This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at Phillips Hotel, Room 115, Dayton, Ohio, this 14th day of January, 1924, in accordance with request made by self - Mr. [4906].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Linden Shroyer, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno.

TEXT

1. LS: You will give the possibility of these lands for the production of oil, giving the best location, specifically, on this land for drilling an oil well. You will also give the quantity of oil which is to be obtained, the approximate cost of drilling a well, the length of time required and the obstacles which might be encountered in drilling.
2. EC: Now we find that the structural conditions and the possibilities for the production of oil in this section, as given, are not extraordinary good, especially that in the Southern half of this quarter, as given. The overlap or the structure for the trapping of oil is such that, that has been in the district has been released by the conditions in the Western portion of section, and that farther to the South and West, so that we would say, save in the extreme Southwestern portion of this tract, as given, and that not of sufficient extension in the leases as given, save with that in connection of that lying just to the West. We would find oil bearing sands at two thousand nine hundred eighty (2,980) - three thousand five hundred forty (3,540), yet not of sufficient in this to be financially a good proposition to develop. More to the South and East, some three to four miles, we find different conditions, and this outlying acreage or lease for this acreage would be and could be obtained for development. We would not advise spending of monies on this specific property for developing, though there is some very good structure, very dangerous to handle, and not sufficient oil there to justify same.

BACKGROUND

1. 1/11/24 See letter under 4906-2, Par. R3.

REPORTS

1. 1/15/24 EC's ltr. to [4906]:
   P.O. Box 463, Dayton, Ohio
   Dear Mr. [4906]:-
   I have yours of the 11th, with the copies of contracts enclosed, all of which I thank you very much.
   I was very sure that the delay was caused by your being busy and that you would get things in shape and started to going just as soon as possible. I am glad that you were able to get the deal in shape and to be drilling before the 8th of January, and I am in hopes that you are finding things working nicely. Am wondering if you had to skid your rig after rigging up, or were you able to go on with the hole already made?
   I have read with interest the contract as was enclosed with these men, and I am in hopes that you were able to get the irregularities in title in shape, and that a contract to your liking on the property. It seems to me from this contract you were to get an eighth interest in the one hundred and sixty acres on which the well was drilled instead of eighty, but this was merely a suggestion and you may work it out however you may deem is the best.
   The contract that you prepared between yourself and myself seems so far as I can see the most satisfactory. One little point I want to check up with you, however, as you will see by my signing and returning, this will be left optional with you and for you to use your own judgement concerning same, knowing that I am more than willing to carry out any and all of my part just as near as possible, the Lord being willing, and also that I am willing to do more than my part if it is possible for me to do so, and at all times in keeping with the principles as we have had set before us in the reading as was obtained questioning the plausibility of such work being sought from the subconscious, and I feel sure, and am willing to risk your judgement because I believe that you want to do the right thing. [See 254-3.]
   Now, the other propositions, as were mentioned in your letter. One of these you will find what was obtained on same [4906-3] yesterday morning. Personally, this is not satisfactory to me, but I cannot tell why. I have no way of knowing why. This was what was said, yet there is something that seems to me just out of kilter in the reading. I may be mistaken. Anyway, I'm sure you can check same and perhaps better explain even my own reading to me than I can to myself, never having seen the grounds and not knowing just what the conditions are concerning developments in this part of the field. Now, as to the other location, or property, I do not know whether I understand the location just sufficiently to attempt the reading. I believe I'll make this suggestion. In your letter when certain locations are given that you desire reports upon, as well as making the notation in the letter, enclose a slip of paper with the request for each different location, with just the one location on each slip of paper. Then as these are given, they can be filed together and will prevent any possibility of anyone here making an error when I am to be questioned regarding a specific location, for perhaps, as you well know, no one connected with me in the questioning has any conception whatever of what an oil district looks like, nor of what it means to give specific locations as made in Oklahoma, for the same terms are not used West of the Miss. except in very newly acquired territory from the government. Consequently they have no idea of what is meant when we have the notations, for instance such as 25-12-10, or 7-14-14. I merely make this suggestion that when we have one or more that has to be deferred on account of other readings being booked that there will be no trouble in separating these and getting the information for you that you desire. So, for the other one, as you asked for in this reading, please let me have this in this manner right away. Our next open date is about Saturday or Monday. Hope can get the information for you about that time.
   Now, I hope you will get my meaning in this suggestion that I am making relative to the readings and the contracts as I am sending back, which I accept as written and merely make this as a suggestion for you to consider as you see fit. As you know, perhaps, or perhaps you have the idea that I have sufficient capital or that those that have been around me have been furnishing sufficient capital for me to get along on the work as being done, but it is purely by my own efforts that I am getting by, and I'm not getting by very well right at present, but this suggestion. Of course, it is only the readings that I have a way of making a livelihood, and of course I want to give just as many of them as my physical health and conscience will permit me as long as I'm giving help or assistance, but if it is plausible, not unreasonable, I think it would be well if I could from each one of these that I give, irrespective of other conditions, contracts and agreements, have at least fifty dollars out of them, unless it was some special one concerning interests that had become entangled or misunderstood from readings as already given. However, if you consider this unreasonable, and not in keeping with the work, why you just disregard it, but as you know it takes three of us to carry on the work, and it's from this same source all must receive some remuneration, and I believe I am due at least a good living out of it, IF I'M DOING GOOD. Think this over and let me know. I am asking a thing I don't think is unreasonable. I assure you I am always very glad to hear from you, and it is with a great deal of interest that I read any one of your letters, and my wife feels the same way.
   Hoping that you'll let me hear from you real soon, and with kindest personal regards and best wishes to you and yours, I am
   Sincerely, Edgar Cayce
2. 1/17/24 [4906]'s ltr. to EC:
   ..., Oklahoma
   Mr. Edgar Cayce, Dayton, Ohio
   Dear Mr. Cayce:-
   I am in receipt of your letter and reading of January 15, and note carefully what you say in your letter, and also what the reading says in regard to the Wetumka acreage, and I also note what you say in regard to making a small plat of the lands that I wish a report on. I should have known, myself, that the way that I described the property would be very confusing to you and those that assist you in your business.
   I am enclosing two plats describing perfectly two tracts [See plats included in 4906-4 and 4906-5] upon which I wish you would send me a reading as soon as it is possible, as one of the wells is now drilling at a depth of 200 feet and the other I can obtain the lease and the tools and rig are already on the ground. I can make a splendid deal on this latter lease if the reading is good.
   I note carefully, after reading a copy of my letter to you, that you picked up the error between my letter to you and the old unsigned contract with the men on the Maud well. This simply was an error in my dictation to my stenographer. The one-eight does run in the 160 instead of the 80. I am sorry that I made this mistake, but however, the contract that I sent you is not the one that we will operate under. In fact, just today, things have changed the entire situation on this well, for the men that had the deal with the farmer are absolutely unable to carry out their contract with the farmer, being (?) absolutely without funds to operate on, or in other words, not having sufficient ready cash to finance themselves in traveling expense and auto hire and the necessary expenses that go along with promoting a block of acreage of this size. Now today, they came to me with this kind of proposition: that they turn the entire 3000 acres over to me if I will pay them back the $1,000.00 they paid me to move the tools in and save the leases from expiring. I have a close friend (an Okmulgee man) Mr. T. A. Johnston by name, who, I am sure, will go into the deal with me. He is financially able to undertake most any kind of any oil proposition and has a high standing with the oil companies. He and I likely will try this deal together, and if we do, it will be a marked change from the old contract that I had with the other fellows, and I will have a much larger interest in the 160 with the well on it and also an interest in the remaining acreage after having sold enough to pay the actual labor and supply bills on this test for I have all the machinery and casing necessary to drill this well myself. Now any change that is made in this deal, I want you to know that you will be taken care of for one-eight of what I have in the 160 with the well on it and for one-eight in my part of the outside acreage that I am able to keep after paying the expense of drilling on this well, so you see you will be benefitted by each change in condition on this hold.
   Now Mr. Cayce, I note very carefully what you say in regard to paying you $50.00 for each reading you give me on oil properties. Now this throws an entirely different light on the situation as I had figured it. Not that I don't understand that you need finances to go on, and to pay your overhead expense, but at the same time it seems to me that this arrangement would be simply putting a price on your work which so far I have thought and considered priceless. I do not believe from the reading that was given that this would be the proper thing for us to do. Do you know that if I was selfish and simply wanted to make the most out of the valuable information you give me I would immediately give you $100.00 per reading and pay you all the expense money you need to keep you and your family on, but this would not be right. Do you know, in my estimation, that the only thing that allowed that reading [See 254-3] to say that it was alright to give readings for me is that the power that is expressed in that reading knows that I will not crook nor double-cross you in any way and that in the change in these deals when it is for the better for me, you will ride right along with me in such changes. I cannot agree with you on this idea, but I will say this: that if I can help you any way financially in the way of a small loan until I can see whether these readings are of value to me or not, I will gladly do so. You must remember on some of these readings it will take months to determine the correctness thereof. It seems to me that this would be utterly wrong because I do not believe that the divine power would sell to any man such information at so small a sum, at least I know it would be wrong for me to do this, for it would take away the privilege I have in making you enough money to realize your fullest expectations in your work, and at the same time throw money into my treasury that I in no way was deserving of. Now Mr. Cayce please read carefully what I have said in regard to this matter and after thinking it over yourself see if I am not right. Do you know that the one-eight interest in all the wells that I'll drill this year might make you a million dollars and just think what little amount $50.00 would be for twenty-five or thirty readings - possibly fifteen hundred dollars. No, I could not think of accepting a proposition that would take away the future chances for success from a friend so close to me as you are.
   Now I believe this covers everything at the present time and the two maps that I am sending you, you will please find out about and send me the information. Now you remember in case that I have a chance after the deal is once closed on these wells, to sell an interest in the portion of the land that the well is drilled on, you must remember that you would receive your eight of the sale price. Now, for instance, my deal in 7-14-14, on which I am now drilling, I have 9/16 interest in the eighty that I am drilling on. Suppose your reading says this is no good, then I will sell a one-half interest. I can easily obtain $5,000.00 for it. Remember, that one-eight of the five thousand is yours, and the deal in Section 8-14-14 is very similar to the one in 7-14-14, and remember I will hold or sell, but in the event I sell any of the interest in which you are interested in, the same mail that brings my check in will carry your check out to you for your correct portion thereof. Now I believe this explains just about what my idea of handling things is and hope you can understand me. If there is anything that you do not understand, do not hesitate to write and ask me to explain it.
   I wish, upon receipt of this letter, you would find out regarding the oil possibilities at these two specified locations and if they are good, please wire me collect in this way. You can either say "Accept" or "Reject" the wells in Section 7 or Section 8 whichever the case may be as the information, if given quickly, will greatly help me in determining what to do.
   Thanking you in advance for an early reply and also apologizing for the annoyance that I put you to by having to read these long book letters of mine, but assuring you that you will make a great deal out of the present arrangement that we have if you will only be patient and await the outcome of some of these wells. With kindest regards to you and family, I remain
   Yours truly [4906]
3. 1/22/24 See 4906-4 and 4906-5.

Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation