The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-12-19

much greater than in other directions
from il. Even after the well was
drilled in and was producing, acreage
one.half mile east Of 1t sold for 81
per acre. Three months after the
discovery well was brought in. n 100
acre tract one-half mile east Of the
we'll was sold for only sl2,0O0O.
One of the largest producers in
oklahoma today. refused to purchase
acreage at any price north of the
well until thirty TO forty days after ii
had been brought in.
by later development it was proved
that the territory south Of the well
was dry, while the north and east
were most productive. In fact, it
is the opinion of one Of the most
prominent oil men in this territory,
that the most prolific lease in the
state of Oklahoma, which has more
sand under it. is located north of the
discovery well in the Healdton field.
This lease is the 4S0-acre tract on the
Richards farm. which went begging at
SIC, 900 when the discovery well was
brought in, but which was ultimately
sold To the McMann Oil Company and
the Magnolia Petroleum Company for
about $3.50, 900 At a later date. this
tract was the nucleus of a sale in
volving sac 900 OQ0 when the Magnolia
purchased some properties in the
Healdton field from the McMann Oil
Company.
IT is said that Skelly received his
frst ol money when he purchased =
lease north Of the discovery well at
Healdtun for about $1,000 and six
months afterwards sold 1t to the Car
ter Oil Company for more than mil
lion.
- The Oil Prophet
During the preparations for the drill.
ing of the discovery well of the
Healdton field and until the time it
had reached the pay sand, certain
carpenter of Ardmore, who had con.
vinced himself and few others that
he had the natural instinct to dis
cover the existence Of oil by the
power of smell, had somehow become
interested in the drilling Of the well.
Mounted on a bicycle, the story goes.
he wended his wiry way to the To-
cation which Mr.. Nichols had made,
and there found a stake and flag
which marked the chosen location.
THE location shall not be there" he
stated. There is no oil there Mr..
Nichols disregarded the prophets G)
oily advice, and the prophet girded up
his loins, mounted his two.wheeled
chariot and returned to Ardmore,
where, he called upon the men in
terested to bear their wrath down
upon the proposed location, and make
one anew. However, Mr.. Critchelow
needed not the prophets advice and
the oil was found where the oil
smeller" said il was not.
During the drilling of the well. this
man with the oily feeling" happened
to be sleeping at a farm house about
one-half mile from the well. The
next morning he approached Mr..
Nichols and said. You had show.
ing last night, didn't your Yes
replied Mr.. Nichols. "Well," said the
prophet, II knew it, due to the fact
that the magnetic influence Of the
sand as the bit drilled into it, Just
Jared me SO while l lay in bed, that
l couldn't sleep
At another time, the oil smeller
made the important discovery that
Mr.. Nichols had made the location
by system Of triangulation."
What do you mean?' asked Mr.
Nichols. well. there's an outcrop
Of oil over there" explained the "oil
smeller," pointing to a spot some dis
tance away, "and there's a spot over
there where l felt the oil as / walked
over It. and therefore you are USING
the system Of triangulauon."
Yes, guess you're right" replied
Mr.. Nichols. although he freely ad
mits to this day that he hasn't beer
able TO figure out the system.