Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-08-07

complete Development The Bish-
op im-Experience of Gov
ernor Stanford and Partners on
the Bishop Claim.
EDITOR HERALD: The eastern boudary
line Of the Simi Ranch is the western
boundary Of the San Fernando Petro-
leum Mining District. The oil strata
runs through the eastern portion Of this
ranch. The grant was bought by Thos.
A. Scott many years since in anticipa-
tion OF its value from its oil deposits.
To whom il belongs at this time / can
not say. Thence across the extreme
western corner of the San Francisco
grant, at which point Thomas Bard sunk
pits few feet in depth that are filled
with oil of heavy gravity, the volatile
ingredients, naptha, benzine and kero-
sine evaporating in surface deposits rap
idly, the gravity of the oil is thereby
reduced. Both these properties are Of
great value, but being on Spanish grants
their owners are beyond the mining
laws, and are not required to make ex-
penditures to retain their claims.
The Santa Clara Valley here cuts
through the strata, and the river of that
name, running down it, shows no indi-
cations Of oil. The valley is some three
miles wide, low and level, and is settled
with farms. Across the valley is the
Camulos Petroleum Mining District.
The first claim where the strata appears
belongs to Messrs. Beale and Baker. 1t
is in cai1on off the Piru creek. This
claim exposes fully the strata. The
cast side OF the caiion is PERCEPTIONS,
almost perpendicular, the action of ages
having carried away an enormous Sec
ton Of the mountain apparently in a
solid block. Oil appears in many places
ON this claim and undoubtedly it is q
property OF great value. No develop.
ment beyond the requirements of the law
to retain the claim has been made by
the gentlemen owning it, and favorable
as the indications are of an abundance
Of oil being stored within the subter-
ranean reservoirs of the rock, the hid
den treasure has been allowed to remain
unproductive so far. Continuing along
the mountain the strata runs exposed
to the eye, unbroknn by any extensive
fissure until the Harper cafion is reached
This canon, narrow and deep, cuts en-
tirely through the strata, and EXPOSES it
in its entire width at great depth. A
bold stream of water runs down this
canon, sufficient for many engines, and
its effect in cutting the canon to its
present depth is peculiar demonstra-
tion of the tremendous force of moun-
tain streams in forming the eafions. At
the mouth Of the canon, number of
years since, compay from Santa Bar
bara sunk a we'll 10 the depth OF three
hundred feet, using horse power and
light tools, the diameter of the well be-
ing six inches. They struck an abun-
dance Of gas and some oil, bat as every
thing was so costly in that day, with
fattering indications OF success had
they continued to drill, they plugged up
the well in its unfinished state, 10 which
condition 1t remains to this day.
The claim is one particularly fa-
vorsble for boring, lying at the
mouth Of the canon on level land, with
out the necessity of grading for derricks
or construction of roads. Continuing
up the canon is the claim OF Messrs.
Lyon. Hutton 4 Lankershim. This
claim is bisected in its length by the
cahon, and shows every indication Of
being ON the strata. At one place there
is large sepage Of oil which floats down
the creek and fills the basins OF rock
surrounding. These gentlemen. some
two years since, expended considerable
money in an attempt to drill, using,
however, the horsepower and light
tool process, which, judging from ex-
perience so far, cannot be successfully
used anywhere on the oil strata of Cali
fornia, as it requires heavy tools and
steam power to insure successful drill
ing, the rock all through the strata be
ing at an angle to the plain. The ten
dency Of the light drill is to slide along
the line of the angle Of the rock instead
of perpendicularly through it, the inn
pact or blow being too light, the conse-
quence being crooked holes. Besides,
the depth reached by light tools is in
sufficient to place success beyond perad-
venture. But this had to be learned by
experience, and these gentlemen deserve
their need Of praise for their venture.
They propose, it is said. shortly to start
TO drill again, secundem artem, with
full modern machinery, when undoubt-
edly success will abundantly reward
their energy and pluck. Their claim is
susceptible Of being bored on in many
places at slight expense in making roads,
water being plenty. With one well
completed, the claim would be bonanza
in value.
As the canon continues across the
strata the claims all show oil
until the Bishop" claim is reached.
This claim has a history in the oil
development worthy Of mention. A
number Of years since, when Thomas A
Scott was buying all the Spanish grants
showing surface oil in this section, Mr..
Bishop, now President OF the street rail-
road of San Jose, located this claim,
and, building cabin upon it, resided
there in this recess Of the mountain for
years. Alvinza Hayward and Governor
Stanford became interested with him,
and, with their noted energy, proceeded
to develop here the oil product. Oil
had been but shortly prior thereto dis
covered in Pennsylvania. The process
Of drilling was crude and primitive.
Spring poles were used in Hnnsylvania,
and these gentlemen, thinking that the
depth of the canon was sufficient to
tap the oil, commenced to tunnel into
the mountain at favorable point.
They succeeded in getting Quantity Of