Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-02
LOS ANGELES OIL FIELDS.
Report of the Committee of the
Chamber OF Commerce.

Chamber of Commerce.
The following is a synopsis of the re-
port of the committee on oil production
and fields which will be made at the
next meeting of the Chamber of Com
merce: After speaking of prepared fuel
composed of straw, sawdust and peat
saturated with petroleum, the committee
says Peat beds from two to ten feet in
depth cover large areas in this county,
Westminster, and near Compton. As to
the supply of petroleum, we quote largely
from an address OF S. Hutton, ESQ.,,
which he kindly handed US:
In considering the value of petroleum
important question is that of supply and
the probable price in the future. With
q view to derive this information it will
be necessary to go hurriedly over those
districts where oil is at present being
produced and where it is likely to be
found in paying quantities.
Commencing our Investigations first
with the Puente fields, principally
operated by Messrs. Lacy & Rowland,
which is in all probability destined to
produce many times It's present output,
It remaining only for the drill to locate
the main deposit which apparently has
not yet been tapped; from there to the
experimental well at Whittier, which is
now some 750 feet in depth, making
very good prospect and good showing
to increase the area of the present dis
trict. Passing over possible field OF the
future, lying between Newhall and the
producing fields of Ventura, we then
come to the San Fernando district,
which has been producing for some
twelve years and is remarkable for the
extraordinary life of its wells, one OF
them having been steady producer for
more than eleven years. Here there are
several new wells being drilled, and one
recently struck some four miles east of
the main field, shows a much greater
field than was ever thought available for
the drill in this region. Ten miles north
and little west of these fields we come
to the district which in extent and
promise is probably the largest of the
two.
There are several wells being sunk
here, one of which, at a depth of $50
feet, pumped at the rate of sixty-eight
barrels for few days, when water broke
in and spoiled it for the present. North
west of this about iour miles are the
fields known as the Tar Greek Basin, in
the Sespe district, and is one of the best
fields yet discovered. The first two
wells, Nos. and 2, produce respectively
at 1876 feet, 100 barrels per day, and at
200 feet 200 barrels per day. The wells
having decreased, they were sunk to
grearer depth with good success, and
number of wells are being drilled there
that must double its present output. Be-
tween the Sespe and the Ex-Mission,
some twenty miles distant, lies a terri
tory at present undeveloped, but un-
doubtedly rich in petroleum, as shown
by the numerous oil springs, with some
times considerable gas. Coming then to
the wells of the Ex-Mission, we find
greater development, and consequently
greater supply than in any other section
of California. Here much prospecting
was done before finding the right loca-
ton, but at last they struck it with we'll
which gushed forth for time at the rate
of over 800 barrels per day, which put
them on the right track at once.
As to the suggestion made by one of
the Chamber OF Commerce that an ex-
pect with scientific instruments be sent
out to determine the proper location to
drill for oil and gas, we find that the
most important scientific instrument in
any oil country is a drill and experts
cannot tell with certainty what is at any
special point under ground. Nature has
shown us great deal by sending its oil
springs to the surface, and California can
to-day claim some of the most expert
drillers in the world. The present out
put of the various fields can be taken
roughly at 81, 900 barrels of AZ gallons
each per month. OF this amount some
$4,000 barrels are consumed in this city
and county for fuel and the de-
mand is rapidly increasing. In
the effort to promote manufacturing
in our midst, the value of petroleum in
its different forms as a fuel cannot be
over-estimated. 1t is now in use for
producing steam power in Los Angeles
county in establishments representing
probably nine-tenths of the total horse
power utilized. There is absolutely no
exception as far as known to its adapta-
bility in any situation for steam-produc-
ing purposes, and among those now using
it you find Touring and paper mills, ice
manufactures, cold storage, hotels, laun-
dries, and in fact nearly every kind of
industry requiring steam as a motive
power. 1t has also proven success in
brick making, potteries and like works,
and the new lime and cement works at
Modjeska, near San Juan Capistrano.
The report then gives list of the uses
and value of oil as fuel and closes by
saying:
If the present consumption of coal for
San Diego, San Bernardino and Los An
geles counties, estimated to be 100000
tons annually, could be replaced by oil
of home production as fuel, it would save
us at $S per ton 80 100000. This amount
of capital left here would produce ac-
cumulated wealth whose assured invest
ment here would in few years produce
millions more of available capital for the
manufactures we wish to promote.
There are over hundred and twenty
five miles of pipe line in Ventura county
and less than eleven miles in Los An
geles county. We, your committee,
would suggest that three-inch pipe line
should be laid thirty miles to connect the
Puente district with Los Angeles city.
Twelve miles of this line would be
through oil producing territory, and it
need not necessarily all be laid at once,
but say twenty miles first laid, thus
piercing into the oil producing section
and largely stimulating the development
Of our oil productions and the consequent
advancement of our manufacturing in
terests.
a. r. l.