDS Of dollars And IL spent for
permanent construction, pipe lines, a
total of S9l, ,S06.S4.
Everybody shares I'm the Fruits.
Can more convincing testimony he
offered that the oil industry deserves
consideration by the legislature and
state government? Why should it be
pcnalizcd? Is there any reason. any
legitimate reason. why 1t should he
laden with taxes that would burden It |
above other interests?
"Oil may be found in any part o.
Oklahoma A vast part of the state |
glready is leased for oil development |
of farmers are reveling IN !
regular incomes from 1t. School dis |
tricts. counties, the whole state, are
enjoying the fruits OF the oil mans |
zeal and courage and progress. VIII |
the people permit the throtting or
hamperng of men who scorn failures
and losses and plod over obstacle rs
tho they did not exist?
I'VE call upon the people Of Okla |
homa to Immediately urge their repre- |
tentatiVes In the state assembly to re-
.I,t Il