The herald., 1895-07-31
Local Market Congested and No
Market for Surplus
5000, 900 GALLONS IN SIGHT
Committee Appointed to Investigate
Measures of Relief
The Southern Pacific Has No Tank Cars But
the Output nust Go to San Fran.
cisco by Rail or Sea

At last the congested condition OF the
local oil market has become matter OF
such serious import as to arouse produc-
ers to the imperative necessity of imme-
diate relief. This problem has engaged
the attention of the recently organized
oil exchange since its foundation, and
ways and means for the anelioration of
the condition have been earnestly dis
cussod at it's frequent meetings. The
fact is there is how being pumped daily
5000 to 1000 gallons of oil IN the los An
geles district with a local demand not
exceeding one.half of that quantity. at
the same time the Southern Pacific road
has no tank Cars and Is thus unable TO
transport the oleaeinous commodity.
And there you are.
AS means looking toward relief,
comm ittee composed of President X. II.
Heron OF the oil exchange, +. W. Flint
and John Burns was appointed at re-
cent meeing, the purpose OF which is to
investigate and report upon the feasibl-
ity of establishing an outlet by the way
of San Francisco. The committee will
| tank storage may he found there; also
for the purp pose of perfectng transporta-
ton facilities to that point. The market
| there is ample to consume the surplus Of
the Los Angeles field, and if it is found
| to be available, the producers here will in
wade it, even ii it becomes necessary for
them to provide their own cars.
Speaking of this local situation yester-
| day, Mr.. +. J. Cochrane, secretary of the
| local Gil exchange, said: Few people
realize the value and true significance of
the oil deposits OF the Los Angeles field.
| We get better oil here than is procurable
at any other point on the face of the
| earth at the same depth. In fact at only
one other point, and that is in Russia,
| is oil found so near the surface as here,
| and there the product is much inferior to
| ours. Coupled with this important fact
| is the further condition that oil rock is
found here Of thickness Of 100 feet and
within the narrow limits already expert
mented over promises yield approxi--
mating 100000 gallons. In view of
these facts our oil interests become a
matter OF supreme Importance 10 the
| city"
| Speaking of the character of the local
| wells Mr.. Cochrsne observed that the
| product from them was the best fuel oil
ever produced. free from volatile matter
and rich in lubricating qualities. The
oils ars rich and flow at rate varying
form three to one hundred and twenty
| five barrels day. depending upon the
location and equipment of the we'll. The
continuity of the flow is evinced by the
| fact that of 231 wells completed, 225 are
abandoned. The average cost of putting
| in well is $780,
The extent of the oil district within the
| CITY is about 1000 by 1000 feet in dimen-
sions. Wells within this area have pro-
duced only heavy oils free from gas and
have required pumps. Toward the north
west more gas has been found. and par
| TALLY flowing, or 'intermittent" wells,
as they are called. have been drilled.
This fact is said, among oil experts. to
rt- ~tsr rs,Nsa - Avsl s. 49,
sise stores of gas in this immediate dis
| trict.
The damage to residence property con
sequent upon the erection Of these hun
dreds of oil dericks Is a matter which has
caused widespread comment in .he city,
since the unsightly structures first made
/ their appearance upon the hill. While
| they are not in any sense desirable as
| lawn decorations, nor as sources of
olfactory symphonies. at the same time
they have thus far fully paid for the
space they have occupied, and have made
good the damage to adjacent property
which their presence has caused. AS a
rule they have added suffi cient to the
value of the property which they have
encumbered to make 1t profitable to the
owner to dispose of it or to work it for
oil. And then. besides the individual
gain through ths development of the in.
dustry, the gain to this city. if the wells
| shall be found TO contain what is eX.
pected of them. is simply beyond COM
putation. Cheap fuel is the foundation
stone upon which all great manufacture
ing and industrial enterprises rest. 1t Is
the one thing. coupled with the compile
tion of the Nicaragua canal. which will
maze Los Angeles not only the metropo.
lis of Southern California. but the rail-
ra0d center of the Pacific coast.
! Mr.. CochIane's remarks regarding
local opinion of the value of the oil de-
posits here were Pat. He ssaid: 'The
people of this city do not appreciate
the advantage they enjoy in these de-
posits. Less advantage has made many
another town famous. and. coupled with
proper squirt. has led on to metropolitan
commerce. The discovery of oil in this
city dates back only two years. and yet
its influence in attracting capital to Los
Angeles has been immense. The leading
oil men of the oity at this time are men
who have been engaged in oil projects
in the east and who know what there is
| in it.''
| Under Spreading
| Blacksmith tree the villaye chestnut