The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1919-07-04
j. D. Thomson
on Visit to Pioche

uduS NeuueT, OL LOS AnBeltS,
are guests at the Alexander hotel while
district and enjoying the contrast of
the clear, silhouetted desert scenery
with the memory. of the softer Califor-
! MIA landscapes Interested in the Vir-
gnia Louise mine. Mr.. Thomson is
taking advantage of the opportunity to
| examine 1t and Wednesday he went
Of the Workings on
mine," he remarked after making the
trip and getting the facts and figures
from r; T. Walker, the manager. The
ore Is there and in large quantity. The
manager seems to be an able man.
think he Is one Of the best men,, in
fact. that l have met in that position.
Mr.. Walker will aid much in the work
| or making the mine."
Mr. Thomson is an oil producer and
a successful pioneer in other Industries.
At one time he owned the Geyser ranch
IN Lake valley, which he sold to the
present owners. When asked about the
chancesAfor success in developing ar
tesian water and using 1t for irrigation
he said that in his opinion it was rea-
sonably certain that artesian water
could be found in the valley. The
growing season short, but two crops
of hay with perhaps third pas
ture crop could be harvested. He
The distance from market was a draw :
back. He asked about the Pahranagat
valley, regarding which he Is well ac-
iAthlSu anu WhlCu lilpFtSSeS MIN aS
being most attractive agricultural
section of the country, and in these
matters he Is qualified to express sound
Judgment.
Mr.. Thomson has recently purchased
20,0O0-acre ranch, on which he will
work out some interesting expert
pier grass, with it's yield of fifty tc
seventy five tons to the single acre
which gives to l. the popular name OF
elephant grass. As 5000 acres of his
bilities with this new crop, which h.
mas already grown successfully, are
decidedly ATTRACTIVE The time is rap
ready passed" he said, when it will
no longer be considered good business
to sell cattle by the head instead of b!
= a silo, not only to save the losses nov
considered unavoidable, but to realiz
the full profit from the industry. 4
siio with proper cropping would per
nit the raising of cattle ready to mar
t ket as baby beef within one and a hal
years; This means a profitable bust
i Then, the conversation turning t
oil, in which he is most directly inter
ested, he described the different dis
this valley, which he had investigate
some years ago and upon which he ha
n distillation tests made, proving the ex
II think profitable distillation Of thes
shales possible at this time, due to tn
lack of fuel and to the lack of sufficier
J. heat units in the shales. That shale
o proitably distilled in Scotland does nc
le mean that 1t may be done here, as i
n Scotland, with cheaper coal and labo
d the the price ice Ct gasoline is between
lie permits work to be done on sha
which would be impossible here. A
though he had search made for o
lg seepages in the valley, he was unab
is to find any. The high altitude was pc
~ haps unfavorable At any rate, mo
rt oiltields were found at lower elev;
in tion. The production of the differel
ce oil fields was spoken of and the gre
to $4,000 barrel well of Mr.. Doheny W;
IN mentioned; the well with the 5000, o.
ID. ing in undiminished volume under
pressure of $50 pounds to the squa
y, inch.
an One of the wells sold by Mr.. Thor
of son to the Standard Oil Company nc
us has production of 100000 barre
re month. That must be pleasing" W
nd suggested by the reporter. Yes,
ng is," he said, yet that is an exception
re Well Sometimes, indeed, it is qui
ge different; in fact, We are now drilli
he a well which is down 3,70O feet a
ed in which we have found no oil and
a which we may never find any, althou
ed we are working with that hope. tt
mt is pioneering in new field" 1T
Ice that kind Of pioneer work that
hs %e not G9Sntry soo much
w. just that kind" was the sensil
os- answer J. d. Thomson has horse ser
ire besides being genial and comfortal
on, companion and the district is fortune
tn, in having him interested here
ly ----------------------
INV ns.n O-a s-ou, III, N..Anxv v.tIav M,