8/11/52 Peter Ballbusch's letter to Rudy Johnson, subject
"Discussion of the Well":
Dear Rudy,
Yesterday afternoon we got together at Jessica's, read your
letter and discussed the many things concerning the well.
The meeting started at 4 p.m. and broke up at 6:45, in other
words we covered the ground pretty thoroughly. Present were
Gene and Jessica Madigan, Esther Pierce, Katherine Whitman,
Ken Broman and Heda and I. Missing were Frances Robey,
Burnice Ridgeway* and Louis Love. They will be notified of
our conclusions by letter and phone. In this way, all those
out here concerned with the bringing in of the well will be
notified.
Ken read us first some excerpts from the book "OIL" on
drilling operations, leases and royalties, so that the issues
involved would be clear to everyone. Then he read your
letter and we started the general discussion. Here are some
of the main points:
1. We know that no one in the Western Groups has the money to
buy out your partners. The finances out here are pretty slim
and I doubt that even the $12,000. - could be raised out in
the West, that is, the money you indicated which was needed
for the renewal of the leases. - I am talking now of the Los
Angeles and San Francisco Groups and I am not including the
Eastern Groups. Generally speaking, people with money don't
seem to be attracted to Group work, only a strong need of
some kind gives a person the "stick-to-it-ness" which one
must have to work things out together in a group.
2. The question was raised, if such a change of partners was
actually needed, or if the entity: Rudy Johnson had some
karmic pattern to work out with those men, who are now his
partners?
3. The all important point of "PURPOSE," came up. It seemed
* [
2/09/79 GD's note: Berniece Ridgeway was later known in
the E.C. work under the name Bereniece Wiatt, then Bernice
Brown (under Bernice Brown she painted a portrait of Edgar
Cayce, from a photograph, in 1975, which hangs in one of the
Edgar Cayce Foundation offices.]
to be strange to the group, discussing the issues, that the
Well seems haunted with so many difficulties. Either -
obstacles are needed to test those concerned with the
bringing in of the well, or the obstacles have arisen because
things are not "spiritually right," or maybe, and that seems
to be the most important point "GOD WANTS TO BE SURE OF THE
PURPOSE OF EVERYONE CONCERNED."
Maybe everyone should ask himself this question, "Why is the
Well being dug? Is it for the purpose that God's words, ways
and work will be spread? Or is it for personal gain or the
aggrandizement of the ego? All those concerned with the
affairs of the Association should ask themselves this
fundamental and vital question. Let us go humbly into our
closet and pray: "Father, let this enterprise be for the
Good of all, let thy blessings flow from it to everyone. And
may thy will be done in thy way, in thy time and for thy
purpose, oh Lord - Amen!"
Our prayer must include everyone, your two partners Rudy and
also the driller, who must be paid for the work he has done.
4. The Los Angeles Groups would like to have the names of ALL
THE PARTNERS, AND THE DRILLER, so that our prayers can be
formulated for "Unity of purpose, and harmony". We feel that
then only can the Best be achieved.
5. We tried to look at the Well situation through the eyes of
your partners. So, we reasoned along the following lines:
If we had invested $50,000. - in a gamble, (and for them it
is a gamble) then we would like to know that we'd have the
best man for the job. We do not know who chose the driller,
but should you Rudy have chosen the man, then we could
readily understand that these men might feel you partly
responsible for all the bad luck. Again, the question of a
karmic pattern arose. Something that has to be worked out
between you, the partners and the driller. But the threat of
non-payment, for not bringing in the Well in time, does not
strike us as a Christian way of doing business!
We know nothing about the driller, so we cannot judge if he
is an expert at his job, and if he is flexible and adaptable
enough to accept sound advice - but the little item about not
wanting to contact the firm which specializes in the setting
of the cement, gave us food for thought. However, no matter
how good or bad the man is in his job, he must get paid for
the work done, or the people concerned with this deal, will
not have any luck. You know that yourself, Rudy.
6. Now, what can be done about the situation? First of all
earnest prayer and self-searching. Each individual concerned
with the bringing in of the Well must do that. In your own
case, Rudy, you must ask yourself the vital question of
"purpose." Why do you want to bring in the Well? For God's
good, or your own good? Then you must ask yourself: Have I
failed my partners in any way? And if you find that you
have, then you must kiss and make up. After all, you are the
metaphysician amongst them. You KNOW, ergo you have the
greater responsibility. Now any kind of failure concerning
you may be indirect "maybe you chose the wrong man for the
job - or the hole is not exactly on the right spot - or the
hole is being drilled on a slant and is therefore harder to
drill and it means a longer job. Any or all of these things
might be true. It does not matter how direct or indirect the
cause of dissention concerns you, you must make a good and a
direct gesture to smooth things out. As far as you are
concerned, it does not matter if your partners are
"Christians," by this I mean followers of the ways of the
Christ, or not, but You must be one foremost and always.
I know, you have a big burden to carry, you get all the blame
and may never get much credit after the work is accomplished
- but you are a worker and a warrior of the Lord, and you
must accept all these things with a smile, "Lord, forgive
them, for they do not know what they are doing!" So prayed
the Christ on the Cross and so must you pray, bearing your
own cross. If you feel the need to relief the choked up
emotions in your chest, you can always write a letter to a
friend, and cuss as much and as loud as you want. So, in
case you need a wailing wall, (and I feel you do) I offer
myself for that job.
7. Now to the financial affairs. First we believe that no
one has enough money to buy out your partners. But we may be
wrong in that. Anyhow, after you have heard from Hugh Lynn,
you will have all the dope answering that question. So, you
may have to work together with your partners in a christian
and gentlemanly manner. I can hardly believe that two men
will give up an enterprise into which they have sunk $50,000.
- so close to its fulfillment. But if they should, why even
try to buy them out? If they have not the wisdom, the faith
and the stamina to see a thing through, then let them lose
their money, as any man will, who give up when the going gets
tough.
Your only concern is the holding of the leases and the
continued drilling until the Well comes in. You have now
leases for 12,000 acres which must be covered with 1 $ per
acre on the 6th of October. And you probably need another
$2 to 3000. - for the finishing of the drilling job. All in
all $15,000. - If your partners should bow out, you would
need that much money to finish the job.
Now the question arises: Do you need to hold all those
12,000 acres? Why couldn't it be done with the 3000 acres of
Rocky Pasture, and the few adjoining leases to protect those
who have invested there? In this way you would only have to
cover around 4000 acres, and if you figure on about $3000. -
to finish the drilling, then the over all amount needed would
come to $7000. - I feel that that much could be raised
amongst Group members, but I am not so sure about $15,000. -
But here again Hugh Lynn is needed to complete the financial
picture. So let us compare notes. Once this is done, the
Los Angles groups propose the following:
The three Los Angeles Groups would sponsor a mimeographed
letter, giving a quick history of the Well, showing what it
would mean for the Association and proposing to raise the
last needed money amongst those who are interested. In this
fashion the suggestion would come from the Outside and not
from the Headquarters. In other words, it would be the Los
Angeles Study Group's idea, and not Hugh Lynn's. I feel that
such a stand is needed to protect the spiritual welfare of
the Association as such. But I heartily disagree with Elsie
Sechrist, who seems to be fearful of any kind of money
raising amongst the Groups, or Group members. If a church
needs a new roof, it raises the money amongst its members,
and all those belonging to the church WILL GIVE ACCORDING TO
THEIR FAITH AND MEANS. Now what means Well more, than a roof
for the Association, the means to pay its secretaries, the
means to microfilm the messages, the means to spread its work
and finance its research. So let us not be too squeamish
concerning the needed finances. We do not tell anybody, you
should contribute, but we will tell people, it means this and
that, and if you like to contribute, do this in your own way
and according to your own faith and means. But I want to
stress again, that the suggestion should come from the
outside, and be made a Group Project for an idea which this
Group has cooked up. There is not the slightest doubt in my
mine, about the successful outcome of such a Group sponsored
letter.
And now, let us sum up this letter: first we must search
ourselves for the true purpose of the drilling of the Well.
Second we must pray for all and everyone concerned with the
Well. Third we must all do our part see the enterprise
through in case the partners should back out. Here it is in
a nut-shell. It is simple enough, once it is put on a
spiritually practical basis.
The Los Angeles Groups want you to know, that they are 100%
behind you Rudy, as long as everything is handled along
Christian principles. (We could never agree to a non-payment
of the driller for work done.) We realize very well how much
of a burden has been placed on your shoulders, but we also
feel that you will be given the insight, the wisdom and the
strength to carry the job to a successful end, as long as you
rely on God and dedicate a goodly percentage of the blessings
received to further his word and works. We all will have to
do the same. Well then, with prayers said alright, with the
purpose set right, and with all our faith given so that his
blessings shall flow to all, what I ask you, could ever go
wrong? Nothing, Rudy! So, gird yourself, you warrior of the
Lord, and fight on his fight in strength and righteousness,
and you will win. And as far as we are concerned, we will
help you as much as we possibly can. With Love from all the
Group Members, and with faith from everyone, I greet you in
their name!
Cordially: [signed] Peter
8/21/52 Rudolph Johnson's letter:
Johnson & Mead (Letterhead)
Attorneys at Law
Mercantile Bank Building
Dallas, Texas
Dear Peter, Ken and Elsie:
I have received letters from each of you and appreciate their
value sincerely. They have all been very helpful. A good
bit of the thinking, on my part, has been changed
beneficially and I now think that we are on the road to
successful completion of the project. Things are very
harmonious and the driller reports that he is making a little
progress in the well. He is making on an average of two feet
a day and seems to be drilling up the whipstock which has
gotten loose in the hole. This will turn out all right if he
is able to continue to do so but it will be a very slow job
as you can imagine. He now reports that he estimates that he
is within three feet of the bottom of the old bit and as soon
as he can get by it he can set the 7" pipe and proceed on
down to the hickory sand. The trick, of course, is drilling
up all the iron in the bottom of the hole and getting past
the old bit.
The names of my partners are: W. L. Goble, Waco, Texas; Jack
W. Pillow, Memphis, Tennessee; Arnold L. Willis, Chicago,
Illinois. Will Goble is the most active and has worked with
me closely on this matter. He shows a great deal of interest
and has made frequent trips to the well and also to Dallas to
have conferences with me. His decisions control the
decisions of the other two partners. He has put up a total
of approximately $27,000.00 and has also advanced an
additional $7500.00 out of his pocket to help the driller buy
needed pipe. He is a good businessman and it was his
suggestion that the letter be written to the driller; and,
also, he suggested that the partners might decide to let the
leases lapse if we do not get a showing prior to October 6.
Frankly, I have actually never believed that they would allow
this to be done as they have got too much invested to drop
the matter at this point. As to the other letters which I
wrote you, I would like to explain that I characteristically
take an extreme view of a situation. I gave the matter to
you in its worse light. When I am faced with a problem, I
do not attempt to gloss over it or indulge in wishful
thinking. I consider it proper to reduce it to a hard
statement of facts and then set about finding a solution for
it.
I want you to know that my hope and interest in this well has
increased with the problem rather than diminished. I have no
doubt but what it will be carried forward to a conclusion.
This is not a project to be abandoned; it is a matter to be
worked on in every way possible until it has been finally
completed. It is wonderful to know that you people are
standing by and furnishing me with a great deal of strength.
If we had reached the oil sand during the steel strike, we
could not have produced it as we would not have been able to
locate the necessary casing and tubing. Yesterday, an oil
well supply man telephoned me saying that when we get ready
for tubing and casing that it will be available.
In order to show you that I am cognizant of the problems
involved, I will tell you a short story about some advice
that Edgar Cayce gave me in 1943. As an attorney, I
represented a man who had a commitment from FHA to build one
hundred (100) houses near the Atomic Bomb Plant at Oakridge,
Tennessee. After we had gotten started, it turned out this
man did not have any money. Since I believed in him, I got a
client to put up the finances and as the building of the
houses progressed, my client put up a total of $483,000.00.
We estimated at the outset we would have a $100,000.00
construction profit which would be split between the three of
us. Before the houses were finished, and due to bad
judgement, bad luck and changing economic conditions we were
faced with a $100,000.00 loss. I had signed all the notes
and was personally obligated along with my client. At the
time we started the project I was dubious about continuing
with it and asked Edgar Cayce for advice. The information
told me to continue with the project, build the one hundred
houses, but not tackle any more and after I had finished to
get back into law business. After receiving this advice, my
doubts were resolved and I, therefore, felt safe about
getting my client to put up all of this money. However, I
was faced with so many problems that I cursed the day that I
ever took this advice. I was unable to give very much
attention to my law practice, so it was necessary for me to
employ two other lawyers to look after it for me. We met
with every kind of difficulty. In one week we had six labor
strikes. We were unable to get material and equipment and
for many days straight running, although we were unable to
use our carpenters due to lack of material, we had to pay
them just the same. Twenty-three days of rain in the month
of February, 1944, cut down production to practically
nothing. Toward the end, I had to take over the entire
responsibility of the thing myself, employ a carpenter
foreman and put him in charge of the project and supervise
many of the details myself. After the houses were completed
and approved by FHA and a mortgage company located who was
willing to take the questionable loans, we had a $65,000.00
construction loss. In the meantime, the builder had gone to
California and I had to pay back all of this money to my
client. By the grace of God, I carried the proposition
forward and within the next two years had paid back all the
money, plus interest, and had a nice profit in the bank. My
financial partner refused to take any of the profits and I
ended up making about $25,000.00 out of the deal. However,
this was the hardest $25,000.00 I ever made as I developed a
stomach ulcer, a crop of gray hairs and a violent antipathy
for Parlor Cars on Railroad trains. On the other side of the
ledger, I developed a very tough skin and an ability to roll
with a punch. I had more problems during that time than the
average lawyer has over a fifteen year period, and I
developed a great deal of competence and confidence under
conditions of extreme pressure which have stood me in good
stead. After I got the perspective of the situation, I
blessed Edgar Cayce for the advice which kept me in the
picture and permitted me to have these experiences.
I have no tender illusions about a job which has been turned
over to a person under these conditions (The Cosmic). I was
selected for the job. I tried to prepare myself for it, and
I have enthusiastically enjoyed it. I do not expect a job
like this to turn out to be a soft snap just because it is
backed up by the right sources (The Cosmic). Everybody
connected with this has to go through a spiritual autopsy to
see if their guts are in the right place. My previous
letters to you have only been reporting surface findings and
have not mentioned very much about my sub-surface
convictions.
Many thanks again for your wonderful letters and I want all
of you to keep shooting them to me as fast as you have time
to pull the trigger.
Polly and I are looking forward to getting with you folks and
talking, talking, talking, talking.
Love to you all, [signed] Rudy RJ/lg
9/09/52 Jack Pillow's letter to HLC:
Jack W. Pillow Company (Letterhead)
901 Falls Building
Memphis 3, Tennessee
Mr. Hugh Lynn Cayce
Assoc. for Research and Enlightenment
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Dear Mr. Cayce:
Enclosed is check in the amount of $5.40 made payable to
Gladys Davis, for which we would like you to send us two
bottles of sinus medicine such as we received in December,
1951.
Thanking you, we are
Yours very truly, [signed] Jack W. Pillow
W/Enc.
9/22/52 Rudolph Johnson's memorandum:
MEMORANDUM TO ROYALTY OWNERS
On Saturday, September 20, we hit the hickory sand. The
depth was approximately 2900 feet. As expected, it carried a
heavy flow of fresh artesian water. This was the condition
that caused the last operator to lose his hole and fail to go
down any farther with his deep test. We will proceed
cautiously on through the water into the hickory sand and
test it carefully foot by foot. As yet there is no oil or
gas show in this particular level but it is as expected. We
are expecting a shale break about 20 or 30 feet down, under
which we are hopeful of finding the gas and oil. The
drilling should be fairly easy from here on out and I would
think that by Wednesday or Thursday, September 25, we should
be able to make a report one way or the other.
I am leaving at once for San Saba and will stay with the well
until its value has been ascertained. You may expect to hear
from me very soon if the news is favorable.
Most sincerely, RUDOLPH JOHNSON RJ/lg
9/30/52 Rudolph Johnson's memorandum:
MEMORANDUM TO ROYALTY OWNERS
I am pleased to report that as of Monday, September 29, 1952,
we are drilling in the Hickory Sand at a depth of 3110 feet.
We are averaging fifty feet a day. Our best information is
to the effect that we have from five to six hundred feet of
Hickory Sand which contains shale breaks. We have now
drilled better than 200 feet of this particular section of
sand and, therefore, have 300 to 400 feet, containing the
shale breaks, yet to go. After we leave the shale section,
we will be in the lower portion of the Hickory which is
expected to be about 300 feet deep and which we are hoping
will carry oil.
Everything seems to be in fine shape and under control, and I
will keep you advised.
Sincerely yours, RUDOLPH JOHNSON RJ/lg
[Copied in minutes of
10/08/52 Executive Committee mtg. of
A.R.E.]
10/07/52 Rudolph Johnson's [AIR MAIL] letter to HLC:
Johnson & Mead (Letterhead)
Attorneys at law
Mercantile Bank Building
Dallas 1, Texas
Mr. Hugh Lynn Cayce
c/o Association for Research & Enlightenment
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Dear Hugh Lynn:
We reached the Hickory Sand at 2915 feet and found a
considerable flow of fresh artesian water just as Wilmott
experienced when he drilled the first well in 1929. We have
made very good time in the Hickory Sand although we have had
two fishing jobs in it. We are now down to 3206 feet. We
now seem to be in the top section of the lower portion of the
hickory Sand which should be the portion that will carry oil,
if any is to be found. So far we have had no show of gas or
oil in the sand. This means that if oil is below us there
must be an impervious layer of rock or shale separating the
section in which we are now drilling from the lower section
carrying the oil and gas.
Presently we are in the middle of a discussion with the
driller on how much he will charge to complete the well. He
maintains that his contract was performed when he reached
3,000 feet and is negotiating with us for a higher price. I
think that he is entitled to it as so far he has lost $15,000
on the hole but has stuck to it like a man. He tells me that
he has mortgaged his automobile and his home to get the money
to finish up the well. Naturally he does not want to add to
his losses. My partners feel that the contract requires him
to continue to carry the responsibility on down to that part
of the sand which is expected to carry oil and they, so far,
have not been willing to increase his rate of pay. I
believe, however, that we can get these matters adjusted in a
conference which we are expecting to have in Waco tomorrow.
My partners have indicated that they will not drill any
deeper than 3500 feet unless we get a show within that depth.
If this happens, then I will do what I can to finish up the
job.
I have gotten the landowners to agree to an extension of time
to February 6, 1953, which I hope will give us sufficient
time to finish up this job. I still have faith in this well
and believe that everything will turn out all right.
Sincerely, [signed] Rudy RJ/lg
[Note at margin]: Yesterday in Waco, Gobel, Denhart and I
agreed to resume drilling the hole at our sole risk at $12.00
per hour. This is fair and was proposed by Denhart. Now the
responsibility is all ours. Gobel has expressed intention of
quitting the hole if we run into trouble which will be
costly. I now await developments. If the Forces want to
change the personnel of this set up, we will begin to catch
hell. I certainly hope things go smoothly and I will keep
you informed -
[Copied in A.R.E. minutes
12/10/52]
10/23/52 (Thursday) Rudolph Johnson's letter:
Dear Ken: Just got your letter and since am talking along
the same line I made a carbon at same time. Hope you can
read it. If the oil is there, we can't miss it by being in a
narrow edge of the soil. It's there in quantity or not at
all. Rudy.
Dear Peter:
I never learned to use the typewriter so my personal letters
must be in longhand. Now...about the well location and the
strata in which the oil is to be found. First, of all, let
me say that Cayce reported the pool "is in Rocky Pasture and
vicinity". I have leased up all of Rocky Pasture and
vicinity. Next, Cayce said the place to drill is 30 paces
north, almost due north, from the spot where Big Rocky Creek
joins Little Rocky. Here, he said, is a flat, or mesa land,
and here is the place to drill for oil. That is precisely
where we are drilling. I located it with a compass and
measured it off with a string and it is 30 of my paces long,
and my legs are not as long as Cayce's were.
So, we are in the exact spot Cayce said to dig. Cayce gave a
second location. He said to drill to the south and west of
Big and Little Rocky Pasture where "there is the outcropping
of the enormous lime rock". This would be south of the
gully. My purpose in drilling is in testing the validity of
the Cayce readings, and in proving that actually the readings
have never been wrong. My purpose is not just finding oil or
in getting psychic help from various sources that will help
us to get oil in some other spot. If there is not oil in
Rocky Pasture at the spot where Cayce told me to dig, I would
not be interested in digging elsewhere on advice of another
psychic. Cayce is either right or wrong. If we use outside
psychic help (for myself) it will be to confirm what Cayce
has said about the present hole. No thing or information
short of actually drilling it to the GRANITE will condemn it
for me.
I am sending you a drawing of Rocky Pasture and part of
vicinity which I would be glad for you to show to your
psychic friends. I will be interested in receiving their
information but their opinion will not influence me either
way. I will believe the oil is there unless I dig to the
GRANITE and under proper discover conditions fail to find any
trace. I would not be interested in giving up this hole
short of the granite and drilling on the property elsewhere.
The Cayce Petroleum Co. (Edgar, Dave Kahn et al) started a
well in Rocky Pasture in 1921 about 1030 yards northwest of
our present site. The driller contracted to go to the sand
or granite, whichever was reached sooner. They all had a
falling out and the driller was losing money. One night he
hauled in some granite rocks and dumped them up and offered
proof that he had completed his contract and thus quit the
hole. In 1926 Cayce met an oil man on a train and told him
about Rocky Pasture. He told this man, Wilmott, about his
healing work. Wilmott went home to Ky. and talked about
Cayce and got a physical reading for the son of his colored
cook. The boy was 12 and had never walked and they had tried
to have him cured. The reading was followed and the boy
walked. This validated the Cayce information, so Wilmott
asked for an oil reading and got the one in Rocky. He made
his location in the wrong spot, 65 degrees east and on the
wrong side of the creek. However, the readings promised him
oil. The oil is reported to be in the hickory sand and the
sand was supposed to be about 2600 feet. Wilmott drilled
about 2900 feet and got the sand. The readings had not told
him to expect water and as he got water and not oil he gave
up the hole. We got the sand and water at 2915 feet. I was
prepared for it.
The readings have never said how thick the sand is or how
deep in the sand the oil is to be found. They are silent on
this. We all naturally expected the oil to be in the top of
the sand. Generally that is where it is found if it is there
at all. The water is usually in the bottom. So I reasoned
there must be an impervious cap separating the oil from the
water. We have drilled in the last week such a cap and it
was 70 feet thick and hard as limestone. We are still in it
and it is costing $200 a day to make 5 or 6 feet.
No one has ever drilled this deep here before. We have no
knowledge as to how thick the sand formation is. I think it
is much thicker than people suspect. No one ever thot there
would be such a thick sedimentary deposit here which is one
reason the major oil companies have condemned the area. I
think there is oil around the bottom of the sand...perhaps we
have to go hundreds of feet deeper. God only knows.
1. Cayce said to drill here.
2. We are drilling the sand.
3. He said the oil is in the hickory sand.
4. We must finish the testing of the sand all the way to the
granite before giving it up as a dry hole.
My partners have not given up yet and may keep drilling past
3500 feet. We are now about 3460 feet.
I would not have the faith if I had not gone thru hell on
another Cayce reading. That experience almost broke my
health, but it taught me many things. I found out that Cayce
was right. A person has to accept the information in its
broad sense and not be dismayed when the details don't check
out. The result will be satisfactory if a person just keeps
on...so you people out there just pray for me to have the
strength to keep on. We must not give up or change our
plans.
And all of us must (or should) tithe out of our earnings...
this is in addition to the interest already set aside for the
Association.
Yours in the faith, Rudy
[Copied in A.R.E. minutes
12/10/52]
11/19/52 Rudolph Johnson's letter to Mr. Broman:
Johnson & Mead (Letterhead)
Attorneys at Law
Mercantile Bank Building
Dallas, Texas
Mr. Kenneth V. Broman
8026 Truxton Avenue
Los Angeles 45, California
Dear Ken:
Thank you for your recent letter. There are no developments
on the well. It is still standing inactive at 3500 feet. I
have attempted to get several of the Eastern royalty owners
interested but without success. One of the royalty owners in
Chicago is interested but will not have any money until after
the first of the year. That will be too late to save the
expense of pulling the pipe, plugging the well and then going
back in and resetting the pipe. Again the pipe may not be
available at that time.
As you know, all of the pipe used in this well was obtained
by government allocation. If we pull this pipe, my partners,
who own it, will want to sell it and once sold will no longer
be available for this well. Nor will any other string of
pipe be available for this well. If we are going to do
anything about continuing the drilling, it must be done
within the next week or ten days as the driller wants to move
the rig and get on with another job. While I have asked for
$15,000.00 to finish up this hole, I believe that it could be
done for possibly half of that amount. In other words, we
have drilled 500 feet of the sand at a cost of about
$6,000.00. If we had $2,000.00 for a new cable plus about
$5,000.00 for the next 500 feet of sand, I believe this would
be sufficient. Of course, I am assuming, and hoping, that we
will lose no more tools and will experience as easy drilling
as we have so far in the sand. Let's all put our heads
together and see if somehow or other we can get up about
$7,500.00 to start on. I have a feeling that the hard cap
which we have drilled for the past 100 feet cannot be much
thicker and once we get through it we will be in a very soft
sand formation which will make about 20 to 30 feet per day.
In the soft structure above, some days we made as much as 60
feet. Let's all keep thinking about this thing and see what
we can do.
My kindest regards to all.
Sincerely, [signed] Rudy RJ/lg
[Note at margin] Dear Hugh Lynn: Many thanks for your
wonderfully encouraging letter. I'm still trying. Rudy -
11/20/52 Rudolph Johnson's letter to Mr. Ballbusch:
Johnson & Mead (Letterhead)
Attorneys at Law
Mercantile Bank Building
Dallas, Texas
Mr. Peter Ballbusch
2359 Loma Vista Place
Los Angeles 26, California
Dear Peter:
Thank you so much for your recent fine letter. All of us who
pretend to understand the Cayce readings must agree that a
failure to find the results promised by the information must
necessarily be charged to the human element which seeks such
results. That is my explanation of our present situation at
the well. Ken Broman read all the readings and he will tell
you that the information promised oil at the 2600 foot level.
When it did not appear, I studied the readings carefully for
a new interpretation. I concluded that the specific footage
was intended to be interpreted in general terms and that it
was the Hickory Sand which was to be found at around this
level and that the readings directed a complete exploration
of the Hickory Sand without reporting on its thickness, or in
what section of it the oil would be found. The oil is either
there or it is not there. The fact that it is there does not
guarantee that it will be reached, or produced even if it is
reached. There is no guarantee that it will be produced and,
as Ralph Courtney says, "The high purposes of the
participants do not guarantee success."
Some may take the view that the readings have reported the
situation in this inaccurate manner for the special purpose
of providing experiences and initiations for the
participants. I denounce this conclusion. If this were
true, the information would be mischievous and would be
employing the theory that the end justifies the means.
You mention the possibility of a mistake having been made in
the location of the well. The readings said, "There is seen
there passes through this tract of land know as Rocky Pasture
a gulch, or a gully, or a creek known as Little and Big
Rocky. These join together on the Western side of the tract
in the North and Western side about fifty yards from the line
of the Murray property, see? In going almost due North from
this gulch thirty aces, we find there a flat or mesa land.
That is the place to drill for oil in this portion of Rocky
Pasture." I measured off thirty paces with a piece of
string. I drove a stake at the point where Little Rocky
joins Big Rocky and tied one end of the string. I walked
North with the string to the mesa land using a compass. I
drove the stake at the end of thirty paces and tied the other
end of the string to it and that is where we are drilling. I
checked the location with three different compasses. The
spot where we are drilling is almost due North; it is about
three degrees West. I even made allowance for true North
which in this latitude is about two degrees West of magnetic
North. I then checked many of the ranchers in the
neighborhood who had lived there all their life. They had
hunted deer and quail all over this area and had always known
these two creeks as Little Rocky and Big Rocky. The names
were given these creeks in the early days when this land was
settled. They all said there were no other creeks by these
names and no other spot where they joined. Big Rocky comes
down from the Northwest for its junction with Little Rocky.
Little Rocky originates in the West and flows due East in a
straight line for its junction with Big Rocky. After they
meet they are called Rocky Creek.
Now as to checking the accuracy of the Cayce information with
other sources, I have this to say: I got Lee Bowman into the
picture with his attractometer at the request of my partners
and for their benefit but not for my own. They wanted an
outside check and I provided them with the only one that I
ever heard of that would claim an ability to find oil in
place. Hundreds of these machines have been invented and
demonstrated and tried by the oil industry. None of them are
considered worthy of absolute trust. Some of the best brains
in the world can be found in the laboratories of the oil
industry. Daily efforts are being made to find the machine
which Bowman claims to have, but as yet none has made its
appearance. There have been some invented which appeared to
work; but, over a period of time and testing under different
conditions, they failed as scientific instruments. If
Bowman's machine is accurate, then Edgar Cayce is wrong. Oil
is migratory and while a cataclysmic underground change could
have diverted the oil from this area, it has not occurred in
the 3500 feet we have drilled. Oil makes stains in the
strata which it occupies. We have carefully examined every
cutting from the well and have found not a single oil stain
in a single grain of sand. You mention a double check with
Henry Gross and the attractometer. As for me, I wouldn't
believe the attractometer on oath; and, as for Henry Gross,
while I bow to any respect that may be accorded him, his
approval or disapproval of the spot to me would make
absolutely no difference. I consider the source of the Cayce
information as Supreme and to use any other psychic means to
check its accuracy would be equivalent in my mind to
verifying the statement of God by the testimony of a mere
angel. I would not be interested in digging a third well on
a location made by means other than Cayce information. I am
not after oil in this area unless it proved the validity of
the Cayce data. Cayce made a second location in Rocky
Pasture which is South of our present drilling site. It is
in wild country and I have never been to it, but I believe I
could find it. If we have to give up the present well, I
would work on a drilling program for the other Cayce
location, but not otherwise. On second thought, I am not
sure that I would do this either. My reason is, that we have
everything at hand for a successful completion in the present
hole and have a wealth of experience behind us and probably
less than 500 feet to go with the easiest drilling of all
ahead of us. I think that I would be a fool to abandon this
project where it now is to chase off on a visionary scheme to
make a third location with the assistance of information
outside the Cayce data. No, I am not going to give up this
hole as long as there is a chance of completing it under
proper conditions.
You share with me a deep concern for the welfare of the
Association. I can tell from your letter that you do not
understand what I have done. The lease block contains
approximately 12,000 acres. Each landowner has for his share
royalty of 1/8 of all the oil and gas produced on his own
land. This royalty has made many Texas landowners
tremendously wealthy. The oil companies have also become
wealthy, but it is they who furnish all the capital,
exploration and operating expense, and the landowners'
royalty is free of all cost. The first thing I did in
assembling this block of acreage was to take all the the
leases in my own name and I hold them as Trustee under a
written declaration of trust which states that the
Association for Research & Enlightenment owns a free
overriding royalty of 1/8th of all the oil and gas produced
under the entire 12,000 acres. If an oil field develops
there, the Association will eventually have millions. You
and the other royalty holders own royalty acreage in the 3100
acre tract under the well we are drilling. This royalty is
fairly substantial and if all of you tithe a goodly amount
will come to the Association; but, if all of you royalty
owners donated 100% of their income, the total would be a
mere spec as compared to the income the Association would
eventually receive from its vested interest. I do not know
what my partners would have given to the Association from
their share, but they are generous men and I am sure it would
have been substantial. From my own share, I had already set
aside a minimum of 1/8th of my own income. If you will
compare the tithing provisions which you planned in your
letter with what I set aside for the Association to begin
with, you will see a substantial difference.
If anyone has made a sacrifice that he could ill afford in
order to participate in this venture, I regret it. A very
real reason for my continued efforts to finish this job is to
see that nobody stands a loss. Every business man knows that
he will take a loss if he fails to finish the job he has
started on. Many men are willing to do this, so they charge
off their loss and go on to something new and more
profitable. Nobody connected with an Edgar Cayce project can
afford to do this, if they are to receive the benefits which
may accrue, not only in terms of cash, but in other ways.
It is possible we will have to plug and abandon this hole
within the next week, if I am not able to raise the money to
complete it. I will never be satisfied as long as I live
until I have drilled the rest of this sand. I will never
condemn this hole until all of the Hickory Sand has been
drilled. The sad part is that I do not believe we have over
500 feet to go and possibly not that far.
Peter, I have a one-track mind when it comes to following the
instructions of Edgar Cayce. You either do it or you don't
do it. One does not go galloping around the country scaring
up psychics, seers, occultists and others of like ilk to give
one courage to do what the Cayce information first instructed
one to do. There is only one formula - one must believe in
it, must plan it carefully and then work like a dog until the
job has been completed. One should not be dissuaded from
carrying through by mystic rationalizing. I am going to keep
this hole open as long as I can, and the doubters can drop
out and be replaced by believers, if such appear.
My kindest regards to you all.
Sincerely, [signed] Rudy RJ/lg
12/31/52 Rudolph Johnson's letter to HLC:
Johnson & Mead (Letterhead)
Attorneys at Law
Mercantile Bank Building
Dallas 1, Texas
Mr. Hugh Lynn Cayce
c/o Association for Research & Enlightenment
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Dear Hugh Lynn:
Many thanks for your letter of December 16. I appreciate the
carbon copy of your letter to Ken Broman. I do not know what
to say about this, but leave the decision entirely in your
hands. When Ken met us in San Saba this past June, he asked
for a copy of the readings. I told him that I would be glad
to let him see it but thought that it would not be proper to
furnish him a copy. I let him read it, and he then said that
he would write to you for a copy.
We have not been able to raise any more money, and we are
abandoning the hole. We got down to 3500 feet. There has
been no trace of oil or gas since we reached the 2,000 foot
mark.
I read the book about Henry Gross and wrote a letter to
Kenneth Roberts asking certain questions. Roberts was kind
enough to reply that according to Henry the oil had been at
the 2600 foot level in the Hickory sand until about 1800
years ago when it passed off to another strata. All I know
is that there was no trace of oil or gas at the 2600 foot
level. Henry says that there is oil and gas under this spot
and can be found at the 5100 foot level. I am in no mood for
digging this hole any deeper but perhaps some day someone can
test out Henry's theory.
Roberts says that it is difficult to know at what "time"
Edgar Cayce "saw" certain things. Apparently he must have
seen this oil at a time before it moved elsewhere. This is a
phase of the readings that would bear some study.
[Copied in A.R.E. minutes
1/14/53]
1/13/53 Rudolph Johnson's memorandum:
MEMORANDUM TO ROYALTY OWNERS
I regret to advise you that at a depth of 3520 feet it became
necessary to abandon this hole. As you know, we had expected
production at a higher level. I regret very much that a lack
of money made it necessary to give up this hole at this
depth. It is my intention later this year, if circumstances
are favorable, to back into this hole and carry it down to a
depth of at least 5100 feet. To this end, I am working to
keep intact the property on which this hole was drilled. I
also have negotiations under way which I hope will permit me
to continue the drilling at a later date in 1953.
In the meantime, you will be able to take a deduction on your
1952 income tax return for the cost price of your royalty.
The Treasury Department requires the submission of all
pertinent information on Treasury Department form 927, Proof
of Worthlessness of Mineral Rights. At a later date, I will
send each of you information necessary for you to complete
your forms and properly claim your deductions.
With all good wishes, I am
Sincerely yours, RUDOLPH JOHNSON RJ/lg
[Copied at end of Ex. Comm. minutes
1/14/53]
