The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-12-01
COUNTY TEST
TO DRILL NORTH OF
GAINESVILLE, TEXAS
Great Interest is Being Taken
in Location South of
Red River.

Apparent revival OF oil tests in
Cooke county has aroused great in
terest among citizens of Gainesville
and surrounding territory according
to a very interesting article on the
petroleum possibilities and situation in
that area which recently appeared in
the Gainesville Register. Attention is
directed to the fact that parties amply
supplied with financial resources are
hauling materials to the Whaley-
Jones ranch, a few miles north of
Gainesville, where a test is to be
drilled.
An extract from the article reads
as follows;
Gainesville business interests nave
been hoping for 4 revival of the tests
for oil and gas in Cooke county, be-
lieving that when activity in that line
is fairly under way there will be a re-
newed interest in business affairs
generally. That such hopes are about
10 be realized seems evident from the
~truckloads of heavy casing that nay
be seen on the streets of Gainesville
almost daily now and by the addi.
AlOldl announcement that lndtti i'll 10
being hauled to the big ranch of Wha-
ley & Jones u few miles north of
Gainesville, where a thorough test for
petroleum will be made by parties
amply supplied with the financial re.
sources to complete the undertaking.
1T has been believed for many
years that the land lying along the
Red river on the Texas side bore
the necessary geological formations to
Justify expenditure of money in sink
ing deep wells for a good test of the
sands far below the surface of the
earth. A number Of years ago, local
capital was interested in such an UNI.
dertaking but the drill went into an
unprecedented strata Of artesian water
that could not be stopped and today
this well continues its flow undated,
furnishing water for the numerous
herds of fine cattle grazing On the
pastures Of the Whaley & Jones ranch.
The well has been cased and capped
TO preserve the longevity. Discouraged
at not finding oil, the local enthusiasts
gave up the enterprise, oil not being
in such great demand then as it is
today.
But later developments in the study
of geology have convinced oil men of
the possibilities of that particular
section of Cooke county and as q re
suit the deep test so long hoped for
is about TO become a reality. From
the most accurate reports obtainable.
a drilling firm from Breckinridge,
Texas, will have charge of the work.
4 rotary rig Of the latest design will
be used in making the hole, and IL
is said the rig will soon be moved
TO the location. 1t is further stated
that the men at the head Of he en-
terprise control the leases on he sew
cral Whaley K Jones properties, the
Beattie ranch and other adjacent land,
giving them thousands of acres on
which TO make explorations IL the
first hole gives them any encourage
ment.
''The location Will be made about
one-half mile this side of Red river
in the north pasture, where the for
nations are identical TO those in the
Healdton and adjacent fields of Okla.
HOlIld' ~ Bobu well III Nidl StClleH VI
Cooke county will make Gainesville
one Of the biggest towns in Texas,
since the field will be situated suffi.
ciently near the town TO enable opera.
tors TO reside here, yet far enough
away not to jeopardize property val
ues by reason of drilling operations
and the consequent Objectionable fea'
lures OF the wild scramble akin to
opening a new oil pool.
Heavy casing is being hauled to
the lease northeast Of Gainesville in
the Rock Creek and Callisburg com
munities. where drilling is 10 be re-
sumed Immediately. The deep test in
the southeast part of the county,
promises TO be started at an early
date, all Of which will give employ
ment TO many laborers and well.paid
experts, the result OF which will be
felt in local business channels"