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Newspaper
Pecos Enterprise
Location
Pecos, Texas, United States of America
Date
Aug 17, 1923
Page
1
The Bell well crew reports progress after mud packed water blocked pumping at 1300 feet. New calf wheel cable and sand line arrived, bailing continues, water level lowers and clears of sediment, allowing another attempt to set the pump and bring in a producer soon.
Work crews in Reeves County at the Hershenson well erect a standard derrick. After the bit was lost in the initial drill, crews prepare to install machinery and begin operations on the new hole.
The Flood diamond core test in Culberson County north of Toyah reports gas at 1145 feet and 100 feet of laminated sand with high gravity oil and gas at 2218 feet. A surprise laminated sand at 2900 to 3037 feet contains oil and gas, with drilling paused at 3400 feet. Geologist David Flood predicted the sand. Dr. J. A. Udden of the University of Texas reviewed cores favorably. The test is viewed as potentially one of West Texas's most important discoveries with a possible major pay in the deeper sand and shale formations.
In Fort Stockton field activity remains steady with the 1 well on section 19 and St. L. railway survey lines intermittently flowing gas and oil. Gas production is estimated near half a million cubic feet as drilling proceeds. Fishing continues at the Troy well on section 20 while reports are pending for the 592 well and Southern States Lease & Production Company well.
The City Council met with Mayor Pro tem S. M. Prewit and aldermen A. G. Taggart R. E. Williams H. H. Johnson W. B. Oates plus secretary Earl Easterbrook present. B. A. Toliver received 147 votes and John Ross 96. Toliver was declared elected mayor and sworn in. Engineer Posey discussed Bankhead Highway bids and road plans through town.
Pecos public schools will open September 10 with a strong faculty. The high school lists R. B. Norman as Superintendent and a capable staff including QO. Dean, Mrs. J. W. Brooks, Miss Wynona Corley, and Miss Velma Slayton. The intermediate department features Mrs. Lillie W. Cole and several teachers, while the primary staff includes Miss Velma Womack and others.
Father James a Pecos Catholic priest endured a dangerous storm trip to Fort Davis last week. His car was swept from the canyon road by floodwaters, abandoned mid stream, and he wandered the canyon overnight in a shelterless night. He reached McCutcheon ranch at dawn for breakfast and transportation to Fort Davis, arriving at 1 PM wiser from the ordeal.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes Texas Technological College will anchor West Texas at Lubbock and the South Plains. The Aug 28 Texas Tech Party signals regional unity, with Lubbock pledging service to West Texas and a bid to foster growth and progress for the whole area.
H. F. Anthony of Crystal Water spent last Saturday in town and closed a deal with Charles Devlin for a ranch west of town. The consideration was about $50,000 with immediate possession and Anthony planning to move his cattle to a ranch along Reeves county's southern boundary.
Pecos chamber canvasses merchants and offers cash premiums for the first and second bales of cotton on the Pecos market. First prize is about 9 dollars. second prize 53.60 dollars. Pierce Hubbard claimed the first bale on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Banks will pay cash. others in wares. Contributors listed.
Late last week the Pyote school building in Ward County was destroyed by fire with an estimated loss near 25000 dollars. The origin remains unknown and no occupants were believed present. Insurance coverage was 10000 dollars and salvageable bricks may help fund a new smaller facility near town.
The Fort Stockton Pioneer reports Pecos county cotton will be smaller than last year due to water shortages in Imperial and Buenavista areas. Irrigated lands near Fort Stockton show better potential with promising yields. H. T. Odneal displays stalks suggesting about one bale per acre.
All school lands with unpaid interest to Nov 1 1917 will be cancelled Aug 26 1923 and offered for sale Sept 1 1923. Landowners should check the out list to ensure no land is advertised. The County Clerk and Pecos Valley State Bank hold the listing of lands on market Sept 1 1923.
Mrs D M Thomas of Abilene spent about a week with her daughter Mrs Marvin Cowan at the VH ranch and has now gone to Midland to visit her son Dr Thomas before resuming her journey home.
Lon Boxley, visiting from his river farm, rejects the first bale distinction as signaling drought. He owns seven to eight hundred acres with a fine crop and expects five to six hundred bases this season.
Pierce Hubbard earned the first bale prize for the 1923 cotton crop at Pecos delivered to Pecos Electric Gin at 2 PM Thursday. The bale from Hubbard’s Barstow area farm is ginning delayed by a missing motor, but lint value estimates at 24 cents per pound and seed sales add to the total. merchants donate 91.70 toward a 213.10 payout.
Mr. and Mrs. Porter A. Whaley and son visited Pecos on Sunday, meeting Mrs. Ben Palmer and paying respects after the loss of her husband. Whaley, now manager of the West Texas Chamber of Commerce based in Stamford, is campaigning against a proposed fifty percent cattle tariff reduction.
At a regular Commissioners' Court meeting the tax levy was set with adjustments to fund recently sold Bankhead Highway road bonds and Balmorhea school. The rates include General County 25c, Road 28c, Road sinking 2c, Jail 3c, various road/district levies, multiple school districts from 15c to $1, and Loving county allocations for General 20c, Road 15c, School 5c, Poll 25c.
A list of locals leaving this week for the Baptist Paisano Camp Meeting includes Rev. J. M. Garner and family, Miss Hattie King visiting Mrs. Garner, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Collings and daughters, Mrs. Warren, Mrs. J. C. Wilson, Mrs. R. B. Norman and child, Mr. and Mrs. Roy F. E. Biggs and Mrs. Nott, and others such as Mrs. Sid Kyle and Mack, Mrs. W. L. Ross and George, and Mrs. Fred Johnson.
The T. and L. class of the Baptist Sunday school gave Mrs W E Ritz a farewell party at Mrs W E Turner’s home. Ritz leaves to join her husband in Hurley New Mexico. A silver gift and class history memory book were presented. Refreshments were served including sherbet and cake.
Major Thomas H. Bomar stopped by the Enterprise office on Thursday marking his first visit in six to eight weeks. He had been confined to bed for weeks, describing his ordeal as the valley of the shadow of death.
The Pecos water commission and party surveyed irrigation projects from the upper Pecos to Carlsbad New Mexico. In Pecos the Chamber of Commerce hosted fried chicken and fruit at Ala Mo Playgrounds before speeches by Col George E Barstow and others praising Texas and New Mexico cooperation on river water division. The group continued upstream to Barstow Buena Vista and Grand Falls before returning to Pecos Thursday afternoon.
District Attorney C. L. Vowell will travel to Pecos around September 15 to assist in the prosecution of a double murder case. W. S. Ham and P. W. Howard are charged with killing N. V. Nixon, an El Paso man. Birge Holt, Pecos district attorney, will prosecute with Vowell assisting as a friend of long standing.
Hon W A Nabors Texas Railroad Commissioner toured West Texas oil fields and Pecos Valley Southern Railway on Tuesday, praising service and property upkeep. He spoke at a depot hearing in Lorraine on Wednesday, accompanied by Walter Gerron. The visit marks a new commission policy to conduct field hearings for small communities.
News of M W Tatum’s death in California surprised friends in this region. He owned a large cattle ranch and a Kent store, stocked with quality white faced cattle and was nearly debt free. The body was shipped to El Paso for interment early this week.
Max Krauskopf of Pecos known as the silver tongued orator of Texas visits Big Spring for Frontier Lodge No. 43 Knights of Pythias. He aims to meet every member and holds the roles of Grand Prelate District Grand Chancellor and Special Grand Chancellor, active in Pythian work statewide.
The Teachers Institute led by F. P. Guenther of West Texas Normal Canyon will open in Pecos on September 3. It will be a consolidated institute with teachers from Hudspeth Reeves Ward Loving Winkler and Ector counties, including experts in primary and intermediate work.
The Young Woman's Auxiliary of the Baptist church held a misc shower Tuesday at Mrs. E.'s home for Callie De Racy who will wed Herbert Holloway. Members surprised her with a basket of linens china silver and bric a brac and guests included Ronald Roberson Viola Ward Louise Wadley Kathleen Kite Beatrice Bowie Estelle Hicks Bettye Watson Julia Ward Tommie Ross and others. Refreshments were served by the hostess and Mrs. Gid Rowden.
Miss Gladys Thurston arrived home Wednesday after spending most of the summer in California with friends.
El Paso hosts Frank Joplin for a vacation break as he spends time away from work. The trip highlights a period of leisure for Joplin in Texas.
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