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East of Findlay, Ohio, is what is called the “ Big Salt 
Water District.”’ I have seen wells in this district that have 
pumped a three inch stream of salt water, and no oil, for six 
months night and day; then they would get to oil and start off at 
300 or 400 barrels of oil a day. It takes grit to operate this kind 
of territory. 
_ The oil field around Marion, Indiana, was a natural gas field 
until about two years ago. At that time the gas pressure became 
low and the wells went to producing oil, and last year about 
1,000 wells were drilled for oil in that section. Along the Lick- 
ing River in Kentucky, an oil is produced that has an asphalt 
base, and is as black as tar. In a fairly good field it requires 
about one well to every five or ten acres to get the oil out of the 
rock to best advantage. 
Most oil wells flow from gas pressure, but it looks as if the 
great wells at Beaumont were flowing from a water pressure on 
the artesian well plan, and as the oil is lighter than the water, it 
is on top and being thrown out first. These wells have no gas to 
speak of. 
The wild speculations in the oil territory around Beaumont 
last year put the “ Tales of the Arabian Nights”’ in the shade. 
Charles Ingalls owned seven acres on which he lived at “ Spindle 
Top.” A “ Gusher ” was drilled near his property and when any- 
one would attempt to talk to him about selling he woud walk off 
and leave them, saying, “ don’t bother me, I'll have nothing to do 
with this oil business.’ Finally he was disturbed so much that 
he made up his mind that he would end the whole thing by put- 
ting such a price on his property that no one would think of buy- 
ing it at his figures. So when he was next asked to sell, he 
replied, “ I'll take $2,000,” and the bargain was closed at once. 
When the buyers came to get the wife’s signature to the deed 
Ingalls laid the deed down on the table, saying to his wife, “ put 
your fist to that.” She replied, “ I will not, what are you doing ?” 
“T’ve sold the place for $2,000 spot cash.”” Mrs. Ingalls insisted 
that it was not enough, and that she must have some money for 
herself or she would not sign. So she received $2,000 for her- 
self and the Ingalls’s were happy. The seven acres were thrown 
