The herald., 1894-08-26
GREAT FORTUNES WILL Be MADE
A View of the Local Petroleum
Industry.
1t Promises to Become the King
Product.
The History of Its Development In
This Resion-What Gan Be Ex-
peoted In tho Future.
Notes.
BY L. NJ. HoLT.l


ing products OF Southern California.
In various places all over this country
oil springs have been found, and their
constant flow has been a notorious
fact.
In connection with these springs have
always been found deposits OF asphaltum
or brea. This brea has been the resi-
dunn left after the volatile portion OF
the oil has been evaporated, These
beds of brea have been found in some
places very extensive, and these extern
sve deposits have had great commercial
value.
The celebrated Brea rancho, just west
of this city-the property OF the Han
cock estate-is a case in point, where
the deposits of brea wsre very extensive
and very valuable. 1t was from this
fact that the rancho obtained its name.
During the past 20 years thousands OF
tons OF this commodity have been taken
from the surface OF the earth on that
rancho and put upon the market with
great profit to the owners Of the ranch.
Today large pond exists where the
brea was excavated, and one OF the pecu-
liarities Of that pond is that natural gas
ia continually bubbling up through the
waters, indicating that down in the
depths below somewhere is q supply of
gas that will be very valuable if it can
be reached.
Just to the southeast of this great
brea deposit 12.inch we'll was sunk
years ago to depth OF 1440 feet for the
purpose OF securing oil. This we'll was
put down at time when there was no
market for oil in this section OF the
state. The we'll yielded oil in abund.
ance. The oil at that time was used
with the brea in making fuel which
found an extensive market. This well
is yielding oil today, and barrels Of the
crude article are running to waste daily.
If this we'll were pumped it would prob.
ably yield good income. This Brea
rancho is, however, we understand, tied
up in the probate court, and nothing
can be done with the well until the
youngest child becomes OF age, which
will be several years yet.
just to the south of this we'll ia O
small dry arroyo or run, in the bottom
of which, for long distance, are found
agae deposits RreBo.sy syiRn thgsS 81 0aT: sns
bIea is found.
Half a mile to the east is the Mans.
field ranch, where e seven-inch we'll fur
nishes good supply OF crude oil, which
comes to the surface and would flow
away if it had any chance to do 30.
Along little creek near this we'll are
found oil springs which flow continu.
ally. Upon higher ground near by is
also 12.inch well which ia 240 feet
deep. This we'll also furnishes oil that
comes to within few feet of the sur
face. BY pumping, this well would give
good returns. A little way from tnis
large we'll is small one only 40 feet
deep, which for yesrs has yielded good
supply of gas, which was piped into a
house near by and uaed for cooking and
lighting purposes. For some time past
this house has been unoccupisd.
Through contentious among the owners
of these wells they have never been
pumped, and the oil has never been
utilized to any great extent. They were
bored several years ago, but "a yet they
are dead property.
The wells above mentioned were put
down about tie time that the oil indus-
try was Just started in Southern Cali
iornia. AT that time the Puente oil
fields were developed also the Newhall
l.
country. In these sections the oil in
dustry has been put on solid founda-
tion. The output has been very large
and fortunes have been made by those
who have invested their money in oil
territory and in Oil wells.
Atthat time. and for many years pre-.
vious thereto, and ever since, it has been
known that there were flowing oil
springs within the city limits of Los
Angeles, near Second street patk and
between that park and the city limits to
the west. For years the native Mexi-
can population had pastured their sheep
around these springs and had consid-
cred them of no value. The American
population had become used to them BY
degrees and had gradually become i'm.
bued with the same idea OF their worth.
essness. They appeared to think that
if they were Of any value they would
have been utilized years ago. This ar
gument is OF no value, whatever. but it
has ever been used successfully to block
the wheels of progressive industry.
About six mouths ago an oil we'll was
put down near Second-street park and it
gave good yield OF oil by pumping.
Other wells were put down in rapid sue
cession, until today there ia a forest of
oil derricks standing over 80 or more
oil wells and there is not dry hole in
the entire number, although some wells
yield more oil than others.
These wells are shallow. The deepest
one is less than 1000 feet in depth. while
some OF them are less than 200 feet
deep. The average depth ia probaly not
over 800 feet.
Some of these wells have not been
managed on business principles and
have given poor returns. while others
have been managed with more ability
and have been regular bonanzas to their
fortunate owners.
The daily yield ofoil from these eighty
wells is about $40 or 800 barrels. The
average yield of the wells which are
we'll managed lie probably ten barrels per
day while some of the wells yield from
20 TO 40 barrels daily per we'll.
The oil sells at about $l.40 per barrel
and tbs market is an extensive one and
rapidly extending II is estimated that
81, berrela of oil is equal to one ton of
soIC coal for the manufacture OF steam.
This brings coal down to less than IS
psr ton TO say nothing OF the saving of
expense of handling the oil as compared
with the cost OF handling the coal.
With oil at $l.40 a barrel the owner of
the we'll will net from 81 to Sl20 per
barrel.
These eighty wells are confined to
small area OF territory, most OF them be-