New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-05-09
INCREASED OIL
ACTIVITY DERRICkS
ARE NOW GOING UP
DRILLING MACHINERY IN
TRANSIT. LAND OFFICE
CONTINUES BUSY WITH
APPLICATIONS FOR LAND
LkAsKS

There seems little doubt that com
merciai oil will be developed some
where IN New Mxico before .th'
present activity ceases. There is NJ
sign of any break in the interest i,
oil exploration. In number O
localities the first excitement ha
developed into business like cours,
to investigate fully and provid,
money to test promising prospec
found through this investigation.
The demand for leases and loca
tions has increased. The state lane
office continues extremely busy witt
applications for leases on state land
In some section leases are changing
hands at increaing price as the de-
mand for land becomes stronger
In many sections the local com
panies are getting ready for active
operation and are ordering rigs. II
places derricks are going up Will,
the machinery is in transit. Before
long Il appears that drilling will b.
under way in new localities. 1t seem.
likely before the summer is oves
that rigs will be at work in nearly
every county in the state.
More that a score of drills are al
work. The companies who are drill.
ing, give out very little information
as to the progress. About all oi
these companies were financed with
out appeal to the general public. For
this reason they are not interested
in handing out any information to
the public. They are spending their
own money to find oil and mindins
their own business.
Tularosa Basin
The interest in the Tularosa Basin
continues very keen, In no part OF
the state is there so many interests
stirring to obtain leases and ioca-
ton, organizing for active operation
and actually getting started to drill
This basin lies in Lincoln, Otero, and
Dona Ana counties. At present the
Otero-Dona Ana end is receiving
the most attention.
The w. w. Cox Oil Company of
Las Cruces is already getting to
work. The location for drilling is
on the east side of Dona Ana Coun-
ty about due east from Las Cruces.
Material is now going out for the
derrick and the machinery Is in
transit. Trucks have been purchased
to haul the material. This company
i apparsntly ready to make a
thorough test and is therefore In.
creasing its capital to $200OOO0
The Alamogordo Shale and Oil
Company 10 also getting ready for
work. It is said that this company
will use a diamond drill to test out
the formation for a depth of $500 #.
A regulation rig has also been Sc
cured and will later be used for the
final test for oil.
It is also reported that Frank E
Force, q geoiogist, has made . fav-
orabie report on conditions in the
Tularosa Basin to New York capital
lists. 1t Is said that the New York
ers are ready to spend large amount
to test locations suggested by Geo.
iogist Force. A large acreage has
been secured in the south part of
the basin near Valmont.
H. ]. Miller and ]. H. Miller. Texas
oil men. have become Interested in
the Basin and have let contract for
the construction of a derrick near
Escondida some distance south of
Afamogordo. These men expect to
begin drilling as soon as machinery
can be brought to the place. They
have a second location about four
miles from the first.
There are rumors of others COM
panies starting work in the basin.
Many Fl Paso people are interest
ed in the basin in various locations
and may undertake to drill, especial
ly. il the first attempts should prove
successful.
Saa Juan Basia
Interest is increasing in the oil
prospects 10 San Juan County. Drill
ing continues on the Mesa Verde
well At Flora Vista. At ll%3 feet
= slight showing of salt water was
found. A flow Of oil was met .
little deeper. the strongest flow of
oil yet found. Later another oil
showing was struck and . strong
flow Of gas. Drilling will continue
- the company is convinced that
oil will eventually be struck.
Quay Ceunty
There may be three oil rigs At
work in this county within q short
time. The derrick Is ready for the
at the location near Les
hia. The machinery is on the road
and may be on hand within . few
days. This will be the first rig to
begin work.
Pennsylvania people have selected
. location in the Rama Basin north
Of Clenrio near the Texas line.
Machinery and derrick are on the
way from Pittsburg. Drilling will
be started just as soon as the rig
is placed. Il 10 reported.
A third company is gettine ready
to drill near Glenrio. The members
Of this company are well known
Amarillo bushes men: s. H. Mad
den, W. H. Herring, L. Blevins, III.
Noble, and p. H., Landergin. This
company has leased . large tract
near town.
Luna csunsy
Drilling Is again in progress on
the we'll at Columbus. Due to water
trouble drilling had to be stopped
for, some time until the water could
be cut of. The drill 10 still IN line
stoae aad conditions are considered
favorable. The water supply h OBJ
tained from an old well aearby.
When this old wen which b 90
feet deep vas cleaned eus, Oh aa6
1As were founA.
DealaG b growing % a. Oh eeates.