Casper as Beehive Where Magnates Meet From Coast to Coast
A travelogue by G. K. Nickerson portrays Casper Wyoming as a modern, prosperous hub with up‑to‑date schools, a Carnegie library, federal building, and booming oil industry. It notes high living costs, planned subdivisions for 1918, and refineries at 16,000 barrels daily, with forecasts Casper could rival Bakersfield in five years. Mention of oil price spread and a prohibition anecdote follows, including an interview with California oil operator Guthrie praising oil’s global importance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wyoming
Casper
Denver
Burlington
Wilshire
Los Angeles
Brookline
Boston
Standard Oil Company
Midwest Oil & Refining Company
Bakersfield
Cal
California
Salt Creek
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio
United States
Texas
Guthrie
Old Mexico
Jerusalem
Tyre
Verner 7. Reed
Colorado Springs
West Salt Creek
Uncle Sam
Europe
Casper oil boom drives state wealth and new development
The Casper area, led by T. O. Turner and the Corona Development Company, expands Salt Creek field plans and new garages as oil capital floods Casper. Investors from Standard Oil to Shell Royal Dutch back multi‑million oil activity, with banks booming and three oil‑supply firms each grossing about 400,000 monthly. Local leaders including ex‑Mayor W. S. Kehto tout Elkhorn Big Muddy yields and Bates Park prospects as Casper aims for permanent growth.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
T. O. Turner
California
Corona Development Company
Salt Creek
Casper
United States
Wyoming
Standard Oil Company
Midwest Refining Company
Illinois Pipeline
Shell Royal Dutch Oil Company of London
Baron Rothschild
General Petroleum Company of
Colden Oil Company of
Oklahoma
Texas
Main Street
T. A. Spears
Coroma Development Company
W. S. Kehto
Big Muddy
Wall Creek
Casper Toda
Bates Park
Bates Hole
Elkhorn
West Salt Creek oil boom described with multiple wells and fields
A Casper area field tour highlights Salt Creek and West Salt Creek districts. Companies Hjorth Republic Petroleum Ohio United Petroleum and General Petroleum show active drilling, water setbacks, and promising yields amid a growing array of rigs and pipeline capacity.
Forest of Derricks Show Thick Oil Field Activity
A detailed tour of the Salt Creek field reveals large drilling rigs costing 25 000 to 30 000 dollars each. John Dart known as Jack leads Republic well No 1 with plans to drill to 150 feet and potentially to 2700 feet. The operation emphasizes electric lights, high capacity, and a predicted spring 1918 boom boosting oil stocks and wartime supply.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elkhorn
Glensock
Ohio
Phoenix
Salt Creek
John ©. Dart
Jack
Salt Water
California
Republic Well No
Tom” Turner
Williams
Republic Petroleum Corpsion
Also Mentioned on This Page
G. K. Nickerson
Dee le Edgebbs
Willee
Hjorth Company
Hjorth
Republic Petroleum Corporation
Ohio Company
United Petroleum Company
Republic
R. C. Wyland
Wyoming National Bank
Baltimore
West
Empire Building
The
Salt Creek Field
Mosher
Fim
Parker
Blackmore
General Petroleum Company of California
Empire Range & Drilling Company
Powder River
Tom Spears
Casper Commercial Club
Hostity
Cheyenne
H. Leslie Parker
Ele
North Platte
Atkinson
Midwest Company
Shannon
Republic Petroleum
Republic Well No. 1
Old
Cape Cod
Dart
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!