Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-05-02
The Roushey Oil Company.

It is well known that in a narrow
strip of territory extending along the
coast from Santa Barbara to San Die
go, and especially in the vicinity of
Los Angeles, many oil springs and ex-
tentive deposits of asphaltum or brea
are found. Prof. Silliman and other
exprets expressed the opinion
that, based on experience, extensive
observation and scientific knowledge,
that petroleum in large, perhaps un-
limited quantities, exists in this belt.
Many attempts have been made to OBJ
tain oil in this and other localities, and
though these efforts, from various
causes, not the least of which, appear
to have been the lack of experience,
proper tools and good management,
failed to meet the expectations of those
Immediately interested, yet they es-
tablished the fact that oil Of superior
quality abOunded in quantities to JUS
tify its development.
Capitalists have SO far failed to ap-
preciate the benefit to he derived from
this investment, both to themselves
and the country at large, or as has
been charged by some of those, who
for years have been untireing in their
efforts to have this matter tested,
desire to secure all the territory they
consider worth having before they al
low any development to be made,
though this latter view would be ridi-
culed by one familiar with the Eastern
Oil regions, 1t has been seriously ad-
vanced by parties here. Two compa-
nies are now at work near Lyons Sta
ton in this county. One on the Tenn
pie claim commenced some months
ago, the manager of that well reports a
depth of 28U feet with large volumes of
gas and production Of about five bar
rels of oil per day, though labOring
under every disadvantage, they have
pushed the work with a persistence
worthy of the ca use and are going still
deeper. The other after series of de-
lays and disappointmeuts that would
have deferred less determined men,
are now prepared to go through with
the work in hand.
The Boushey Company propose to
test the territory in the immediate
neighborhoOd of the city, by boring
on the celebrated Tar Well lot, known
on the map of the lots of the city of
Los Angeles as lot No. 2 of block u of
Hancock's Survey of the 35 acre dona-
tion lots, situated about q miles
from the Court House, near the
Cahuenga road. lU is proposed to go
1,200 feet in depth unless oil is Oh
tanned nearer the surface, or 60 1000
feet IL necessary,
The company are sanguine of sue
cess, and the parties who undertake to
drill the well having had experience
in the Pennsylvania oil regions and
having examined the different oil pro-
ducing localities in this section, as an
evidence of their faith in the success
of this enterprise, take two thousand
dollars worth of the stock, being but
little less than the value of the work
proposed. The object is not to obtain
oil only, though that is the main point.
1t is almost beyond question that arte-
sian water will be struck within the
first few hundred feet, and Mayor
Beaudry has demonstrated how water
will enhance the value of these lands
by his own hill lots, which adjoin this
tract. Again, large volumes of gas es-
cape from this and many other wells. If
this only is secured we simply point to
those of Pennsylvania and observe the
price of gas here, to convince any one
that Los Angeles has "bonanza."
And, finally, should success crown the
efforts of the company and petroleum
be produced in paying quantities, the
benefit to the city and the whole of