The oil men throughout the country have been deeply interested in the torpedo question for the last six or eight months, and for good reasons, as a large share of the production of petroleum today is attributable to the use of torpedoes. The value of the patent can hardly be estimated, for its application must ultimately become almost universal.

Colonel Roberts has shown us his patent, just received from Washington, for increasing the productiveness of oil wells by the use of the torpedo. This case has been in controversy three years and five days, was appealed and carried through all the courts in the Patent Office. And finally to the United States Supreme Court at Washington, where the decisions that had been rendered by the Examiners and Commissioners of Patents was fully sustained by an ably written decision of Judge Carter.

The patent claims the use of gunpowder or other explosive material in oil wells for the purpose of increasing their productions by a torpedo or flask containing the explosive material and fired by any means used to explode shells or torpedoes under water, including electricity, friction or percussion. This is a complete monopoly of using torpedoes in oil wells. So thoroughly has this question been argued and fought, step by step, two years and upwards, by some of the best legal minds upon patent laws, that it would seem to be the height of folly and money thrown away for any one to contest it in the courts, as there can be no doubt of its being sustained.

Should the Roberts Petroleum Torpedo Co. commence suits against any of the numerous infringers upon the patent, there will be a fine chance for spending a very large sum of money. No doubt it will end in sustaining the patent to the almost hopeless ruin of whoever undertakes the fight.

We see no reason for a contest of this kind, as the company propose to do the work and operate on wells as cheap as it can possibly be done, by which means they hope to remove all inducement to land or working interests to infringe their rights.

It is a well-known fact to oil men that to Col. Roberts is due the credit of bringing into practical use the torpedo. His energy and perseverance had been the cause of many an oil producer to be able today to count his money by thousands of dollars instead of cents. We therefore say the sooner all parties acknowledge Col. Roberts’ rights the better, inasmuch as it is not to be supposed that after a contest of two years he will abandon his case at the time when he is prepared to compel people to answer in the courts for any infringement. So we say, pay royalty to the patentee rather than lawyers. This patent covers all infringements from the 20th of May 1866.