The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-20
Practically No Progress Being
Made at Present
RUMORS OF A FUEL WAR
Between the Standard Oh! Company and
Local Firms
Denied bv the Corporations Agent-Officers
Of the Exchange Say it Cannot
Affect Them-Not5s

While oil is being shipped TO the outside
market in greater quantities than ever be-
fore, there is a tendency on the part of
many producers to hold their oil, hoping to
get better prices than are now being paid.
For this purpose several large tanks are
being constructed in the field to serN when
those at the wells are filled. Turner
brothers have between five and six thous-
and barrels of petroleum now in their tanks
and heir wells continue steadily to in
crease The amount. The prevailing low
prices have undoubtedly had the effect of
decreasing the Ectivity among drillers.
There has not been as little drilling going
on during tho past three months as at
present. Operators 1ho are new to the oil
business are somewhat discouraged. They
believe that the industry is demoralized.
Men from the eastern oil regions say that
the situation is exactly like that which
every new field must undergo. The more
conservative business men, both operators
and dealers. have suspended operations to
some extent until matters become cleared
up.
A morning paper announced in a des-
patch dated San Francisco, Dec. ] 5, that
big fuel fight was OH between the Standard
Oil company and local firms. j. G. Har-
vey. the local agent of the company, in an
interview with u HERALD reporter stated
thai the information was news to him and
that his company had given no instructions
OF such a nature to him,
AT this end of the line,N said he, tive
will continue to follow the same policy
adopted in the beginning that is, we will
continue to buy oil for shipment at the
established rates. The foundation is now
being laid for one of our large tanks, and
when it is completed we will receive as
much oil as il will hold, in order to fill
our contracts with northern consumers. So
far as "a war is concerned that is practi-
cally out of the question"
Major Cochraue, the secretary of the ey-
change, said there was nothing in the prop
osition. ut could have little effect on us
one way or another, as we shalt soon be
shipping all of our oil by water. If it were
question of railroad transportation. the
situation would be different. We would be
at the mercy of the Standard, because all
of the tank cars which are operated over
the Southern Pacific between here and San
francisco belong to that corporation.
though nominally they are the property of
another company. We have an order now
for 5000 barrels of oil to be sent north at
a good price. but are unable to fill it owing
to the lack of shipping facilities. When
the transportation company gets ready to
handle the local product there will be bet
ter times among producers" EFr
NOTES FROM THE FIELD
Doheney & Common have their rig on Bel
mont avenue about ready to begin drilling
another new we'll.
The Green we'll is being finished with
tubing and will be pumping in a day or
two. Drilling will commence in No. 9 by
the first of the week.
MIR. McIntire has shipped one of the
rigs from the field TO San Diego, where it
is thought another belt of oil exists.
Whitman & Gallagher have moved their
rig to Ivanhoe and will begin prospecting
for oil in that locality.
Melee IL Heron, the repre- Sentatives of
the Oil Well Supply company of Pennsyl-
vania, have just received a consignment of
several carloads of we'll implements, and
will hereafter be able to furnish driliers
for the goods to arrive from the east as
formerly.
The Martin we'll continues to pump a
large stream of water, although the drill
entered a good body of oil when the hole
was being put down.
A depth of $50 feet has been reached in
the Weller & Hoffman we'll OH Figueroa
street, and the drill is now forty feet in the
sand. with an excellent flow of oil.
The drill is nearing the oil stratum in
the Rummel we'll on Park place. A slump
hole is being dug OH the same property,
where n second well will be put down as
soon as the present one is finished.
Bophs & Leslie have struck a large vein
of gas in their we'll on Victor street, near
Bellevue avenue.
The oil exchange will soon begin work on
a cement cistern at San Pedro which will
contain 10 900 barrels of oil.