The weekly union record., 1865-06-17
Letter on Oil.
Ell DORADO RANCH. Butte Co,
June Sth, 1865.

June otn, 1909.
EpuoR UsloS RECORD Having just re-
turned from the oil region Of Colusa county,
interesting to yourself and readers. "Oil on
the brain seems to be common disease in
California at present, aud as l am not exempt
from the maladies incident to the climate,
caught the injection early in the season. Yes
sir took it bad. So some two months ago
found myself the happy possessor Of q ''claim."
Good thing that same claim J" TO al lie
struck mortal to keep the malady on the
surface and prevent its striking in. For when
it strikes in," like the FIRST moustacbe OF am-
bilious youth, it kills. In going TO the oil re-
gion you should leave the town of Colusa in
the morning; take the Bear Valley road, and
after ride of eighteen miles you arrive at the
mouth of Fresh Water Canon, where you will
find the first indications in the shape of
greasy looking spring of water by the road
side. Three miles further on you arrive at
Lanes Hotel. You will probably be hungry
by this time. and you will have nothing TO
complain of at Lanes table. A number of
oil springs exist in the vicinity, but you are
not yet in the best part of the oil country, not
BY long shot. You cross the Bear Valley
bill, follow Bear creek down four miles where
you strike the mouth Of Sulphur creek, up
which you go one mile, and then you begin to
q" smell smell" for you have now arrived at
the famous hot sulphur springs are in the
heart of the oil region, and will fad at Sim.
mons Hotel accommodations at which You will
aot growl The Rowe and Fleesou well is at
this place. This well is down ninety.six feet
and the proprietors have stopped boring and
sent below for tubing, as they are satisfied
that they have now paying well. They
will stop the flow of water. put in the oil
pump and lei her run. Three miles below the
mouth of Sulphur creek is the claim of Green
& Gaines. This claim shows more oil on the
surface than any other. II you have quart
bottle along and it happens to be empty, you
will have but little trouble in filing it with oil
from any of the numerous springs OF this claim.
The claims Of Ord & Norton, and Of Ord and
your humble servant are situated in this vicini-
ty, and are counted among the good ones. In
fact the whole Bear creek region from Bear
Valley down six or eight miles is as greasy as
could be desired by any one that judges of
what is hidden in the earth by what be sees
on the outside. l have visited some Fifty
springs that show good flow of the oleagn-
GUS treasure.
A petroleum mining district was formed on
the 9th inst, rules and regulations adopted,
and Recorder and Surveyor elected. The
claims allowed consist of hundred and sixty
acres. They must be taken by legal sub
division, recorded in ten days from location,
and have Improvements TO the value Of one
hundred dollars placed upon them within the
first ninety days. Claims are held at from one
to fifty thousand dollars, and few sales have
been made at figures between those limits.
Now. Mr.. Editor, if you or any of your
friends feel like taking look at this oil ele
phant," and will come to my camp, will de
tain you in hostile manner" and show you
where you can grease your boots and not soil
your fingers You will have TO bring your
own blankets, aud if eonuenient, you know, a
very small bottle of-of-you need be under
no apprehension in regard to grub for !
l. l.
And. although the game law is in force and
am law abiding citizen, yet when l am short
of meat and happen to take an early morning
walk, and have my rife along, and happen to
see q deer, and said deer tries to bite me,
why -. There are several deer skins around
my camp. HARRY.