Prospectus of the Holmes Oil Co. Ltd

Prospectus of the Holmes Oil Co. Ltd.

THE HOLMES OIL COMPANY (LIMITED). CAPITAL, £100,000, in 10,000 shares of £10 each SUBSCRIPTIONS are invited for 6750 SHARES of the Company. Deposit, £1 per Share on application, £1 On allotment and the remainder in future calls not exceeding £2 per Share at intervals not less than Two Months. It is expected that not more than £3 per Share will require to be called up.

DIRECTORS:

• JOHN CLARK FORREST, Esq. of Auchinraith, Carnbroe House, Bellshill, Chairman.
• RICHARD MACKIE, Esq., Shipowner, Leith. WILLIAM ANDERSON, Esq., Provost of Wishaw Coalmaster.
• JAMES SMITH, Esq. LLD., Fellow of Peter's House. Cambridge, H.M. Inspector of Schools for South Lanarkshire. St Peter's Lodge, Uddingston.
• JOHN MILLEN. Esq.. Coalmaster, 55 Great Clyde Street, Glasgow.
• JAMES MORTON, Esq., Manager, Langloan Iron-Works, Coatbridge, formerly Mining Manager to Young's Paraffin Oil Company.

Bankers-The BRITISH LINEN COMPANY. Edinburgh Glasgow. and Branches.

Solicitors: Messrs A. FERGUSON & J. T. T. BROWN, Glasgow, and JOHN LOGAN, Wishaw.

Interim Secretary - A. H. SMITH, C.A., Glasgow.

Temporary Office - At Messrs RATTRAY BROTHERS & SMITH. C.A.. Gresham House, 45 West Nile Street. Glasgow.

ABRIDGED PROSPECTUS

This Company is being formed to acquire and work the Shales in (1) The Estate of Holmes and Goshen, the property of Robert Bell. Esq., of Broxburn, as presently held under a 31 years' Lease by William Anderson Coalmaster, Wishaw, and (2) a portion of the Estate of Dalmahoy. the property of the Right Honourable the Earl of Morton as presently held under a 31 year Missive of Lease by the said William Anderson, and to carry on the business of Manufacturers of Mineral Oils and the products thereof. The Shalefields of the company extend for 1129 acres and have excellent railway facilities. On the estate of Holmes and Goshen , where there is an abundant supply of water, it is intended to erect Retorts, Refining. Plant, and all necessary Works of the most approved description, capable of distilling and refining at least 250 tons of Shale per day.

The Fields of the Company are situated in a district well known for its valuable shales, bring in the immediate vicinity of the Fields of the Broxburn, Pumpherston. and Oakbank Oil Companies. In the Dalmahoy Field the Houston Coal. which overlies all the West Calder, Broxburn, and Dunnet Shales, is seen cropping out at the burn which passes through the property. In the Holmes and Goshen field, John R. Williamson Esq. M.P. Edinburgh has carefully examined the shales and the results are highly satisfactory. His estimate as regards the Holmes and Goshen alone is 2.25 millions of tons of shale, equivalent to fully 250 tons a day for 31 years. The Holmes and Goshen Sha1es have born tested in a practical way at the Oakbank Oil Works with excellent results both as regards the quality and quality of the Oil, the large yield of Paraffin Scale and Sulphate of Ammonia being especially noticeable. It is expected that the Works will be so advanced as to admit of the manufacture of the various products in time for next winter's trade.

The Oil Industry is at present in a most healthy condition, as is sees from the price of the Shares of the different Oil Companies. This Company, it is believed, will be in a a good position f or doing a good position for doing a large and ruminative business having the following advantaged and elements of success:

• 1st - the Shalefield is of extra rich quality and easily worked
• 2nd - very moderate royalties payable under the leases viz – Holmes and Goshen 9d per ton of shale; Dalmahoy, 5d per ton of shale yielding not more than 24 gallons crude oil, and upon every ton yielding about 24 tons of oil, and additional lordship of one third of a penny per gallon
• 3rd - new works with all the most recent improvements to cheapen cost
• 4th - good railway facilities throughout the property
• 5th - the capital is small compared with the quantity of shale to be wrought and manufactured.

The price payable to the vendor is £10,000 which will be taken in 1250 shares of the Company at £3 paid. The capital requirements are estimated as follows:

• Payable to Vendor in shares £10,000
• Mines, Retorts and Workmen's Houses £45,000
• Working and uncalled capital £25,00
• Unissued shares £20,000

The Articles of Association admit of the operations being extended if the Company so resolve: The only Contract entered into on behalf of the Company is a Provisional Agreement between William Anderson. Coalmaster. Wishaw, on the one part and Alexander Hutcheson Smith, CA., Glasgow., for and On behalf of the Company, on the other part, dated 11th March 1884.

The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, together with copies of the above-mentioned Lease and Missive of Lease, and the principle Provisional Agreement may he seen in the Office of the Company. If no allotment is made, the full amount of the Deposit will be returned.

The Glasgow Herald, 12th March 1884