Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1880-12-18
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
A Short, Comprehensive Sermon on Oil.
BY J. q. UDALL

BYJ. g. UDALL.
Awake! Arouse from your slum
bers, beware of the danger befor
you, you unbeIIeving Eastern cap
italists. Come listen to the still
small voice of the Little Sespe Pc
troleum Mining District, Ventur
county, California.
I have but few, though to you
very important words to say, b.
lately having my attention cslle'
to an article stretching forth tn
grand achievements of the Pacifi
Oil Company, that is now being
published by many Of the leading
journals Of the day, some Of whicl
for sufficient cause are willing t.
foot the monopoly horn.
This article, stating that the Pa
cific Oil Company had lately sue
ceeded in purchasing, leasing ant
now had entire control of all thu
oil lands on the Pacific Coast il
the State of California, which IL
not only grossly false In the ex.
treme, but is also well calculated I,
deceive and lull you all into a mes
meric sleep, while this great mo-
nopoIy blanket is being carefully
and artistioally spread over yoI
by their blinded though we'll paid
agents. No doubt this Syndicate
company Gas by way of eminence
they call it) do own and centrel
several thousand acres of land.
But when they assert that this or
any other company own or control
all, or anywhere near all, of the
best oil producing land on the coast
of California, it is simply absurd
and more than false.
Having travelled over tue whole
length aud breadth OF this wonder
full oil territory, 1 can give you
no better IDEA OF 1t or convey q
moro exact illustration than by
representing it asa huge serpent,
coiling under this portion Of the
Coast Range of mountains, with
it's hydra -head dipping in the
ocean oppositc Santa Barbara
county, spouting immense qunnti-
ties of oil, the spray of which is
landed on the coast OF Santa Cruz
county, the initial point of the Pa
cific oil company; its neck and fore
parts extending through Santa
Barbara and into Ventura county;
its center and body lying in inn
mensely great coils, forming the
Little Sespe Petroleum Mining
District, not one foot of which is
owned or controlled by this COM
pany. The other extremity ex-
tends to the San Fernando or Pico
district, and is now being operated
upon and m0nopolized and con-
trOlled by this syndicate company.
This monsters rattles extend to
Los Angeles and represent the nu-
merous breh beds in and around
that beautiful city of vines, olives
and oranges. Up to the present
time there has been but two wells
sunk In this district, one known az
the Kentuck, which is but $50 fee
deep. The oil Is now standing
within five feet of the top. The
other is owned by the Los Angeles
Company and will no doubt pro.
duce more oil than aay other three
wells in the State. The well is
ia now steadily yielding fifty bar-
rels per day of tine green oil,
which Mr.. e. A. Edwards is refin-
ing, that being the full capacity Of
his refinery at present. The conn
pany intend to put down several
more wells In the early spring.
Tho yield then will. beyond any
reasonable doubt, compel the lAy-
ing of q pipe line to the town Of
Ventura, or some other coast land
lug place.
Having pumped this we'll myself
for nearly three weeks, can GER
tify to its yielding at the rate of
$50 barrels per day, and also that
there is better and more prospects
of oil in this district than in any
other like given portion of the ter
ritory.
I.have been informed that many
of the Chicago and other Eastern
capitalists have been led to believe
that there is no oil in any amount
on this Coast, and that several Of
them had been told that my letters
on oil were overdrawn and vision.
ary. The fact Is, the truth is toe
good to believe, without exaggera.
ton or establishment. But ]
would say to all you unbelievers
come here and examine for your
selves, and IL you do not find il
your judgment that yoy have beer
deceived and that I have not over
drawn and do not now misrepre'
sent or convey an unjustidabl'
idea, ! will give you good ant
sufficient deed to over two thous
and acres In this district Of as goot
oil land az there is in this or any
other State, and will also be instru
mental in obtaining for you D
| much as you desire or require t.
sifectually hold in check any ant
all oil monopolixing aompanie
that are now or may be formed OF
this coRst.
Now, In conclusion, my dea
hearers, will say cone--n0w !
the accepted time. Come, be con
WINGED and converted into the be
lief that this 10 in fact good
great and glorious oil country, o.
fording you the only opportunit
you will ever have for self.presel
walton and projections.
j Invest, and your tanks will b
overlooking with oil. 80 mote
BE-