The Bossier banner., 1921-01-20
A Trip Through Homer's Gre
Oil Field SO Wells To /
Homer Guardian-Journal, 12thJ

Homer GHGfdfdBJOMrnGf,1 12thJ
Accepting an invitation from d. NJ.
Harris to seat in his car and accom-
panied by him and ]. Il. Gaar. the
writer made an extensive trip through
the oil field last Friday. And inasmuch
as there are hundreds of people in the
parish, and even in Homer, who have
never been through this field and there
fore have no just conception of its mag
nitude and the extent of operations now
going on, we propose to give concrete
and conservative account Of what we
saw and learned.
There are some, no doubt who will
be surprised to learn that there were
$40 producing oil wells in the field last
Friday, not counting those that are
irregular and whose production is neg
igible. Yet we got this information
from reliable employees in the field.
But one Of the distinguishing char
acteristics Of this field is the longevity
of the wells. There are perhaps but
few who know that the discovery well,
drilled by the Progressive Company
two years ago, is still producing. And
the second well, brought In by the Bill
Rowe Company, hardly two months
after the first, is still producing. The
pump is making its regular strokes
md has not lost an hour since 1t was
ipplied, except to adjust machinery oc-
asionally. These wells are about 300
Yards apart, and are somewhere near
he geographical center Of the proven
rritory.
From information obtained FROM
hose well versed in petroleum lore,
md from reading somewhat extensively
in the oil journals, we have no doubt
chat this field is well entitled to the
appellation " The Wonderful Oil Field
n the longevity and shallowness Of the
wells, together with the small percent
age of dry holes, 1t is a marvel to
biologists, and without an equal in that
iehalf, in America or in the foreign
fields.
The field has been greatly enlarged
in the last three months by extension
in a southwsternly direction in section
%, range s. Across Flat Lake from the
Murrell or G. T. Shaw place and look
ing toward the Bonner place, hundreds
of new derricks can be seen and there
are number Of new flowing wells.
Recurring more to the personal phase
Of our story, our readers win probably
be surprised when we tell them we be-
lieve there are fully 5000 white people
living within its boundaries.
We started out at Westerville at the
Zig camp Of the Gulf Company, on the
Sykes Ferry road, and took rough
census of the families in each camp as
we went, and the above was our esti-
mate. concurred in by many of the res
idents.
Near the original well is the church
built by all denominations. Sunday
school is conducted there every Sunday
morning by Rev. J. L. Dring, who also
breaches every Sunday, unless some
other minister comes
The school building Is located here,
a new four-room house. But the school
has grown to such proportion that they
are using the church and Rowe Club
Hall, too. B. F. Clark is principal and
he has faculty Of seven teachers.
From appearances it seems to be well
regulated school, with over 300 pupils
enrolled.
Right close to the church is the
Y. M. C. A. building This organization
is in charge Of o. NJ. Hepner, and with
out intending individual distinction. we
venture the assertion that he has done
more toward moralizing that commu-