New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-04-18
REMARKABLE ACTIVITY TO DEVELOP THE OIL FIELDS
IN PROGRESS OVER THE STATE. STATE LAND Of
FICE LEASING GREAT BLOCKS OF STATE LAND FOR
ExPL LORATION FOR OIL AND GAS
SCORE or new OIL COMPANIES
and MANY FROM TEXAS IN THE FIELD
CONSIDERABLE SHALLOW PROSPECTING HAS BEEN DONE
AND RESULTS ALL INDICATE THAT THERE Is GREAT
WEALTH UNDER THE RY SURFACE OF THE STATE

There 10 oil in New Mexico. So
say eminent geoiogists. They go
further. They say the next important
new oil field will be brought in some
where IL New Mexico. They also
say that the oil lies deep. So far they
agree But these same eminent geo.
iogists differ widely as to the loca-
ton Of the oil pools. Hence
interest In possible oil dew
eiopment in New Mexico is becoming
state wide.
General scouting for oil in New
Mexico has developed so to speak
over night. Little interest was ap-
parent except in a few localities on
the east side when house bill No
1856, introduced by A. H Carter OF
Magdaiena, slipped through the las!
session of the legislature. This bill
provides for the leasing of state lands
for the exploration, development. and
production of coal, oil and gas. and
other minerals. The legislature had
barely adjourned when things broke
loose all over the state, swamping
the state land office with appiica-
tions for oil leases under the new
law. The revenue is already con-
siderable.
This sudden interest in oil dcv-
eiopment Is largely due to the fact
that new fields in Texas, only a
few hours ride away, are developing
some remarkable wells. The Texans
are also carrying on an extensive ad-
vertising campaign in New Mexico to
sell oil stock which fact is helping
to stimulate interest in the promis-
ing oil prospects at home.
Still. prospecting for oil is not new
in New Mexico. For more than
twenty-five years has there been
spasmodic efforts in various parts OF
the state. especially in the Pecos
Valley, to drill for oil. But no
thorough test of any district has
ever been made, largely because OF
inadequate funds. The geologist may
indicate the location where oil may
probably be found. But after all
the drill is the only test. To make
a thorough test with the drill takes
courage and plenty of money.
Pseos Valley.
Thirty years ago when c. B. Eddy,
J. J. Hagerman. and their associates
undertook the development of the
Pecos Valley for two hundred miles
from Roswell to Pecos, Texas. good
water was not plentiful and geolo-
gists were set to work to locate It.
They found the water. At the same
time these same geologists became
Impressed with the fact that the for
nation indicated the presence of oil.
And they still believe that there is
plenty Of oil in the Pecos Valley
after making further and more re-
cent examinations.
The builders OF the Pecos Valley
were too fully occupied in the con-
struction Of irrigation works, dew
eiopment of agricultural lands, build
ing of a railroad from fPecos north
and laying out and building of towns.
to pay any attention to the ind ca
cations of oil. But the geologists
did not forget the promising oil indi-
cations
Years afterwards one fine March
morning in 1901 Carlsbad arose to
find q veritable oil BOOM There was
no attention to business or other
odinary affairs that day. People
rushed to locate every piece Of land
that vas open. Some money was
raised. A company set up rig about
three miles west and sunk we'll BY
the end of the year the funds gave
out and the drilling stopped at
thirteen hundred feet.
However, this attempt at drilling
for oil attracted the attention of the
outside world to the oil prospects IN
the valley. Biologists came and
went for years in the guise OF inno-
cent tourists that had no deeoer de-
signs than hunting rabbits. The re-
pots were generally favorable but did
not jar loose capital to test out the
prospects with the drill.
Then they found artes'an water at
Artesia. A rush of oneseekers
developed this locality in hurry.
Wells were sunk as rapidly as ma
chinery could sink them around Ar
tesla, Dayton, and lakewood. on
indications were in evidence, but
OIL had no interest to these corn'rv
builders. Thev needed water for
their lands But near Dayton one
arteSian wen Drought up So iilh' IL oii
that it had to be noticed. This is
the Brown well Many attempts were
made for years to shut off the water
and pump the OIL Now and then
a packer would stay for while and
from forty to fifty barrels of oil a
day were pumped. Many geo'ogists
hold that this oil comes through a
crack in the formation from a pool
not so far distant. Other artesian
wells showed indications of oil.
Along in 1912 California people
came to the vallev and set up a
standard rig near DAYTON to try for
shallow oil on a limited lease. An
eleven hundred foot hole was dry
Deeper drilling was necessary. But
the company needed larger acreage
to warrant deep drilling. The land
owners raised the price and the