The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-13
ACCORDING TO H'OIL
That's the Only Way to Play the Oil Game in Kansas
These Exciting Days.
Which Topeka Amateur Visits the Newly Resembling
Boom in Woodson County.

luxuries and wealth from its murky
interior.
At another point about five. or ten
miles from this treasure among the
weeds lies another well. 1t was shot
for gas sixteen years ago. But it has
another story to tell. This well has
been pumped regularly. When first
brought in it produced about forty
barrels a day. For five years or more
it Kept up this production record. To-
day this well is bringing in ten bar
rels a day. All of which indicate that
the wells of Woodson county are what
might be called lifetime holes -
With oil selling at 81 a barrel it
pays to pump almost any well these
DAYS. The higher grade soil-similar
to the gravity showing at the Ham
acher hole-should bring SO a barrel.
One of the most interesting char
acters in the Yates Center field is S.
w Mccain of Oklahoma City. He
is president of the Mccain Rash
company, associated with G. A. Rash
of Oklahoma, who also owns farms
in Woodson county. Mr.. Mccain is
father of Mrs. Frank Cope, 727 Polk
street, Topeka. For many years he
has been in the oil business, real es-
tate business and the drug business in
Oklahoma and Colorado. More than
10 years of age, but able to out-walk,
out-ride and out-talk any of his as
sociates, he is the youngest investor
on the field today. Straight as an ar
row, rugged complexion, and usually
wearing a 1918 model cap, he would
be taken any day for a man in the
late forties.
I'm going to live to at least 1907"
he told some Topeka friends recently,
but I'm afraid that these blasted oil
wells are going to outllve me It's
going to be a race-that's ALL"
Mr.. Mccain has set his foot on
ne of HI of
mostly proven territory in Woodson
county. His associates fear that the
farmers from whom the leases are
purchased will soon complain of the
Mccain footprints-if continued I'll -
will retard growing crops and sod.
Mr.. Mccain sat in an open automo-
bile driven by his grandson, Roy Cope.
Topeka, the other day, and never bat
ted an eye. Bundled like Eskimos
the other passengers shivered and
complained.
One of the advantages offered to
the Yates Center producers is the
facility to market the oil. Two pipe
lines, one of the Prairie Oil company
and the other a Sinclair owned con-
duit, running from Augusta to Hum
boldt, traverse this territory. Until
a refinery is built in the immediate
neighborhood these lines will be a
boon to the owners of flowing wells.
here" c. r. Powell explained. lit
must come. The proven territory, the
quality of the oil, the promise of the
field, the favorable structures of the
land in this vicinity-these things
point to very bright prospects"
There are fifty gas wells in Wood
son county alone. There are seventy
five oil wells. Leases are taken up in
every township. Gas is used in the
drilling. Water is plentiful Market
ing facilities are ideal Proven land
running in a direct line thru the
county tells the tale of what is com
ing to that section of the state.
REGRETS.
There is always a chance for dry
holes or regrets as they are some
times called and hundreds of persons
probably will be disappointed. This
isn't written to encourage or
discourage investments in Wood
son county. 1t is saying
among oil men that when the poor
man invests in oil he must spare only
what he can afford to lose. If he
loses-his money has been kissed a
fond farewell. And if he wins-weIl,
that's another story. 1t is a story that
has made many immensely wealthy
over night-persons who never count
ed their money above the hundreds
before. 1t is a gamble in which the
cards are turned face up on the table.
A man must play his money to win.
Ii he loses, his memory must be short
because Mother Nature makes no
promises. From Ford to Packard
is big jump but it is being yaulted
every day in the Kansas oil fields.
The oil that flows thru pipes to New
Jersey is flowing back to Kansas in
the form of Tong greenland KAN
sans, true to their first love, are con-
verting their almost too-good-to-be-
true wealth into magnificent homes
own state.
Oil is as slippery as the proverbial
creased pig-but once you grasp it,
you have it-tail, hide, squeal and all.
Oil in Kansas these DAYS is the
greatest of all games-and it can be
played with crowd or as solitaire
IN other words-play according to
H oil.-AJC.
Flivvers Still Popular.
Garden City, Kan, Nov. 13.-The
county freq of