San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-09-27
MEXICAN OIL FikLDs.
,h.Ir Great rrr., in III. state srysn Cruz.

1bsIr Great III-at In Ihs state Of Vera Cruz.
"Those interested in Mexican oil
properties may not be aware IN how
large Il field oil is found in the state
of Vera Cruz alone" writes n cores
pendent from Papantla, Mexico, to
the .Mericm hmancier. From Pa
pantla TO Tampico, and from the sea
to the mountains, tract some l5O
miles long by 80 wide, known as the
Huasteca, is dotted with petroleum
springs I'll over the country, not ap-
parenty following any particular
surface formation, but as rich by the
lagunas on the coast as among the
foothills of the great eastern range.
At some places, notably at Juan Julipe,
two days ride inland from Tuxpam,
the surface deposits OF bitumen, or
"Chapopte," as it is called, are simply
astounding, large, black fields and
long streams having spread out in the
course of ages and being now as hard
and smooth as u well-made asphalt
pavement, while the little springs are
innumerable, the whole ground SEEM
ing full of it. These large deposits
are the residue caused by the evapo-
ration Of the petroleum and the other
volatile portions of the tar-lke sub
stance which exudes from the ground,
and, under the tropical sun, it imper-
ceptibly spreads out into the forest
until lost under accumulated leaves
and earth. There is always a soft
place in every deposit where the fresh
chappopte comes oozing up and
through which large bubbles filed
with u highly infammable gas rise
and burst. The oil skum, if SKINNED
off, burns fiercely, and during rain
storms the water is highly iridescent
from the oil floating on top. Thus
there would seem to be no doubt of
the richness of these springs, and the
excellence of the oil is shown by that
produced at Papantla in a small re-
tinery which has been in operation
for some years, where it is produced
as clear and white as water, and with
a strong, kerosene-like smell, giving
strong light.
The labor all through the Huasteca
is cheap, about 81 or SO cents day,
but the difficulty is to persuade the
men to work. On a feast-day their
religion ives an excuse to their lazl-
ness, and it is almost impossible to
get anyone either for love OF for
money, unless the padre" has been
favorably interviewed and properly
propitiated, when he will throw his
Influence in favor of nobility of labor,
and the difficulty ceases. On other
days the laborers are constantly
changing, for as soon as a peon has
got his dollar or two OF pay he has got
enough, and he takes a rest for a
couple of weeks. The idea of working
to lay up money for the future is
something which they do not under,
stand; it is enough for the peon if he
has a hat, 1oachete,. sandals, two
shirts and two pairs of trousers;
housekeeping only requires a bamboo
hut, which the forest gives him, and
a few earthen jugs OF pots, which ne
makes himself; the dogs and children,
without which all Indian hut is rot
completely furnished" come of
themselves.
The only serious difficulty at pres
ent is that of transportation; with
those springs which are situated near
the Panuco and Tuxpam rivers, as
Chapopote, where the Boston and
Mexican company is at present work
ing, it is easy to pipe the crude oil to
the river and thence carry it down
stream in tank-boat to the refinery.
But to work the springs situated back
from the sea, the machinery, pipes,
etc., would have to be muled or carried,
and in the latter case, the expense
would be greatly increased by the la
bor necessary to prepare O road.