The herald., 1896-04-23

verbatim report of the address and to
reproduce the diagrams used by the pro-
lessor to illustrate his remarks on the
geological features of the oil territory
Of this city. The subject treated is OF
the highest Importance and the pro-
fessor's handling of it indicates care
full and conscientious study. Prot. watts
said:
Mr.. President Ladies and Gentlemen:
The last time had the honor of report
ing to our society on the progress OF my
work in connection with the petroleum
interests of California. l roughly out
lined the geology of this city and it's
vicinity. and / described the Puente oil
fields Since that time l have made a
general reconnaissance between Los
Angeles and Santa Barbara, and have
paid especial attention to some of the
localities which. on account OF rock eX-
posures and the drilling of wells, seemed
to offer the best opportunity OF inVestl-
cation. The object of the state mineral
,giSt in this matter is to obtain record
of our petroleum. yielding formations to
determine the geological position of the
oil yielding rocks and to ascertain the
structural conditions under which pc
troleun has been formed in California.
This evening ] hope to give you some
idea as to how this work is progressing.
AS there is not time to tell you OF all
that has been done. we will take for our
fields. and at some future date nope TO
have the pleasure of describing to you
the oil fields between the Sespe district
and Santa Barbara.
The Los Angeles oil field has been
carefully studied by gentlemen in this
city since the first days of its develop
ment, and they have written very ably
on the subject, so you must not be sur
prised if tell you some things that have
become an old story
At Los Angeles the rocky formations
constitute a portion of the southern
slope of an anticlinal fold which ap-
pears to extend eastward from the Ca
huenga mountains. The axis of this
fold, although rather ill defined. can be
found short distance north of Elysian
park The prevailing dip of the strata
forming the south slope of this anticline
is little west of south modified by sub
ordinate folds or fleXures which in some
places have locally inclined the strata
in an opposite direction. There are two
such fleXures, one to the north and the
other to the south of the oil wells at
Second street park. Owing to the al
luvium covering the rocks only glimpses
of these lines of disturbance can be OBJ
tained. but a careful study of them
leads to the conclusion that they can be
traced as follows:
The most important line of disturb
ance can he traced with q CO use south
81 degrees east from the corner of YER
mont and First streets to point a lit
tie south of First and Cilassel streets,
thence to a point on Quebec near Ocean
View avenue to another point about 100
yards north of Fourth ;:nd BiXel streets.
The other line of disturbance can be OBJ
served on Burlington street near Temple.
II can be traced to Temple street near
Lake Shore avenue. and probably the
disturbance of the formation near Belle
Vue and Victor street is associated with
It. A little disturbance can be noticed
in the middle of the oil field on Court
near Toluca street.
The rocks penetrated by the oil wells
at Second street park consist Of sof,
Thin bedded sandstones and sandy Gays
and shales, which are interstratifeG ty
thin strata of imure limestone and