davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03
DESDEMONA OIL FIELD MAKING new
HISTORY THRU ITS BIG PRODUCTION

ON the Shuler tract; other wells came
in right in the town and on all sides
until the production of the field is
now over IS 900 barrels day. Last
week Wagner got good well right in
town.
There are derricks in back yards,
on sidewalks, or foot paths where
sidewalks should be, in the alley, at
the rear of the bank, on the church
lots and school house Fairgrounds,
and on all vacant outlying plots Of
acreage, 1t is literally forest Of
derricks, with few frame shacks
hanging in between them-the re-
mains Of Desdemona.
| But it is one of the busiest spots
on the chart. All freight has to be
4lauled from Ranger, Eastland, De-
Leon or German, being about equi-
distant from all these points. Freight
ers can carry only half load at a
time, because of the sand, and the
roads in all directions are lined with
loads of timbers, rig irons, boilers,
and what-not. A caterpillar tractor
makes the route Between DeLeon and
Desdemona, and carries as much
freight at one time as dozen freight
wagons could haul. Not many auto
trucks are in use in this district be-
cause Of the sandy roads.
How Acreage Is Held.
By far the greater part of the acre
age in the whole district is held by
the major companies. The town lots
were not leased by them, though, and
it just happens that this is proving
to be as. good part Of the field as
any other section.
This makes fine picking for the
small producer, and gives an excite
that it would never see were the sit
uation different. There are~ some
valuable tracts on the outskirts of
the field held by individuals, and it
lis altogether likely that some neat
! fortunes will be made in these.
The Magic Tales.
The trafficking in Desdemona,
therefore, is in royalties or in the
stock of the companies that own
town lot drilling sites. And in Des-
demona acreage is priced by the
square foot.
One day this week a poster board
carried an offering Of site barely
big enough for a rig, at $25 900.
A visitor to, the village had not
been there thirty minutes until he
was offered "choice" proposition
one-fourth Of the royalty on three
acre tract for $10,500.
! Twelve business men" of DeLeon
put together $500 each and bought
a fourth royalty in one-acre tract
| in DeSdemOna, paving the $4,000 for
fourth of the royalty, or at the rate
of $4,000 an acre for the royalty.
1 One of the churches leased it's
grounds for $4,000 and an eighth
royalty, with two drilling contracts
attached. It will have an oil we'll at
each door. On another church lot, a
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03
TOWN LOTS IGNORED BY
BIG COMPANIES PROVE
PLUMS FOR SMALL
OPERATORS.
Wonderful Stories of Quickly
Acquired Wealth BY Poor
PeOpIe--Teacher Invested
$500, Sold Out for
$4,000.

by B. v. Ellgcy, in Oil Weekly
The Desdemona (Texas) field is a
second Burkburnett in that it is a
town-lot proposition, and further in
the fact that there is a local over
sproduction at the present time and
serious problem presented of TAX
ing care Of the flow of the wells that
are already in until storage and pipe
line facilities can be prepared.
S With these two marks of similarity
however, the comparison stops. In
all other features, Desdemona is
unique. The pseudo humorist who
gave this place the name of "Hoe
Town" is entitled to all the honor he
will ever get for it, and then some
1t is the hardest place to get to, the
hardest place to leave, and the most
impossible place to stay that an oil
man ever got up against.
The field in the vicinity of BESIDE.
mona was opened up by the Duke
we'll of the Tex-Penn Oil company
in the northeastern corner of Conan.
che county. The second we'll of the
field was drilled on the Knowles lease
BY the same company, and was 8
larger producer than the Duke. The
discovery well, at the time of com
pletion, ignited and burned everything
but the hole. It continued to make
oil in commercial quantities, how
ever, for several months, but is nov
practically non reproductive.
From the Duke and Knowles leases
wildcatting was extended to all di;
rections, with failure south and west
and with little encouragement east
except the well Of the Dixie Oil com
pany across the line in Erath county
completed recently. For some tim,
it appeared that the "Duke Pool
would not have an outlet or exten
sion in any direction. Finally pro
sduction was found to the northward
and the village Of Desdemona lay il
its path.
Remains of Desdemona.
Wells completed during the pas
month in the town site of Desdemona
I and adjacent to it, indicate that thi
is to be the best section of the en-
tire field. The Magnolia Petroleum
company got good well on the Ter
rell lease just west Of the town, tn,
Sun company got heavy produce
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03

well is drilling at something near L.
900 feet.
But the cemetery will not be drilled
1t lies right across the fence, and
down few locations from the Terry
well OF Warren Wagner.
1t is therefore as good prospect
as there is in the field, but the peo-
pie of Desdemona have decided that
Mrs. Terry, who owns the tract where
Wagner got his well, refused to
lease the sites next to the cemetery
fence on the outside, so that there
shall be a neutral zone between the
producing wells and the enclosure Of
the little silent city. Mrs. Terry's
husband sleeps in that cemetery, and
also her father and other relatives.
The Story of Mrs. Terry.
Mrs. Terry's story is interesting.
She is good Baptist and very de-
voted Her husband died several
years ago, leaving her with a family
of small children, and with little
sandy land farm as their only re-
source. She reared her children, and
hers is one Of the most respected
families in the neighborhood. She
knows how to work, anything from
raising peanuts to rearing fine chill
dren. And she knows how to con-
duct her own business affairs with
out the aid of a trustee.
Mrs. Terry's mother, Mrs. Shuler,
is also a widow, and devout Baptist.
Mrs. Shuler leased her farm to the
Sun company, and has one of the best
wells Of the entire field producing on
her property. These two widows,
mother and daughter, fought a long
fight for existence, and that against
Of their reward.
A School Teacher Who Made Good.
l. In the early days Of the game there
a school teacher in the vicinity leased
a tract near the Duke well, even be-
fore this we'll was started. Later he
got skeptical about it, and went to
Eastland where he got some of his
personal friends to share the invest
ment with him. The total amount of
the investment was $500, and he di-
vided it with them. He had been
teaching school the refor about $85
month, and $500 investment hit
him hard Finally the Duke we'll
came in, and it is reported that this
school teacher sold his lease, or his
interest in the lease, for the neat
sum Of 100000.
The larger companies that are
,, doing most of the real work in the
| field have prepared to take care Of
their employees outside of Desde-
mona. The Magnolia Petroleum
comnanv has q co1onv community
Its buildings are all new, modern,
and attractive. Here also water can
be secured, and water is at premi-
UNI in Desdemona. South of the viii
lage the Tex-Penn Oil company has
provided headquarters for it's en-
ployes land other companies are
providing for their men in similar
manner.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03

OKLAHOMA OUTPUT DECREASES
Tulsa, Okla, Following the 2-400-
barrel increase in production made by
Oklahoma and Kansas last week, the
fields found the burden of maintain
ing this flush output little bit too
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03

much, and Oklahoma decreased dur
ing the past week 200 barrels daily
and Kansas slumped almost 700 bar
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03

[rels.
The decline in Kansas was attribu-
table entirely to Eldorado which drop
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03

ped to $4,000 barrels from last weeks
mark sof $3.50 barrels. August in
creased slightly and Outside" Kan
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-04

N special buildings where the stars
.t!d sun may be photographed. Tow CIR
telescopes haS { been built, one of them
one hundred and fifty feet in height.
10 secure the necessary steadiness of
mirrors and lenses mounted one hun
ured and sixty feet above the ground
tlle plan wsts adopted of encasing each
vi eel leg or cross oraclng OF skeleton
tower within the corresponding hollow
member Of another skeleton tower
with sufficient clearance to prevent
contact. The inner tower thus carries
the Instruments while the outer tower
carries the dome 10 cover them white
Iis members are an efficient Wind
shte3d In this way the required stead
mess has been secured. New fields
OF research have been opened up by
this new tower telescope which is
equipped with powerful Instruments.
Very Ii{tie is understood by the lay
man unless be visits the house where
the pictures made there are shown
and explained by one OF the scientists.
This is open 30 the public at certain
hours Of the day and one of the astrcu-
ofn"rs II present 10 tell Of the work
IN as plain language as possible and
ready 70 answer questions.
The whole summit liz covered with
and towers which house
great lns'rumen4y for p.ctursnG the
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-04
1w0 2l0oA~
-5S10 SE0<~

sreep. The work of erecting a house,
making the telescope and setting 1t up
.rquired about five years
Many OF the photographs made are
OF the stars and their nebuia tpatches
OF luminous cioud-like matter which
occurs about the stars). Only two ne
bulae are visible to the naked eye that
IN Andromeda and the great nebula
in Orion. Both of these have been
photographed at Mt, Wilson as well as
many which may only be viewed by a
telescope. The photographs are made
by long exposures on nights when the
weather presents certain conditions
and are works OF the most interesting
character
About four thousand photographs of
stellar spectra have thus far been OBJ
tanned. A knowledge of The relative
intensity Of the light of the different
stars from brightest to faintest is es-
sential, In the investigation OF distance
and distributions in space. The bright
ness Is expressed in quantities called
magnitude. from number one for the
brightest to number twenty for the
faintest objects registered. The We
iocity of the stars is thus found to be
moderate. although through the use Of
the sixty-inch telescope some OF very
high velocity have been discovered
The magnitude of the stars has been
studied. The magnitude measured on
ordinary Photographic plates gives the
intensity of the blue and violet lights
OF the stars. Filters are used In pho
tographing and by means Of the
yellow light. the faintest star can be
seen on the plate.
After Ave years work with the huge
telescope. the nebulae. stellar spectra. |
and occasionally moon. planets and
comets have been photographed but
the three latter classes OF objects are
not worked on to any great extent in |
the present scheme Of research.
Sun spots are especially studied and
The photographs of these are rather
curious 10 the layman who must know
OF astronomy to understand
he man who tells the visitors Of the
work accomplished on MI. [
WILSON Tar, - 4s,eels- af aakr1nesss
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-04

OF days gone by with the same famtl-
iariay as one would speak of a poll
ucian OF the present time.
Sun Spots
The most conspicuous phenomena
OF the whole solar surface are these
sun spots We are told by the Mt.
wilson scientists that they are from
three hundred to thirty thousand feet
across for the central part and range
up 10 one hundred thousand miles or
more for the less dusky portions--at
times they may be seen with the naked
eye. Often they seem to break into
several pieces giving rise to a group
or collection of several spots
frequently we hear OF great heat
or tornadoes being the result Of 'sun
spots" and every new "spot" discovered
Is duly chronicled by the press. No
sun spots are found farther from the
equator of the sun than latitude Ak
degrees and no nearer than 8 degrees
One remarkable theory about these
spots Is that their frequency Is peri
odic- Once in about eleven years thew
have a maximum frequency and no.
Wv opic 10 record their
occurrence In greater numbers than
usual The cause OF this Is still, a
mystery to astronomers.
In one OF the photographs made a.
the MI Wilson observatory there is
crater like cavity resembling a huge
aster or dahlia. 1t marks a vortex
over sun spot When such worthless
IN the ehromosphere were discovered
win the spectro-heliograph it was in
rerred that the sun spots below them
mig NJ cause tornadoes. This belief IL due
10 the recent advance in physics which
mas SHOWN that all hot bodies give out
electrically charged particles, and a
whiriing mass of particles would pro-
ouce magnetic field, hence q mag
netio field was sought for in sun spots |
One OF the telescopes was presented
by the late Miss Snow to the Yerkes
Observatory and which has been
loaned by the University OF Chicago |
and set up on Mt. Wilson for the pur-
pose OF studying sun spots. This is |
known as the Snow telescope. II con-
sists Of colorstat with plane mir
ror 30 inches In diameter rotated by |
clock work 81 such = rate IS TO keep
he beam of sunli9ht reelected from /
a. siivarrd FROST 4urfnne q = lxa1i
cin " sl / = " 6In W. !
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-04
Tie @~eA LGHNIg
M A2Z~IH2c22

heavens and some OF the greatest as
/ economical work Of the world has
| been done there. for at present two OF
/ ne greatest telescopes in the world
are set up in these buildings. Apart
from tho two telescopes and the Snow
telescope described later, two large
I circular houses built Of corrugated
iron house two great telescopes. They
are known as the 6o-lnch telescope OF
sAs smaller building and the I00-inch
| telescope which was set up about the
lime the great war began. So far
there has been little work done with
his but great finds" in the stars and
sun are expected.
One Hundred Inch Telescope
The work of the 60-inch telescope
has proved most satisfactory, especial
~ for photogra phic and spectroscopic
work. The 6e-inch reflector IL made
from glass OF eight inch thickness
which weighs one ton. 1t was COM
pleted in 1905 and sent UP from the
Pasadena Workshop. Its mounting re-
CURED the greatest delicacy end the
mos, experienced mechanical engineer
ing. ANY number of wonderful photo
graphs OF the stars made by this won. |
derful instrument are on exhibition
both on Mt. Wilson at the Carnegts |
Observatory and AT Washington. Even
greater photographs are expected
from the hundred-inch reflector. the
glass for tho lens OF which was Sc
cured nj the French workshop at 81.
aooain md polished at tho Pasa dena |
shops ]. Required the most delicate
handling to get these erea. ins:ru-
ments TO the top OF ,as mountain as
they we're very heav1 and unwieidIy 4
g handle. white tAs rad was v.rvl
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-04

standing above and south OF II. From
this mirror the beam Is rejected near
~ horizontally to a point 100 feet
north where ii falls on .4-inch conf
| cave mirror OF sixty feet focal length
which forms a solar image about si1I
and one-haif inches In diameter on shsI
slit of the spectrograph or specsroI
Photograph. AT first some difIicuity|
was experienced by the suns direct
rays warping the telescope mirror and
blurring the details on the image byI
throwing 1t out Of focus. after fswI
minutes exposure. This was overcome
by shielding the mirrors between thsI
exposures and cooling them by an cleo
trio fan. Thus controlled the Snow
telescope yielded excellent photography
OF solar oil osoherc.
Sun spots have been studied fof1
three hundred years. and there is stA
much to be learned from the invests.
cation OF their spectra. To product
these spectra the light Of sun spot
was passed through narrow slit and
then to lens OF Is feet focal length
which rendered the rays parallel
spectrograph was constructed III thsI
Pasadena shops and set up with ths
Snow telescope and II soon became ~
easy matter to photograph sun spots.
With the new 100-inch telescope wcrk-
ing 1t Is expected nearly 100. 200. DOT
fainter stars may be photographed
many of which now lie beyond the
universe as at present known. Stellar
problems are innumerable and Il y
expected that many OF them will ~
worked out by this new telescope.
All OF the buildings at Mt wilanM
are painted white and with their grtas
domes standing out In the sunlight on<
gets the effect on going up the nsounE
tain OF approaching some queer Mos
lem City perched In the clouds TON
frequently the summit is far above IN
clouds At other times Los Angote
and Pasadena are In plain View a.
the panorama Is one OF exquisite bsa
~. Day after day ana night nff6
night these scientists studyxtho k6nS
ems and are giving to the World. WI
new ideas Of the wonders .o1 49,
which. although dinicult. ~ ~ ~ ~
are person - understand, ~ y
theless of 9rea& vAlnGs ~ y Y
Felsticrs n p1lSeS B "
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-04


look eastward ara ontaln . ure
ssew of he range ~ mounin ,us
sruong which stanGs ouf rather prom
inently Mt Wiisoo A. Pasaseua. one
OF the garden ADo's OF the worIa the
view liz still moe dlsire, md mag
nsirenf. Fo% can rl.esst he appeal
forsa trip up o the 'op Of Tic rance
s@4s - rot 12fifeelly ar fYre~f1trra 4ts41f,tey
Z and may be made IN 4 fsN hours over
good roads 4 either the untor car
! Wsien daily earrie4s ia" mat or in an
I iopaon!ss furnished hy q compans-~,foY
> nominal sum The first eieh. or
! len zen ni'aes are Through a fertile co,ln-
Try coupsratiVeiy tege. bat after th1.
me ascenf is rapid ana over : qiHt!irg
but perfeoi.y safe ROAD.
4 he beauty If tbc scenery is mn. tba
real attraction for on TOP Of NJ wt.
.lsr.f y oae Of the largest teloscoues IN
ssns world located at me Carnegie OBJ
sesfsators Here one finds a was}
FgnFsrea observatory for the Discovery
81 new planets The equipment A.
snou6h elaborate and expensive. II by
10 means complete IN the sense that
avery apparatus is there which may.
- necessary for observation and study
under all conditions. New planets
may come into view and 10 properi,
locate and study them in their rela.
items 10 other planets as we'll as to
dpccyer their own laws OF motion viii
a4AQuire other equipment. II Is almost
s3ygsppssible 70 predict he WONDERFUL
Utilities Of this great station for
stndy ~ the world ~ well as the
IT. Vt new and unheard OF
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-04
y EVZr2CE ZSs<e7-51c|G2Z2@
ASkefeh OF the Great Scientific Work Now Coma On At
The Carnegie Observatory On MI. Wilson, CAL

Ac5vf'a'- 9: maH5 e4nds, in eulans
new odfces were stamped when he
United states entered lie ,var ana
many 81 IN. Acicp,ssiF Wvrp called 10
" Washington "a asS st IA Work ihcrc
and f5r time 81" observation IT thv
heavens w2s ahandoned. hut nnN. thar
The VAR Is aver aad fh3ues are rettiae
back 70 normal ecn3jt oas great SC
sesrch WORK AZ hs4 place may be *.
pec'cA .
selected over otfcr Places
NJ Wilson was selected AFTER n.lny
tests IF other a.nvated points in ho h
jhe northern af,d southern hent~.
pherc. The summit Of tho Rocky
Mountains Was fo4nd 10 be unit 70,
as'Fonopl cal work o. eeuSe OF The m.
stable atmospheric conditions ana no
frequent storms. Long periods Of an
broken weather free from rams and
WIKI few clouds are associated with
tha{ Tranquil aud ste#dy atmosphere
which all Astronomers desire. Nty
w 'lson rises nearly 5000 feet. ahovr
fhe' san Gabriel Valley and Is ahou.
'h'rty miles from 'he Pacific Ocean.
Another advantage was the fact tina
an excellent SET OF shops. laboratories
and offices could be maintalned in
Pasadena. Here TOO large founarrey
and an electric power plant have been
set up, Throughout the dry season
The wind IS al low velocity and there
is broad summit protected from the
suns rays by spruces and pines. The
water supply Is abundant IN fact. Is
one OF the inos' deal places in the
world for carrying on astronomicati
observations
Tower Telescopes
0rsAs telescopes AAys 1bsen p,aesa
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-04

"A it
Of he nns
engine mnsr ndwNuubu
seah
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-04

Tower Telescopes
Crest Telescopes hAys been p.acsa
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

- s--A---~ls For Sale
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

5 good nlileh cows three Of Ik kAna Hi K f.Asl .: ...-
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

 |. la.e -. s,=

Y :.
 .e.tsss !. tsss Ys---~....-.v-~~>~A..~~~
 local BreyitieS 1 .sAs | TINY TOTE will plas.e send ,rs sh4is letters to 'Sants' tr lsiis ; office not later than hrnaay :. ,.,. noon ot,sarty might fs;i to get your letters ih time to tili your order. <.
 7. The Editor. < a-.,* ..as .-4..---. ; ...,..s Notice '. To my patrons;
 I will not be in ft1y office - from. December 18th, until after the holidays. \
 a''''.". s'J.ssH Mccain, =. .-@ = ..sss.:ss .s Dentist
 s',ss r.-.---4->-.- -s,--1----A.A.>- -
 N,oo.en socks for men at Blue stonss. .. -.
 rsAAA4s---s.
 R1y. and Mrs. F. c. Cannon and children Arrived from Cur. -assesday .ahd are at home at the Methodist parsonage. <.
 j. As..ss l.1-4. ..s Kt.;f xntl k.;lid leather clnves
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11
lss Lillian Bridges sper

week end with her parents at K dron.
 ----------Si--s~.--.--e ] Shoes for the whole famils 8 -Bluestone, Bros.
 ----------<9-- E. K. Vandermark of B.'ide port Ill. spent a few days Wlti
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

!!! .'.!'!!.'.! s@as4!
 NOsS
 The Royal NeiEhbors will meet with Mrs. A. A \ sgbu,1a on .3afs urday December 20th Al) mem bers urged 70 come as impertan4 business i5 to attend 10. bring your certificates.
 Mrs. Holmes, Recorder
 --O------.s.-@5-ss
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

Fine brood SOW with 10 pigs pure bred Poland China Duroc.
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

RlSO n s~-..----<1---- Ladies house. felt slippers at
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

\
 For Sale 5 good niileh cows three Of them will be fresh in January Fine brood SOW with 10 pigs pure bred Poland China Duroc Jersey.
 s. F. Huntley, Riso n sa-..----4n-A- Ladies house felt slippers at BIueetones.
 Mrs Victor B,ggs and Miss Mayme McMertrey spent Mon- day and Tuesday shopping in Pine Bluff.
 Winter coats for the Ladies and Misses at Bluestone, Bros. ..5.... ;. .-.e--.-.-.. --s.------,- --.-4
 Mir. and Mrs. C. W. scrivens and children of GreenvilIe Pa. arrived last week for an extended visit with their uncle G. J. Brush at this place.
 .~ssS--.--A--~
 Mrv.navo Cueh v;a;iad rnia.
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

s. F. Huntley,
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

day and Tuesday shopping in
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

1' k1O1t1f~T5 ttOOOf O Nr -0------.s.->.
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

suO olNus ALI.---.--.--~-
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

DiuettOnes.
 . ..--------------o-- Mira. Victor B,ggs and Miss
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

Winter coats for the Ladies sn( Misses at Rlnastnha. Bros.
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

ID ny ps1HOsIol .<
 I will not be in rtiy office from. December 18th, until after
Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-11

The Editor. < :. ,. ..,. s-4.-...--s,--..-.-.-s--