davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-10-20
Proelom ution

WHEREAS it has been brought
to the attention of this office thai
J 80 years ago forward looking
businessmen drillA the first sue
cessful oil well, and
WHEREAS it is significant that
those 80 years have been the sc
years of greatest progress for our
nation and our community, and
WHEREAS members of our
community who r engaged
either in transporting OF market
ing petroleum products desire to
report to other members of our
community on the progress of
their and competitive industry,
and
WHEREAS October 10th to
22nd inclusive has been designated
as "Oil Progress Week" when
members of the oil industry will
cooperate in informing the public
about the ways in which their in
dustry has contributed to our high
standards of living and to the pre-
s~ervation of our free, democratic
American way of life
NOW, THEREFORE, l, Allie S.
Povall, Mayor of Lexigton, Mis-
sissippi, do hereby proclaim the
week of October 10th to 22nd in
elusive to be
Lexington Oil Progress Week"
and to direct the attention of our
citizens to a study of the contri-
button and service the oil men
who live among us make to our
social, business and private
life.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I
have hereunto set my hand
and caused the seal of Lex
ington to be affixed.
Allie S. Povall, Mayor.
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-10-20
Story OF America First Oil Well

the pages of history. Or, they ex.
plain, maybe those other wei
drillers just had no confidence II
the idea that petroleum could bt
found by drilling a well like those
which they drilled for salt.
A retired railway conductor
Col. Edwin L. Drake, had beer
commissioned in 1858 by the Sen
eca Oil company to drill a well fol
oil at Titusville, Pa, near where
oil often appeared on the surface
of streams and pools of water.
Never before had anyone pro-
posed that oil existed in such IA
shion underground that it could
be found and brought to the sur
face by drilling a well.
When Colonel Drake arrived in
Pennsylvania, he decided that he
should hire some of the local ex-
perts who were drilling salt wells.
A crew of three that he employ
ed never showed up. Their dere-
LECTION was the chance that made
uncle Bully" famous.
When his drillers didn't report
for work, Colonel Drake borrowed
a horse and headed for Pittsburgh
and Tarentum, Pa, to talk to Will
liam A. Smith, a blacksmith
whose reputation as a well driller
was highly spoken of by salt well
people.
The Colonel hired Uncle Billy"
on the spot, but was greatly char
grined when the driller insisted
that he could not come to Titus
vile before the late spring of
1859. He had too many jobs al
ready lined up in and around Ia
rentum, he told the Colonel.
Smith arrived as scheduled ON
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-10-20

April 9, 1889. Drilling started in
May. Work progressed slowly.
The drill was down only a few
feet when quicksand was struck.
They drilled through the sand
readily, but when the drill was
withdrawn, the sand filled the
hole.
1t was Edwin Drake who came
up with the solution. He suggest
ed they push down a heavy pipe
through the quicksand until rock
was struck. Then they could re-
move the sand from the pipe and
continue drilling operations
through the pipe.
This held up drilling until fl
hancial arrangements for the pipe
could be made. The pipe arrived
in August, 1859, and they quickly
drove it through the sand to the
rock below.
Vii tlldt iliStOllC 81,
1859, the cursory inspection had
revealed, just a few feet below
the surface was the black, magic
liquid: petroleum.
A new industry had been born
and a new era in mans progress
begun. "Uncle Billy" cancelled
his plans to go fishing that day
with his sons James and Samuel
who had helped drill the well.
The ninety years since that
first well was drilled are signifi-
cantly the ninety years of the
greatest progress in America.
Along with the discovery of oil
fields and the subsequent develop
ment of new uses for oil products
have come the machine age, the
automotive age, the flying age,
the communications age and many
modern marvels unknown to us
less than ninety years ago.
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-10-20

This is the story of the fish that
I didn't get caught and of the be-
ginning of an era of progress. This
is the story of how the oil indus
try was born ninety years ago.
According to the best records of
the petroleum industry, a black
smith and well driller by the
name of Uncle Billy" Smith had
planned to 60 fishing with his
sons on a Sunday in August, 1859.
But that morning they found
oil when they made a cursory ex-
animation of a well they had
drilled to a depth of SO and a half
feet. That discovery cancelled
Sundays fishing expedition and
marked the beginning of the Pc
troleum industry. .
This week, "Oil Progress Week"
in communities all over the coun-
try, oil men are re-telling the
story of how "Uncle Billy"
brought in Americas, and the
worlds, first oil well.
They tell how it a the dere-
LECTION of some other well drill
lers that placed "Uncle Billy" in
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-10-20
State Joins Nation
In Celebrating
"0iI Progress Week
Oil Progress Day
Observed Thursday
Throughout Stote

Mississippi pauses this week to
Join other states all over the ma
zion in paying tribute to the oil
industry as 'Oil Progress Week
Is celebrated.
In cities all over the state, civic
clubs have scheduled special pro-
grams at which the ~industry's
Importance and growth are cited,
and a statewide celebration will
be held in Jackson on Thursday,
October 20, set aside particularly
as aOil Progress Day." according
20 RI. J. Nichols, Jackson general
chairman of the state observance.
Highlight of the Jackson event
will be a banquet at the victory
room of the Heidelberg hotel, to
which all members of the legisla-
fure and other state officials have
been especially invited. >. a.:
Swensrud, president of the Gun
Oil company, will be the featured
speaker.
This will serve as a climax 10
meetings held yer the state last
week and this, with the progress
of the oil industry in all its many
divisions being cited. Since Mis-
sissippi has become an oil pro-
ducing state, the 16 oil producing
counties will especially stress the
importance of this progress, but
all 90 counties will point to the
advances made in the wider field
of oil uses, especially through the
automobile, truck and tractor
fields which are helping so great
~ to mechanic farm practices.
Refiners. pipe line operators,
wholesalers and distributors of oil
products, down to the one-pump
gasoline service station operator,
will have a hand in the states
celebration of "Oil Progress
Week." to show how widespread
are the effects of this growing
enterprise. In some cities, the
celebrants will point out that the
states motorists use millions of
gallons of gasoline alone, on which
the state collects annually some
$40 600, 90 In taxes.
/, IN producing counties, speakers
will cite figures to show among
other things that Mississippi now
has about 1900 producing wells,
which produce a monthly total
Of over 5000, 900 barrels of crude
oil on which the state collects
around $450,000 a month in oil
severance taxes; and on which
the state has netted over $l8,-
& 30 90 since the oil severance
t. lac became effective in
/ - .344.
NE TO local schedules, many
{ wns in many parts of the state
have already held their "oil prog
ress" celebrations at civic club
gatherings; others will be held
this week including joint civic
club sessions at Natchez, Green
vile, Biloxi, Lucedale, Hatties-
burg, Meridian and Brookhaven.
Mr.. Nicholas, district manager
for Gulf Oil and state chairman
for the weeks observance, said
100 are expected at the Jackson
banquet, including most legisla-
tors. Frank Cannon, regional
manager for Pan-Am, will act as
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-10-20

POSTMASTER; Governor Fielding
Wright is slated for a welcome adj
dress; former governor Hugh
White will introduce Mr.. Swens-
rud as main speaker and Major
Frederick Su1lens, editor of the
Jackson Daily News, will make
a brief address on Mississippi's
appreciation of the oil industry.
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-10-20

the American people about itself.
Because of the greet response and
the widespread interest mani
tested in this great American in
dustry, the oil men decided to re-
port to the nation again this year,
but on a much larger scale. The
1949 observance has been expand
ed to a full week, so that every
community in the land will have
a chance to see or hear something
about the miracles and comforts
that have been wrought from this
product of nature.
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-10-20
s ~weIeome"-wherever you drive

production, in refining and transportation. More than 34,ooo
Individual oil companies and the services OF more than a million
men and women provide the oil products that result In better
living. greater comfort, more convenences for you.
The helping hand of your neighborhood dealer . the part
he plays in the daily life of his community the friendly, efl-
Gent service you will find at his station, symbolic the progress
that, spurred on by rivalry, will continue to mean so much to
YOU and to all Americans in the years ahead.
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-10-20
Oil works round
the clock for you!

You and your n~eighbors are now using more than Zoo
million gallons of gasoline, oil and other petroleum
products every day. We're proud of our part in help
ing to supply the oil products you need-the services
YOU w~ant-where and when you want them.
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-10-20

AROUND THE CORNER from your home or in strange cities
"A along lonely roads-high on the mountains and deep in the
vallevs-the nations $4,000 service stations are ready to well
come you and help you wherever you drive.
The men in these stations play an important role IN the
life of every American community. They are on the job for you'
ready to keep your car fueled, serviced, and rolling smoothly,
doing their part to keep America constantly moving ahead.
The competition among these dealers for your business re-
suits in higher standards of service -. helps bring you better
more efficient oil products. And the same rivalry pays on
for YOU in other branches of the oil industry-n research and
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
"MIGHTY Mt6URk"
 AT 10TH CENTURY

A big attraction comes to the 2oth Century Theatre tonight with the showing of "The Mighty Me Gurk", starring Wallace Beery in the role of clustering ex-prize- fighter.
 Beery, whose biggest screen tri- umphs during the past 33 years have been scored in roles with children, is teamed with Dean Stockwell, acclaimed for his DOT trayals in Anchors Aweigh' and .sThe Green Years" The boy actor plays an orphan who idolizes ana reforms the ex-pug.
 The supporting cast is headed by Edward Arnold, recently seen in Three Wise Fools Aline Mac Mahon, who won Academy consid- eration for her characterization in Dragon Seed" Dorothy Patrick and Cameron Mitchell.
 Arnold plays the owner of bar room, Miss MacMahon is the out spoken proprietor of a pawnshop who has spent 20 years trying to tame Beery Miss Patrick is the romantic interest of the film, and Mitchell plays a young fighter who turns Salvation Army captain.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
HILLERMAN FAMILY RETURNS, VACATION
 TOURING STATESIDE

The Rev and Mrs. G. H. Hitler man and three children have re- turned from vacation by car in the states.
 Leaving here over a month ago, the Hillermans went south on the Princess Louise shipping their car at the same time. Disembarking at Vancouver, B.C., they motored to Kent, Wash, where they visited MT. and Mrs. Kassner who lived at one time in Juneau. The Hiller- mans then travelled down the Ore gon coast and visited relatives in California.
 The journey was continued into Tia Juana, Mexico and then along the Grand Canyon in Colorado. Some time was spent in Nebraska visiting Mrs. Hillerman's relatives there.
 In Duluth, .5;na, Rev. Hiller- man performed the marriage cere- mony for his niece, Miss Clara Johnston. Miss Janice Hillerman daughter was flower girl at the marriage.
 Leaving Duluth shortly after July 4, the Hillermans travelled across
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
"IARCENY" E BILL TONIGHT AT CAPITOL

Most moviegoers probably think that screen meanie Dan Duryea spends his spare time dreaming ul new ways to kick dogs off the side walk or push baby chicks in water
 But they're wrong. He raises flowers! And as proof of his ability in the flora field, Dan has de- veloped coal black gladiolus which he hopes to have on the market In few years.
 On the screen, however, Duryea's time is spent skipping ladies, fram- ing men and, in general, proving himself despicable character.
 All of this he does with magnifi- cence in the Capitol Theatres cur rent al-International pic- ture, Larceny" in which he CO., stars with John Payne, Joan Caul- field and Shelley Winters.
 Larceny" marks the 18th ot Duryea's 16 Hollywood films in which he has portrayed heel. In three-"Black Angel" Sahara and Lady On A Train'-he was a decent guy, but his fans didn't like it. Letters poured in to the studio urging him to stick with meanie roles.
 Both the studio and Duryea needed the fans letters, and so he now is one of the screens highest lowest characters.
 In Larceny" for instance, he engineers a deal in which John Payne betrays Joan Caulfield's love, sets up a $100,O00 swindle, black mails Joan's father and tries to kill Payne.
 How much lower can you get? But in real life, Duryea is the father of two young boys and has been in the happily-married cate gory for over IS years.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
MRS. H0LMQUI5T, ALASKA PIONEER,
 DIES IN HOSPITAL

Mrs. Mary Holmqulsr, pioneer resident of Gastineau Channel passed away at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon in St. Ann's Hospital after long illness.
 Mrs. Holmquist, who was born in Finland in 1885, came to Douglas with her husband, the late John Holmquist, in 1908, the family mov- ing to Juneau in 1913. MT. Holm- quist, who died in 1924, was the first superintendent of the Alaska Juneau Mine.
 Mrs. Holmquist was member of Perseverance Lodge, Order of Rebekah and of the Pioneers of Alaska in Juneau.
 Surviving are two sons, Leonard of Juneau, and Ernest, Los An geles, who visited her last month, two sisters in Finland. and two grandsons, John, son of Leonard Holmquist. and Alden, son oi Ernest.
 Funeral services will be at ? p m Friday in the Charles w. Garter Mortuary, the Rev. G. Herbert Hill lerman conducting the rites. In terment will be in Evergreen Gene tery
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
LEGION OF THE MOOSE
 NO. 25

Meets Friday night, July 29th. All new members come.
 Old time initiation, lunch and fun. 56 St
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
American League
Y FROM SOUTH
 ON pAA FLIGHTS

Twensy -scvrn passengers arrived from the south yesterday by Pan American Airways. Passengers on PAA flights included:
 From Annette: MT. and Mrs. w. c. Aud.
 From Seattle: Karl Alstead, Har- old Berg, MT. and Mrs. E. F. Bull lock, Sam Christy, Frank Connor, MT. and Mrs. David Cross. c. A. Erskine. Martin Holm, Verne Holm- strom, c. D. Jermain, Gerald Long, Chester Loop, Sam Watson, Lynn Mckee, Merle Rhodes, Darwin Smith, Bessie Smith, Werner Wal den. Herbert Vending, Martha Vending, Robert Scott.
 To Fairbanks: B. B. Bolten, Alice Ernest, Blanche Nicolli, M. A. Berget, Martel Wilson, E. T. Brehm, s. Thorkilson, David and Claire Cross.
 MRS. ARNOLD RETURNS
 Mrs. Harry Arnold, of Fritz Cove. and daughter returned on the Prin- cess Louise after visit in the states since June l
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
SONS OF NORWAY

Meet Thursday night, o'clock, at the home of MT. and Mrs. Frank Olson, 923 A St. 56 2t
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
26 ABOARD pNA'5
 TUESDAY FLIGHTS

Pacific Northern Airrlnes carried 26 on flights yesterday as follows
 From Anchorage: Robert Steven son, Frank Hellmer, Earl Short, AL fred Baker, Eugene Percich, c. H. Mcdonald, Dale Kramer, Jerry Cunz, Jules Johnson, Ed Hamilton, Charles Notkong.
 From Cordova: Mrs. R. Slough. From Yakutat: Cpl. Gail Dear finger, Pvt. Clinton Baker. To Cordova: Sally Barnes, c. E Payne
 To Anchorage: Henry Wolff, S. s. Asmar, A. Rasheed, E. Glen Wild CT, It. Com. Holly, G. E. Garter, Ole Grannell, Clara Dilg.
 To Kodiak: Vernier Holmberg, Harold Berg.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
LEADERS IN B. B.

Leaders in the major leagues through games of yesterday are:
 AMERICAN LEAGUE Batting-Williams and DiMaggio Boston, .342.
 Runs Batted In-Stephens, Bos- ton, 102; Williams, Boston, 100. Home Williams and Step- hens. Boston, 25.
 Pitching = Reynolds, New York 1O-1, .909; Wynn, Cleveland, 8-2 800.
 NATIONAL LEAGUE Batting Robinson, Brooklyn 365; Marshall, New York and Slaughter, St. Louis, .327.
 Runs Batted In - Robinson Brooklyn, IS; Hodges, Brooklyn, 70 Home Runs = Kiner, Pittsburgh 27; Gordon, New York and Sauer Chicago, 19.
 Pitching-Chambers, Pittsburgh 6-l, .857; Sewell, Pittsburgh, 5-1 .833.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
8 PITCHERS DISH
 OUT 2S WALKS IN
 GAME LAST NIGHT
By JIM BACON


 The big question around the Pa cific Coast League used to be. Who's going to stop Hollywood?' Now, it's changed to this:
 Who's going to stop Sacra- mentor"
 The surging Solons pulled up to within four games of Hollywood Tuesday night by exploding for seven runs in the 18th inning to beat Los Angeles 1 4to 2. The game was record breaker in that eight pitchers dished out a total of 25 walks. The previous league record of "A was set on April's Fool Day this year by San Francisco and Portland The Solons 18th inning blast was touched off by Joe Marty's three-run homer, his sec- ond of the night. All seven runs were scored before the first out.
 Hollywood, meanwhile, dropped a 2 to 1 decision to Portland.
 Earl Jones' Oakland pitcher hurled one-hitter against Seattle to win 4 to l. Only Al Lyons ninth-inning homer spoiled Jones chances for a no-hitter. It was Lyons first hit in four games.
 San Francisco took a to , tenth inning tussle from San Diego on. Dario Lodigianis homer.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
30 FROM SOUTH
 ON CpR VESSEL

The Princess Louise docked here yesterday at 8:30 pm. with 30 passengers disembarking. The ves- sel will return here southbound Friday, docking at 2 am. and sail ing at 9:30 am.
 Passengers disembarking were: Mrs. c. Arnold, Miss E. Arnold MT. and Mrs A. Bullock and two children, Mrs. M. Geddes, MT. and Mrs. J. Gray, Miss N. Gray, G. l. Harrison, F. Jurick, F. Murphy, A. McClelland, MT. and Mrs. F. E Simmons, MT. and Mrs. L. O. Thayer, Miss M L. Thayer, J Toews, Miss J. Victor, c. J. Young L. Sylvaine, J. Clark. M. Mirho- witch, J. Harakas, J. Shearer, L. M. Riley, M. Spryka, J. N. Junick
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27

North Dakota and then visited Yel- lowstone Park. From there they drove into Canada arriving in Cal gary at the time of the Stampede. Only one bit of trouble was ex- perienced on the Alaska Highway. That was a heavy rain storm be- tween Ft. Nelson and Watson Lake
 Arriving in Haines, the Hiller- mans took passage on the M. " Chilkoot with their car. The en- tire journey took them over a dis tance of approximately 5000 miles
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
(0RSAIR HAS DING DARLING ABOARD ON
 VOYAGE YESTERDAY

The Corsair, Pacific Cruise Lines luxury cruiser, docked yesterday afternoon at 3:45 from Vancouver and sailed last night at 11:30 for Skagway There are Al round trip passengers aboard.
 Among the passengers are MT and Mrs. Jay N. Ding) Darling He is a prominent editorial car toonist and conservationist and was at one time chief of the Bio- logical Survey.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-07-27
BABY BOY FOR PLIERS

A baby boy was born yesterday afternoon at St. Ann's Hospital to MT. and Mrs. Jay A. Eller. The infant weighed pound, II ounces.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1949-09-24
Jackie Robinson
To Attend
Street FroIic

Featuring the personal APP
pearance of Jackie Robinson,
Branch Hickey and other celebri-
ties, block party will be held
on Massachusetts, Ave, between
CONTINUED on Page Four)
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1949-09-24
BANKS THANKS
.MSCO-WORKERS

Through authentic sources
have been informed that at least
two of the five candidates for
City Council, from our group, in
Ward 9, have filed insufficient
signatures to be certified as can
didates this year.
Whether or not this same lack
of signatures will eliminate all
but one or two of the remaining
three candidates, can not be de-
termined at this time.
However, I want to thank the
hundreds of Ward 9 voters for
signing my nomination papers
which, for safety and insurance
sake, contained more than triple
the number of signatures re-
quired.
I am deeply grateful also to
those supporters who circulated
my nomination papers vile ! was
fat on my back in Chelsea at the
Soldiers Hospital. They went to
bat, making it possible for my
name to be on the ballot Novem-
Der 3.
To the hosts of friends who
wished to volunteer to get names
had they known I had finally
been persuaded to enter the con-
test by strong public opinion,
thanks very much for your sim
cere cooperation as expressed to
me or to others.
1--WE did it once, do it again this
time, and in the year of 49,"
LAURENCE H. BANKS
Candidate for City Council
From Ward Nine
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1949-09-24
Dewey Prejudqed
PeekskilI Riot Case

NEW YORK = Charging that
Governor Thomas e Dewey epre-
judged" the PeekskilI not case.
Roy wilkins, acting secretary Of
the National Association for the
Advancement Of Colored People.
last week issued the following
statement:
Governor Dewey has issued a
strange statement on PeekskiIl.
He has ordered grand jury In
vestigstion to determine the
facts, but at the same time. he
has expressed the opinion that
the followers Of Paul Robson
provoked the violence. BY is
suing this statement, he has pre-
Judged the case and made the
projected grand Jury investiga-
ton a meaningless formality.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1949-09-24

A.M.E. Church, Rev. J. L. Jeltz
of Bethel Baptist Church with
their choirs and congregations.
Each evening during the ami
versary an array of prominent
elergymen, their choirs and con-
gregations, will add to the enjoy
ment and success of the occa-
sion. Tuesday night, Christ
Temple, pastor and choir, will
be present. Wednesday evening,
Oct. 5, the main address will be
by Rev. W. H. Hester, able pas
tor Of Twelfth Baptist Church.
Especially invited on this eve
ming will be the Deacon's' Union
of Boston and vicinity. Also Mrs.
A. J. Spratley, president Wom-
ems Auxiliary, United Baptist
Convention Of Mass. and R. L.,
accompanied by her staff, will
bring greetings And Rev. Sprat-
ley Of Concord Bapt. Church viii
I bring greetings from the paren:
Body Ct the sane aFabel Mar
tin, the singing evangelist from
Providence, with other preach
ers will contribute her usual
service.
Citizens Night comes Thurs
day, Oct. 6, participated in by
educational, civic and social or
CARNATIONS and business and
professional men.
Friday night, Oct. 7 will be
Young Peoples evening, with
the NAACP Youth Council par
ticipating, president Ben Danes,
speaker, who invites all New
England youth to hear his mes
sage.
Sunday, Oct. 9, at II AM. Pas
tor Bullock will deliver the final
anniversary message, Hitherto
Hath the Lord Helped Us" Evan
gelist Mabel Martin will also be
present. At PM. there will be
special service with Mrs. Lii
lie Ballard of Ebenezer Baptist
Church and her great Gospel
Chorus entertaining. Church and
state organizations will contrib
ute. At 7:SO a musical feast will
close the evening service with
the N. e. Chorus, under Ear
Waithe, the special attraction.
Monday night, Oct. 10, the
10th day of the 10th month,
Continued on Page Four