Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-22
PLENTY OF OIL HERE.
THE INDICATIONS OF ITS EXIST
ENCE IN MANY LOCALITIES.
Places Where 1t Shows Itself-The
Brea Beds.

The oil region Immediately west of
Los Angeles, although known for over a
hundred years, is as yet but little un-
derstood. There is little doubt, judg-
ing from the surface indications, that
the two townships, comprising the
Cahuenga valley, is very rich in
petroleum. Just how great is this de-
posit, and how far it extends. are ques-
tions to be determined in the future.
The first of these indications are to be
seen on Seventh street within the city's
limits. On the low, rolling hills, a
block or two west of the Westlake park,
are number of brea springs where the
asphalt oozes up through the ground,
presenting black, tarry appearance,
with smooth, glossy, mirror-like sur
face. These little black "eyes, are
shallow, and can be dug out in foot or
ing that their supply comes from a sub
SOS of the last century, when the pob-
ladores were building their one-story
adobe houses around the Plaza on Up
per Main street, they got their supply
of asphalt from these springs to roof
their houses. A little further on, where
Sixth street crosses an arroyo, consider
able quantities of brea are dug out by
people for fuel. South of the crossing
is an old oil well, which, it is
said, was sunk many years ago by that
enterprising pioneer, General Phineas
Banning. If any one doubts the exist
ence of oil in this well, let them 60 and
look and be convinced, for there it is.
True, it is not flowing well, nor does
there appear to be very much oil, but
still there is oil. Why it was not sue
cess as commercial proposition does
not now appear. 1t has been suggested
that the diameter was too small in the
beginning. Across the arroyo on the
west side, quite ways, is another we'll.
Here several years ago, in boring the
well-borers passed through solid body
OF brea twenty-nine feet thick, beginning
only fifteen below the surface.
Nearly opposite the western end OF
Temple street are several OF these brea
springs on the banks of an arroyo Just
north of the Baptist university. In one
place where some excavation had been
made the oil flows out little. This is
on the Mailman tract. Here company
has commenced to bore for oil, with first
class indications of success. It is known
as the West End Oil company, and has
cash capital sufficient to bore 1000
feet, if necessary. Last week the we'll
was down only about twenty-five feet,
and was already in sand rock which is
strongly impregnated with petroleum.
The progress of this wellwill be watched
with great deal OF interest, for if either
oil or gas should be found in paying
quantities. it requires no prophet to tell
the beneficial results to all.
Some six miles west of the city is the
famous La Brea rancho. The ranch
takes its name from the immense depos-
its of brea found thereon. The princi-
pal body of these deposits are at the
end of the road leading west from Sixth
street. There are two large places from
which the brea has been dug out for
years, and shipped to market. A great
many tons have gone to San Francisco
to make the asphaltum paved streets OF
that city. Large quantities at present
are being hauled to Los Angeles, where
it is used for fuel. There are two varie-
ties of the brea, black and a brown.
The brown brea sells for "a per ton, and
the black for 1926 per ton. One of the
eACaVationS lS pdIIidily uileu Will wa
ter, over which rolls thick scum of
crude petroleum. From the banks of
the excavation the brea and oil exudes
in large quantities. Near this
excavation is an oil we'll. On
looking into it's mouth the oil can
be seen heaving from the natural
gas that pushes up and bursts in large
bubbles on the surface of the thick, vas-
cid OIL There seems to be enough gas