Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-03-23
rhe oo.n,.w om s.s..s.

the oil production OF the United
States. outside Of the Pacific Coast,
10 being exhausted. In Pennsyi-
vania the circuit has already ira
versed q distance Of nearly one
hundred miles, having been re.
moved from Franklin, Venango
county, the original source OF our
oil output, to the present center,
Mexican county. Not only that,
but 1t has kept on Its way until it
has reached Allegheny county,
New York, which would seem to
be the last very formidable deposit
left in the Atlantic States. The
Eastern field has been thoroughly
prospected. The ground has been
drilled over and over again, and
little remains to be learned as to
the oil reservoir thereabouts, at
least az respects practicable depths.
II ever a great source OF wealth
has been frittered away II has been
in the case of these Eastern oil
reservoirs. Crude petroleum is
selling to-day in Psnnsylvanis, on
account Of over production, for
eighty cents a barrel. The price,
by an intelligent systsm, might
Just as we'll have been maintained
at $4. Only the fact that the pro.
ducsrs were go numerous, each
warning against the other, has pre-
vented the adoption Of some sensi-
BILE arrangement which would have
protected the producer. The oil
has been poured out with an .aban.
don which, in dry country, would
have been reprehensible 10 the
handling Of water. Even at "a q
barrel for crude petroleum 1t would
make the basis for the cheapest
illumination on earth. "But,"
say the champions of cheap light
for the American masses. cit is all
the better for the people that crude
petroleum is selling for eighty
cents rather than S4 barrel" "
There might be some force in this
view OF the matter were 1t not for
the fact that our own people have
only consumed about twenty pei
cent. Of the total product. and we
might just as we'll. a. nation,
have been the beneficiary OF a
wise plan Of production which
would have allowed us to be en-.
rlched by the fair prices paid fol
our products In Europe and othel
foreign countries. When the
fact is borne in mind that
the United States is now
almost tho sole producer OF crude
petroleum, Germany contributing
about two thousand barrels q day
and the Russian product not being
available for the uses Of commerce
on account of great transportation
drawbacks, the gross wastefulnesi
which characterized the Eastern
handling Of this precious product
may be partly understood. 1t hai
been inexcusable, and has carried
with 1t its own punishment, in the
shape of the quickly approaching
death OF tho goose that laid the
golden egg.
1t is . good thing to know tina,
the development of the oil inter
ests of California has been attend
ed by no such criminal prodigality
of production. Fortunately for tht
interests Of this infant industry or
this Coast the hostility Of the for
midable Standard Oil Company
threw difficulties in the way Of the
development of our wells. Tha,
great monopoly started in with the
avowed idea of crushing Californis
oil opposition In the bud, and they
succeeded in at least making oui
producers prudent.
To-day, while it's dimensions are
but q trifle of what they soon will
be, there ia no more virile interest
on this Coast than our crude
petroleum production. The pl'
oneers in the intelligen,
development, in CONNER
cial shape, of this great and remu.
nerative industry, are the Messrs'
Seofield & Tevis, and it was large
ly owing to the judgment, skill and
perseverance, Of Mr.. r. G. Mac
Pherson that this impetus to pro-
duction was due. His trained eye.
coming, as he did, from the petro.
leum districts of Pennsylvania,
whore, for years, he had been an
indsfAtigabIe operator, instsn tIy
diagnosed the situation, and be
freely spent his money in the work
Of development; and, when that
was exhausted, he enlisted other
capital, which was controlled with
great energy and sagacity. To.
day, owing to the Messrs. Scofield
& Tevis, the oil interests of Los
Angeles county are on q splendid
footing. These gentlemen, with
oil the resources Of their several re.
fneries, find 1t impossible to meei
the demand for refined Los Ange.
les oil. The crude oil produced
from the Plco district, in this coun.
A. e. A. -