New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-05-16
new LIFE IN OIL
SITUATION. MORE
cos INCORPORATED
NEW OIL RIGS ORDERED AND
SHIPPED. APPLICATIONS
FOR LEASES COMING IN
BLOCK TO STATE LAND
OFFICE

New life has come into the New
Mexico oil situation, now that the
Victory loan has been put over hand.
somely. For three weeks the real
doers of things worth while in New
Mexico have given their best energy
to the Victory loan campaign. Every
thing else had to be sidetracked in
the mean time.
Many leading oil companies ceased
to advertise or solicit subscription
for stock during this period. The
Montezuma Oil Company of Albu-
querque may be mentioned as one
of the leading companies that dis.
continued their work for patriotic
reasons.
But this week the oil activity is
again in full swing in every section
Of the state. More geologsts are in
the field than at any time in the
past. They are not only scouting for
indications of oil III a general way,
but are studing the formation in
detail to determine where desirable
locations for drilling may be found.
Companies that have been under
consideration for some time are COM
pieting their organizations and filing
their articles of incorporation. There
has been a lull in the business Of
the State Corporation Commission
for . while, but the last few days
filings of papers have again increased.
II is noticeable that in the newer
companies many of the incorpora.
tors are residents of other states.
FL Paso has become an important
center for the promotion of oil dev-
elopment in New Mexico as we'll a.
in north and west Texas. Oklahoma
City men are also taking much in
terest in the New Mexico situation.
Fl. Worth capitalists are also stud
ing the New Mexico fields. Amarillo,
Texas is another center for promo
tion of New Mexico prospects. The
interest there is directed to Quay
County more especially, though an
eye Il kept on the progress in the
Pecos Valley. Denver is more par
ticuiarly interested in San Juan and
Union counties. Denver parties are
drilling Ia Union County. But it is
not only comparatively near-at-home
points that are becoming interested.
Pennsylvania capitalists are on the
ground and actually getting ready to
spud Ia over in Quay County. Iowa
aud Minnesota people are also pre-
pairing to begin operations near
Tucumeari.
Aississippi people have orgaAized
q company for exploration. In Ari-
xona many have become interested
ia New Mexico and organized COM
panies. All this outside interest has
been created without any combined
efforts on the part of the people Of
the state. Possibly it would be worth
while to Join issues and let the out
side world know that we need help
to open up virgin oil fields in this
state.
At this timeNew Mexico needs the
help Of men with money to test out
a score Of very promising oil pros
poets In the state. As has been said
before the geologist searches out
formation that looks favorable, but
the drill is the only test to deter.
mine if oil is actually present N
commercial quantities. Drilling ope.
rations are costly at best, and usual
~ the cost of hole far exceeds the
estimates because of many unfore-
seen factors that bob up serenely
after the work is under way.
Many new rigs have been ordered
snd will be in operation as quickly
- they can be set up. II has been
found that rigs are more readily
obtainable in California and for this
reason q considerable number has
been bought there. The Texas field
10 90 busy that rigs are difficult to
obtaia there or In Oklahoma. though
some rigs have been secured In both
states for work in New Mexico.
Up h San Juan County drilling
b proceeding on the well at Flora
Vista. The managers of the Mesa
Verde company which 10 drilling
there, are finding better indications
Of oil - the hole goes down. The
tast week there has been under con.
sideration the plan for shooting this
well.
AZ Columbus In the extreme south
Of the state the Valley Oil Company
u drilling steadily and finding the
formation more promising - the hole
goes down. Recently this company
has ben working in hard dark lime
rock.
In Grant County new interest bobs
up At Silver City. The basin in which
the town lies may be . natural oil
basin. Land is being leased and loe-
ated for further investigation. The
Playas Basin in the southern part
attracts more attention as tho study
Of the formation progresses. Cali
fofnia, Texas, and Oklahoma people
are active. In this section they used
to find mud that burns" Progress
10 also being made in the Stems dis
trict and real drilling operations will
be active there before long.
The Tularosa basin continues to
get much publicity. Every part Of
the basin Is apparently ready for
exploration. Fl Paso and Las Cruces
are eenters for operation in the basin.
Rigs have been ordered and before
long drilling will begin. The pro-
gress Of the work will be watched
With unusual interest BY old oil men.
More companies are being formed
for work Ia the Tularosa basin.
The Hueco basin, which some
claim h Q really Q continuation Of
tie f.!srqsa tasin. e attracting b.
0oasol eleeat3ea. This exkead lnto
fslas - eAe Texas Uaivessity have