Gusher Holiday

Gusher Holiday

In Oklahoma City's Wheeler School, one day last week, moppets who were drowsily planning some means of truancy had their reveries abruptly interrupted and realized. The monotonous tamping of an oil-well driller 150 ft. away suddenly ceased and Swuss-shh! high over the top of the derrick rose a column of dirty liquid, filling the air with a fine spray of oil, sand, gas. Gauged at 65,000 bbl. per day, the gusher was pronounced by oilmen the greatest high gravity producer within their recollections. As delighted as its owners were the children who swarmed out to witness the spectacle, for the fire chief ordered the school closed because of fire hazard until other wells could be brought in to relieve the gusher's pressure. But jubilation over the gusher holiday was short lived. Next day the Wheeler pupils were squeezed into desks at other city schools.

Although the gusher was not on school property, a test well will be. Like the University of Texas, Oklahoma City schools benefit from municipally-owned oil lands. There are 27 producing wells in Trosper Park, two more on the pest house grounds, total royalties from which so far have been $300,000.

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