The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-06-24
Right Now There Are Eigh-
teen Working Or Coming
In That Territory
TALK OF REFINERY
HEARD AMONG men
Nothing Tangible Yet On The
Proposition But 1t May
Materialize

Ill tne next oU days at least ~ rigs |
would be working in the Gambler oil |
fiedl Of Knox count, the wise ones
smiled cOmmiserately. Reports Wed. |
nesday found 18 either working or
moving in, and the month still has
three weeks to go.
Old operators state that it is really
surprising to them,> the manner in
which operations in this field not only
are holding up but actually are in.
creasing, but the number of men find.
ing employment as drillers, helpers,
teamsters and in other capacities also
is steadily growing. The statement
was made today that just within the
last few weeks not less than Is menN
have moved their families to Mt. Yer.
non that they might have them near
and enjoy the comforts of home. The
hotel men give thanks daily for the
presence of the oil men who fill their
rooms and crowd their lobb.ss in
what promised to be the dull and
profitless season 1t frequently hap.
pens that room may not be secured
for lodging after 1 p. m. while the
man who registers after =. IN. any
day is just out of luck.
The operators look for the price of
| oilsto go to a lower point. The last
announced quotation for Corning oil
was $1.40. Had the price held around
81, to say nothing Of the "a and there
abouts quotations of last season, it Is
easy to believe that by now Knox
county would be experiencing one of.
the widest oil excitements in her hiss
tory.
AS general thing operators refrain
from making too optimistic estimates
and predictions touching the Gambler
held, but the steady increase of the
operations in this field is not without
its import and significance.
May Build Refinery
| Some talk has been heard among
them recently of forming a company
to build an independent refinery for
this field. While there has been no
tangible move mode this far, the talk
is passing among them and that it
may materialize into something tan.
gible is within the range of posi-
bility.
These operators as a class are men
who are not afraid to take a chance
and if proposition looks good to
them they will put their money into
it,
With oil at low mark and going
lower, 1t is pointed out that this is
the oppOrtune time for refinery to
secure IA stock of low priced oil. When
the price of crude oil goes up, as 1t is
certain to do sooner or lattr, at the
pleasure of the Standard. the refiners
will be in a position to profit there.
by.
Crowding Lease Lines
There has been more or less talk
among the operators about a certain
disposition being noted among the
newer and younger operators to
crowd the lines This is practice
not tolerated and is discountenanced
by the old and experienced operators.
The common practice in the oil
field is not to drill we'll closer than
400 feet to another we'll Following
this practice, an operator observant
of the unwritten law will drill not
closer to his line than 200. His neigh.
Dor, doing likewise, keeps 200 fees
away from his line and between them
they maintain the 400 distance wells.
Some Of the newcomers see fit to
disregard this unwritten law of the
oil field and are making locations as
close as 80 feet to their line, This
forces the fellow on the adjoining
lease to follow suit.
1t is claimed among oil men that
drilling wells so close together is a
waste OF money compelling the drill.
ing OF more wells than actually nee
essary for the proper development of
a field Such wells also are uniform
ly short-lived, quickly exhausting the
territory from which they draw.
Rigs Coming In
Adding to the number of rigs al
ready operating In the Gambler field.
Moore is unloading Cyclone rig at
Hunt Station, e. c. Smith is unload
ing a Parkersburg rig, Church is do
ing the same thing, Lydecker is NOV
!, ling to location on the f. j. Van
Voorhis farm, Apple of Cleveland has
made location on the Mary Mckee