The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1919-10-17
DAY DREAMS o OIL

THE following editorial from the
Albuquerque Evening Herald Is
30 good that we have lifted" II
bodily. n was written with only
one purpose in view-to instill
patience and hope IN the breast
OF all the vigorous manhood OF
New Mcxico.l
Over IN Texas some weeks ago a
wildcat" oil company. known by
the picturesque name OF Hog
Greek" OH Company, whose stock
was worth siOO a share In July,
sold out TO one Of the largest pro-
duction companies for si6,OO0.0O0.
The owners Of the 500 shares got
$4,000 for each share they owned.
There Is a rumor that an oil bro
ker not long ago offered an Albu-
guerque man five shares OF this
now famous stock at SO a share
and that the home man refused a..
n il fully authenticated that three
shares Of the stock were traded
at Ranger. Texas, for a set Of
springs for a Ford car; the garage
man who made the trade having
produced the stock and the record
Of the sale 10 prove the story. II
Is but one OF the many such
eases OF truth In miraculous wealth
production from oil. stranger than
any widest dream Of Monte Cristo.
or course. there are failures along
with successes. About as many
men lost in the oil game as lose in
any other game Of business-nol
more.
We have been thinking. how
ever. less OF the individual ele-
mcnt than OF what Il would mean
Ia New Mexico and 10 all ths
people OF this state should oil b.
encountered here in largo quaint
ties. Such discoveries are mors
than probable. The number Of
drills now running in the state II
nearing 100. More are coming al
most daily. Literally millions arr
being invested and being mad,
ready 10 invest In the validating
Of the New Mexico field. In mining
the term wildcat" al a fake
promotion. In the oil game II h
the accepted term for the man OF
company who has the courage anc
the enormous amount OF cash
necessary 10 pioneer In a new and
wholly unproven field.
Well, nearly all biologists who
have studied New Mexico say the
geological structure" Is right for
the existence Of oil. Practical oil
men confirm H. More conservative
biologists say there is more danger
Of faults In this state. due "a
our large volcanic areas. than h
the case In west Texas. Practical
Oh men say that the geologist'
make a valuable and highly Inn
portant scientific guess; that he
Fan tell you absolutely where oil
IL not. but he cannot tell you with
any reasonable degree Of certainty
whore Il Is. He can save you mon
ey very often; but he cannot make
your wildcat oil we'll a sure thing
In fact. no oil well Is a sure thing
ever In a proven field
50 We cannot tell what Is II
store for US in New Mexico. II
another year we may be rolling IL
a flood OF new wealth and will
car cities and towns gas lighief
and heated. We may be exactly
where we n at present. II Is a
beast an interesting situation Il
note and one with a definite
thrill OF excitement In Il.
should oil be found in New Mex
leo every tax payer will benenl
directly. Not alone by increased
wealth IN the slate, but by a dlrecl
Tightening Of taxes. The states
millions Of acres are scattered oil
over New Mexico. Many thousands
OF acres have been leased 20 drill
ing companies. More than ei2b.00
has been received for these leases
alone.
But suppose q few wells like this
fabulous Hog Greek, above men,
toned. should be discovered on the
stale owned landsf The state with
holds a onercishth royalty Of oil
production. A few such wells