The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-06-10
Air of Mystery Shrouds Unity
Test~ Sightseers Ordered Off
Lease; Say Important
Tests" Being Made.
CENSORSHIP FINAL;
REPORTS CONFLICT
Some Say Have a Well, Others
Declare Not; Drillers Work
ing Extent of Information
Obtainable.

The censorship that was clamped
on early in the war and which re-
mains fairly effective with regard to
the peace treaty has nothing on the
manner in which the Unity Oil com
pany at Alex, guards the secrets hid
den in the housed-in derrick of their
test in the nw-nw-1S-5-5. There will
be no "pitiless publicity in connec-
tion with this test not if the Off
GERS and men Of the company can
help it, which they can and did
Many reports had reached Chick
asha concerning the status Of the
Unity well at Alex. Some we're good,
some bad, St-ne of these reports
coming from the offices of the Unity
company said they had hauled out
of the well several bailerfuls of oil,
Other reports from men who claimed
to have visited the well, stated that
there were traces of oil, with some
of the fluid showing in the bailerfuls
cf water and mud brought from the
well Other reports were not so en-
ccuraging as to the probability of the
Unity company ever bringing in
well at Alex. Plainly, it was mixed
up bunch OF reports.
Still aMystery.
Figuring that look around the
wen would serve to give the public
a correct line as to appearances,
representative Of the Daily Express
visited the Alex well yesterday after
noon, but all that was learned could
easily be written on a postage stamp
The derrick is there, steam was hiss
ing from the boiler and the walking
beam was rocking up and down.
What was happening inside the der |
rick, Mr. Hotalling, the head driler
knew, and knowing, was firm in his |
position to keep to himself.
In the town of Alex it was report |
cd that no one was being permitted
a look at the well, wherefore at the
Unity office permission to visit the
operations was sought of F. e. Bur
rOughs, office man and in command
during the absence of Arthur Chap
man, general manager of the compa-
ny, who is in Kansas City. The per
mission was granted
Different at Well.
At the well which is about three
quarters of a mile from town and
farther than that when it as hot as
yesterday afternoon, things were diff
ferent At the gate, so yards from
the derrick, was big sign that said
mo Admittance,' which warning was
dlsregarded in view of the permis-
sion having been granted by the Of
flee.
Fifty feet from the well, however
all progress was blocked by a husky
tool dresser who was told of the per-
mission gained at the office. Mr.
was summoned and nego-
tiations entered into. The conversa-
ton with Mr.. Burroughs was repeat
ed, whereupon Mr.. Hotalling declar-
ed, you go back and tell Mr.. Bur
roughs that this is my day at the
well and nobody is going to get in
1t was then pointed out that if
Mr.. Chapman were present he would
sanction a look around the premises,
in the event that any condolences be
observed.
Let me tell you something you Y
are about 10 feet nearer the derrick {
right now than Arthur Chapman /
could get" answered the driller.
There may be oil in the Unity well q
It Alex. They may have a well and {
again they may not, but whether or
lot they are putting out any infor- Z
nation or giving anyone chance
to draw conclusions. In view of the
act that they have several thousands
Of acres of leases in the immediate s
7icinity and that apparently every /
me is pulling for them to land a well {
{ might appear that their air of mys- l
-ery, their guarding of what is appar- !
emily some dark, deep secret, is un-
,alled for, There have been as many ]