IT
Big Gamble
Taken For
Black Gold
By FLOYD L. WYNNE
Four miles south of Lakeview
several hundred feet from the
highway, a 156-f jot oil derrick
splits the sky and 25 men labor
in s venture that could change
the entire future of this sheep!
and cattle country.
Masterminding the operation
are two men whose combined ex
perience in the oil business span
a 60-year period.
The roar of the pumps com.
pletely muffle whatever noise may
be emanating Irom a slowly turn
ing bit that bites deeper and
deeper into the volcanic earth, al
ready some 7,850 feet below the
surface and gnawing an average
of 100 feet per day into the bowels
of the earth.
It's a "raw wildcatter" in the
parlance of George Dabney, field
superintendent for the Humble Oil
Company. Frankly admitting that
it's a big gamble, Dabney is just
as quick to admit that he doesn't
have the slightest idea in the world
wliether it will or will not pay off.
"Dry Hole" Dabney, as he
terms himself, is a throwback to
the days of the early oil wild'
callers, a man with the bulldog
purpose that will keep him dr ill
ing unul ne 5 told to slop, out
- with that love of excitement that
Mnmes only in a world of sur
prises. .
j?i His "partner" in this Lake Coun.
ly venture Is much the opposite
in many respects. Kay Anderson,
another veteran of 30 years in the
oil fields, is smaller, quieter, but
J JUSl as luiiaiiuus in ilia iiiib iui
When asked about their working
arrangement, Anderson said, "It's
a case of a Wyoman and a
Texan getting together in Ore
( gon" .
t Aclually, Anderson is "tool push-
er" for the Sun Drilling Com-
panr which is drilling the well
on a daily contract basis for the
Humblo Ou Company.
Anderson pointed out that his
firm is responsible for: the drill
ing of tho well, and that Dabney
is rcsDonsiulc for .tno Hole.
ft The two' work together like a
well coordinated pair and consult
closely on all operations of the
well.
Neither mun knows how deep
they'll be permitted to go in
search of tho liquid gold, and
neither knows what the prospects
are of its being successful. .
Regarding the odds of the gam
ble, Dabney pointed out that the
national average of wildcat wells
being successful is 25 to 1 against
.them. Ho added Uiat the national
average of all types of wells
drilled is down to about 0 to 1, ox
' plaining that you'll drill nine dry
holes while hitting one good one.
! As we toured the operation, that
lWi-inch bit continued to bore
, away at the bottom end of that
7,Ki) foot, length of pipe.
Chemically impregnated water
continues to flow down and around
that bit, carrying drilling parti
cles back up to the surface, where
they are constantly being tested
in a trailer, dubbed the labors
torv" by Dabney.
"They won't- oven let mo In
(here," he said, casting a big
thumb toward the lighted trailer
located just a few feet from the
drilling operation.
Located about 500 miles from
: the nearest oil producing well, and
about 350 miles from the nearest
saj producing well, this opera
tion represents about a $12.0C0
monthly payroll that is flowing
mto the city of lakeview.
Neither man could pin down a
definite cost of the operation, but
. Dabney indicated that a 10,000-1
foot well in this area would cost
about $250,000. The complete costl
of the machinery involved in the
drilling Is estimated at 800.ooo.
Power for the operation is pro
vided by five V-12 Caterpillar en
gines which also throw off heat
l keep the men more comfort
able at the operation fits.
As you stand and watch that
constantly turning bit, knowing
that it is biting deeper and deeper,
to areas never before penetrat
ed at this Darticular site, and lis-
tm to the gurgling sound of the
aurkv grey 'water swirling
round the base of the opera-
twi. you begin to sense some ofj
Ike "excitement" of the unexpect
ed that obviously fills the life of:
both riahnev and Anderson.
Dabney put it neatly when he
pointed out that "I've drilled
many a producing well, but when
fou know that you can drill a
ll to 10,000 or 14,000 feet and.
ill produce oil, it gets monoio
lllun" There' talk of going at least
fl feet, perhaps deeper. The
M decision of how deep to go
lies with Humble Oil Company;
and iu pneinecrs. Dabney and n.
noa will push the well as deep
r.-. ...... ..f. .-.... flt ir,,r t I'-'i,, n )f rf-TiYitrri-iriir iiwiiititiiiiiii
THIS OIL DERRICK rises 156 feet into the sky about
Drilling operations continue and huve reached a depth
Company is conducting the
'We can go down 25,000 feet
they want us to, Anderson
stated.
At the rate of progress now, it
would take about another 20 to
25 days to reach, the 10,000-foot
level.
What happens if they hit it?
Asked this question, Dabney
said, "It wouldn't convert this
area Into a boom town," he admit
ted, "because today, the expan
sion of this type of thing is or
derly and carefully done."
However, behind his answer, one
could sense that should the well
prove successful, the future des
tiny of this; wide oiicn land ol
lakes and livestock would undergo
a big transformation.
SS Tax Rates
Are Still 3,
Employers Told
Social Security tax rules for old-
age bcnclils are sua three per
cent, A. G. Erickson, district dir
ector of the Internal Revenue Serv
ice, today reminded Oregon em
ployers. Erickson said ho was issuing
this reminder in' response to a
large number of calls he has re
ceived about an insert mailed
Willi the Employer's Quarterly
Federal Tax Return, Form 041.
"The insert called attention to
an increase in the federal unem
ployment tax from three per cent
to 3.1 per cent applicable tn
wages paid on and after Jan. 1
IBtil," Erickson said.
He explained that thus particu
lar tax (FUTA) is piud entirely
by the employer and reported to.
the Internal Revenue Service on
Form 040. Employer's Annual Fed
eral Unemployment Tax Return.
Employers of four or more in
dividuals on at least one day of
each of 20 weeks are those liable
for tlwr tax.
Erickson said the Social Secur
ity tax remains the same, three
.mm ntnl HrlllilinM Tenm lliA Am.
Illume a nii-a. iiiiu inirc ki
l ..A II
cent paid by the employer, or a
total of six per cent. Tlieso rates
apply to the tirst $4,800 of wages.
Ho said these taxes are report
ed quarterly on Form 941.
Ho also said the social security
rnto for the self employed re
mains at four and one-half per
cent. '
Fire Kills
Five Tots
TEXARKANA. Tex. (API
H1 ,, . ,
Flames sweeping IhitMigh a house
occupied by 12 persons killed five
lots 3 months to 4 years old;
Thursday night.
Tho victims all were grandchil
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Willie San-
ihr ri.-uiohlers made their home
Ou nl IhK .li-vivnri bin
.-.! c...i... o ...a . Ik.
children shouted as the bla was,'1
discovered: "I'm on fire the quilt
is burning!"
Firemen said the bedding tome-
Ikiw came in contact wilh an open
heater In a room where six end-
i
kij I' .! , . , l i-
drilling on a contract basis for
IT
MM
i ! v" sn f
fmir . ve-if
I if
II , i
v uj -zap
to
4m& "'J tawvliskl:(,
ACTUAL DRILLING OPERATIONS are shown here at
the base of the towering oil drilling derrick. In fore
ground is the drilling core that drops to a depth of 7,850
feet into the earth. The ten and five-eighths inch drill
bit can work for about 18 hours before it must be re
placed. In background, center, is George Dabney, field
superintendent for Humble Oil, consulting with one of
the drillers.
Senate Confirms Lemon
For Sfate Commission
SALEM (API The Oregon Sen
ate confirmed 24-3 Friday the ap
pointment of E. B. Lemon to the
slate Scholarship Commission.
Votes against confirmation were
cast by three Democrats R. F.
Chapman. Coos Bay: William A.
Grenfell Jr., Portland; and Boyd
Overhulse, Madras.
The mailer has been controver
sial for many months because of
VIHMIIl-ll 3
opKisilion to Lemon.
The Senate Interim Committee on
Executive Appointments first
voted neninst conlirmation, and
ADC Chiefs
Take Review
PHOENIX. Ariz. lAP) About:
70 high ranking olficers of the Airitimc of experience to the com
Ilefcn.se Command are conduct
ing a detailed review of the na
tion's SS billion defense setup dur
ing a three-day meeting here.
The system is expected to be in
nau.n,;nn ,1.;. ...... I i
urn tfin'i iimuii una vv.ii , i.i. vivii.
J()spi;h nmmmA(.t
of the ADC headquarters at Col-
orado Spring:
Colo., told a news
conference.
It includes the latest in elec
tronic eves and ears to warn of
emmy "l k- 110 nuodrons of
""" I Ji i
from Hie
force ana national
Guard,
Bomnro m,ss,le- he sa"1
Atkinson, the ranking officer
among the 24 generals attending.
aia " cost w nunon a year
10 operate.
The sessions, which end Salur-
a
1
four miles south of Lakeview.
of 7,850 feet. The Sun Drilling
the Humble Oil Company.
r
W
i
- M
then reversed itself.
Grcnfell made a half - hour
sceoh Friday in which he said
l,omon, a retired dean at Oregon
State College, was "a very arro
gant man, autocratic, and has a
hard-nosed attitude."
A half-dozen senators, led by
Sen. Monroe Sweclland, D-Mil-
waukic. chairman of the Senate
Education Committee, vigorously
defended Lemon.
Swectlnnd said Lemon had been
the determining factor in making
the commission, created by the
ISI59 legislature. success. The
commission has considered schol
arship applications for the stale
university and colleges from 3.400
applicants, but had funds for only
770 of them, Swectland said.
Dean Lemon. is positive, firm
and a tough official of our stale."
Swectland said. "He brings a life-
mission."
Sen. Anthony Yturri. Ontario.
Senate Republican leader, said
Grenfell has submitted to evi
dence that Dean Lemon is arro
gant. Denn Lemon is a patient,
reasonable and understanding per
son with great depth."
Yturri said Grenfell was basing
iiis position on rumor and hear
say. The Senate Education Commit
tee had voted 4-1 Thursday to con-
lJr.... ii jnC5w SOF-PLY Fl"1 1 1
tP 1 Hfrfc " PAPER yJM
l ivi imp kj ZA 7nC III i hn-J lr-rr-4 1 hmf &rrrrm
Air j firm lemon's appointment, de
andispite Grenfcll's objections.
People Read
SPOT ADS
you are
t. .'"IfcinfejiijijiiiM nri-lr. ii i r -' ' - ' -.J
THESE TWO MEN join forces in the surging drive into the depths of the earth near
Lakeview in the quest for oil. Left is Ray Anderson, "tool pusher" for Sun Drilling
Company which does the drilling on a contract basis, and at' right is George Dabney,
field superintendent for Humble Oil Company, the firm financing the exploration.
BIRTHS
BOYS
REED Born to Mr. and Mrs. DdHord
John Reed Jr. Jan. 76 In Klamath Val
ley Hospital, a boy weighing 7 lbs., 7 ozs.
iut koun Born io Mr. and Mrs. Jo
seph W. Anderson Jan. 25 in Klamalhi
va.ley Hospital, a boy weighing 6 lbs.,
PAGE 6-A
HERALD AND
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Ji PENS
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"S J HiSlaWll I i ba-mn WELDED RIGHT ON!
I TOSI . 1 W NO HUG PAD NEEDED! BROADLOOMED 1 ill
V (3yfc OM ACTUAL VISCOSE CARPET FIBERS!
M ffl MMA Color-Toned for Easy Owning! '
WWW 15l Xymk four ;
On The Record
5 ozs.
CAMPBELL Born to Mr. and Mrs.
Glen Campbell Jan. 25 in Klamath Va'l -
ley Hospital, a boy weighing 8 lbs., 4V.
OiS.
GIRLS
MADDOX Born to Mr. and Mrs.
George Maddox Jan. 26 In Klamath Val-
NEWS, Klamath Falls, Ore.
bounty Futunt
I ley Hospital, a girl weighing 6 lbs.. 11 ozs.
I KEELER Born to Mr. and Mrs. Tom
t Keeler Jan. 25 In Klamath Valley Hos-
pital, a girt weighing 7 lbs., 5'i ozs.
VOGEL Born to Mr. and Mrs. Donald
Vogel Jan. 25 In Klamath Valley Hospi
tal, a girl weighing 6 lbs., 9,i ozs.
Boys 36 Girls 3?
Sunday, January 29, 1961
Lights Won't
For Even City Policeman
An officer working the policevised.
desk" becomes accustomed to a yet."
varietv of comDlaints. but Otticer
Fred Olin was taken aoacit rri
day morning when a woman
called to say she couldn't makel
all the lights on Main Street.
"Think nothing of it,
Olin ad-
Would Take
U.S. Post
SALT LAKE CITY (AP'-Dr.
Sterling M. McMurrin. academic j
vice president of the University!
of Utah, said Thursday he will I
accept the post of U.S. commis -
sioner of education if it is otlerea
to him.
Dr. McMurrin said he has been
recommended for the commis
sioner's post by Welfare Secre
tary Abraham Ribicoff. McMur
rin returned to Salt Lake City
Thursday night after a confer-.
once with Ribicoff in Washington,
D.C.
He said he hopes to get a leave
of absence from the university if
President Kennedy names him to
the post.
McMurrin, 47, was a philosophy
professor before moving into ad
ministrative work at Utah.
Go Right
ve never made them all
in more
serious business Fri
day morning, officers investigate ,
ed a traffic accident at Mitchell
and Radcliffe streets and cited
Mrs. Billy Joe Hand, 26, 2614
Radcliffe Street, for failure to
yield right of way to a vehicle.
She was cited after her car col
lided with a pickup truck driven
by William Fremont Nendel, 26,
2507 Wanlland Street. Mrs. Hand
received a cut lip.
Another collision occurred Thurs
day afternoon at the coiner of
Eleventh and Walnut streets, when
care driven by James fc. Lawrie,
16, 1111 Washburn Way, and
James N. Hendricks, 29, Marys-
jvillc. Calif., came together at the
intersection, mere were no inju-
Ines or citations.
Other police reports:
Mrs. Norman Doty, 1905 Arthur
Street, said the left rear window
of her car and the radio antenna
were broken Wednesday night in
the parking lot behind the Holi
day Bowl.
MOVING?
c.n TU 1-SU2
NORTH AMERICAN
VAN LINES
dren had been put to bed. My, are closed to neusmen. I
tosy want.