Polk County Observer

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT.

It is said that the men who are drilling the oil well on the Whiteaker farm east of Dallas have the utmost faith in the ultimate success of the enterprise, believing that both oil and natural gas will be found in commercial quantities. When the Hirschberg well was being sunk on this property a few years ago, a flow of oil was encountered at a depth of 850 feet, but through an accident to the casing, the drilling had to be abandoned. The new company, which is composed of prominent Portland capitalists, among them D. M. Watson, the well-known oil expert, will spare no effort or expense to avoid accidents, and confidently expects to strike oil in paying quantities. These men announce that they will rush the development work until the anticipated results are realized.

The success of this enterprise would mean more to the future of Polk county than words can express. It would at once place the county in the very front rank in the march of development and progress, and would be the means of adding untold wealth to the state of Oregon in stimulating manufacturing industries and extending transportation facilities. The attention of the entire Pacific Coast is centered on the efforts of the men who are promoting the development of the Polk county oil field, and it is the fond hope of all that their dream of success may soon become a reality.