The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1918-02-21
Local Business Men Incorporate
For Purpose of Developing
Their Holdings
WORLD OF GAS SAY VISITORS
Reports of Men who Have Seen Well
Confirm Statements of Walla
Walla Company Officials

F. = B =
Rattlesnake country reveal nothing cf
a startling nature, they only confirm
the early reports Of the big gas strike.
~There is world Of gas in the new
we'll" said T. c. Browne, who, in COM
pany with L. w. Murray visited the
well this week. "I don't know how
much three million feet Of gas is, but
have every reason to believe that
the estimates of the flow given out
by officials of the Walla Walla COM
pany were in no respect exaggera-
tions," said Mr.. Browne. "There is
certainly tremendous flow in the
new we'll. I attempted to place my
hand over the mouth Of the Pinch pipe
thru which the gas was escaping. /
couldn't begin to do it. / might as
well have tried to stop a Kennewick
windst0rm."
Interest in the new strike continues
to grow and by spring it is probable
that dozen companies will be operat-
ing in the field. The number of COM
panies was increased by one this week
when the Kennewick Gas & Oil COM
pany was organized here. This COM
pany is composed entirely of local bus
ness men who have acquired holdings
in the field and have incorporated for
the purpose of development. ~
The trustees of the new company
named in the articles of incorporation
which will be filed in Olympia tomor-
row are: Geo. Tweedt, H. r. Vibber,
L. E. Johnson, DR.. F. NJ. Crosby, Geo.
w. Sherk and M. M. Moulton.
Stockholders of the company have
not yet decided whether any stock will
be offered for sale. Their sole purpose
is the development of their holdings
and if this can be carried on without
the sale of stock none will be placed
on the market.
An experienced gas and oil man OF
Spokane, who has made thoro in
vestigation of the field, has issued the
following report:
A number Of years ago, on the north
side of the Rattlesnake hills, a well
was drilled for artesian water. Arte-
sian flow was not found, but large
volume Of very fine natural gas was
struck. In state that has no natural
gas and oil discoveries, it was natural
that discovery Of this kind would be
very slow to receive development
Where people do not know the value
of oil or gas, like they do in an oil
country, positive indication of this
kind is often overlooked for number
of years.
Several years after the discovery
oil and gas men came in and started
operations that have resulted in an as
tonishing development. Leases were
taken by the Columbia River-Puget
Sound Natural Gas company of Kenne
wick, the Walla Walla Oil, Gas & Pipe
Line company, of Walla Walla, and thu
Spokane Benton County Natural Ga!
Company, of Spokane.
The development was first started
by the Columbia River-Puget Sount
Natural Gas company, with a small
rig, on the Knudson ranch. Soon af
ter this, the Walla Walla Oil, Gas {
Pipe Line company started their de
velopment on section 21-11-26, whicl
resulted in magnificent gas flow o
three million feet per day. This ga
flow was drilled in on January II las
and the gas found is a wonderful.
fine product indeed. 1t has over on
million B. T. U. heating value, am
contains 1890 of heavy hydrocarbons
indicating that oil will be found yer,
close. ...-@
No one can deny the Importance o
the Benton county discovery at thi
time. People of this section frml,
believe that there is enough gas t
light and heat both Oregon and Wash
lngton in this field. How much OF
there is, we do not have the means o
estimating, but it is reasons BILE to sup
pose that where there is such gi
gantlc gas flow, there must be yer.
large oil field. The Walla Walla Oil
Gas q Pipe Line company are nov