The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-08-06

Mr.. McGee came pedaling up on a bi-
cycle and inquired what the flag meant,
and after | explained that it was the
location for the Red River Oil Com
pany's well, Mr.. MCGEE declared that
it was up TO him TO make the location
and that he proposed to have it chang
ed to the center of the southwest quar-
ter of section s. | told Mr.. McGee that
any change in the location would have
to be made by noon the next day as
about 10 teams were then on the way
from Ardmore, with rig. etc, and | was
authorized by DR.. Critchlow 10 make
the location and unless Critchlow wired
me further instructions the well would
be drilled a the location then made.
Many Of those familiar with the Head
ton field and later development, can
visualize the result. had the location
been changed to the center of the south
west quarter of section S. II would
have been a dry hole and 1t is possible
Ardmore would have waited several
years before some one else would have
again drilled well in that vicinity.
As 1t was, my location, was danger
ously near the dead line
We all know about the well being
drilled in but the old timers will recall
there was little. or no activity in ac.
quiring leases for about 80 days afteI
the well was completed bought 80
acres out of the northeast quarter OF
the northwest quarter of section 8,
several days after the well was com.
pleted at 81 per acre; this lease was
ultimately developed by Simon West
heimer, Frank Conrad, and myself.
Three months after the well was drilled
in, | negotiated 40 acres from Mr.. c.
X. Smith in the north part Of section
., for which was paid $50 per acre
This Smith 40 acre lease was operated
under the name of ? estheimer and
Nichols. II was in the Smith 40 acre
lease that the now famous Max and
simon Westheimer made their debut
into the oil game; it required three
weeks of strenuous preparation before
i could induce Max TO enter society,"
IN fact, TO avoid my cannonade OF argll.
ment, he left for New York to buy his
fall merchandise. Bob Mcfarland OF
the McAlan OH Company paid s25 per
acre for 80 acres in the southeast quar-.
ter of section 30, 3s.3w. about two
months after the initial well was com.
pleted Money in Ardmore during the
days Of the Healdton excitement was
very scarce. As an Illustration of this
condition, tried to get every man in
town TO join me and make up a syndl.
cate OF $1,000. at which price Mr..
Richards of McAlester offered his $50
acres in section 81, 3s.3w. and after
working hard several days. $1,000 was
all ! could raise. and the trade fell
through McAIan and Magnolia ulu-
mately paid Richards sl75 900 for the
best lease in the United States.
I Taking the Healdton field proper. and
by this, | mean from section 10. 4s.Sw.
orthwest TO section 81, Ss3w, was there
ever field that shows the recovery
per acre? Was there ever field so
easily and cheaply developed Several
OF tn wells drilled on properties In
which | was interested. cost less than
$4,000 fully equipped. ON the other
hand was there ever a field where the
wells We're so badly butchered. vet in
spite of the butcherlng. the producers
pade money.
= Have always believed and am now
thoroughly convinced that the Healdton
field viii within the next year or two
have one of the greatest booms ever
seen in southern Oklahoma, The 200
foot sand was found by the Pure peo.
pie IL going to cause the fraternity TO
sit up and take notice and at approx.
mately S400 feet and 3700 feet the Pro.
ducers who have sold their production
In the Healdton field win shudder when
apprised OF the production OF very
light oil from these deep sands.
No article anent the early days Of
Healdton would he complete without
mentioning the battle waged by Mr..
Writ Franklin In behalf Of the indc.
pendent producers. OIL went to 30
cents per barrel and the pipe lire only
taking 10 per cent OF the gross produt.
ton. II is my opinion that II Frank
lin had not stepped into the breech. the
independents which were decidedly in
control OF the best properties. would
have been forced into bankruptcy. or
an early and untimely sale
Heald,on did put Ardmore on the
map