The herald., 1898-09-19
AMONG The OIL WELLS
NEW AND PROMISING FIELD AT
CoALINGo, FRESNO COUNTY
NEWS OF LOCAL DRILLING
il Mems Mass Meeting at the Chamber
of Commercial New Compact
to Be Formed

Interest among local oil men is at pres
ent largely directed to the new field at
Coalingo, Fresno county. Until now no
very definite reports have been obtainable
from that section, nor even yet L. the in
formation received entirely satisfactory.
The village of Coalingo is situated near
the end of a spur of the Southern Pacific,
running southwest 45 miles from Goshen
Junction. Ten miles northeast of Coalingo.
in canyon among the foothills of the
coast range, is small settlement digni-
fed with the title of Oil City, and this is
the spot where most of the Oil In the field
is being produced.
| There are at present nine companies or
individuals working at Oil City upon 16
wells, Il of these being already in the pro-
ducng stage The wells have q depth of
from 1000 to 100 feet, and the oil sand STRAIT
um reached is said to be about five feet in
depth.
| Their production is very good in quantity,
averaging from Is to 20 barrels a day, two
of them giving a good natural flow without
any pumping. When first struck, several
of the wells yielded 200 or more barrels a
day. The remarkable feature of the oil.
however. is it, lightness. the specific grav-
ity running from Sc to 40 llegrees. The
producers are somewhat reticent about the
price they are receiving for it, but 95 cents
at the we'll is said to be the figure.
The first of these wells was opened last
May, although prospecting has been done
in that section and even as far north as the
mountains in San Benito county for some
years. In fact, four wells are now being
drilled at point in the mountains So miles
| .>f of tha oil
duced finds a ready market at San Fran
cisco, where it is purchased by Spreckels
Brothers and other concerns.
The latest reports from Summerland are
to the effect that the best developments
have been made along the beach toward
the east or in the direction of this city.
About two weeks ago T. d. Wood of Santa
Barbara began pumping three wells in that
part of the field, their depth being about
200 feet. They produce from 10 to 25 bar
rels daily; the price is 80 cents per barrel at
the we'll
In the local field there are only two wells
now being bored. One of these Hedley's,
in the hills near Elysian park is failure,
water having been struck at depth of 900
feet The Sanford we'll near Eastlake park
is also down about 900 feet, but with a
good showing of sand. Pumping will prob
ably be commenced this week. The Yukon
and Rex Oil companies are doing about all
the work now going on in the West End.
The monthly report of Secretary Stras-
burg of the oil trustees shows that about
10000 barrels were produced between the
18th of August and the 18th of September;
90, 900 barrels We're sold in the same time,
leaving a present surplus of 260, 900 barrels
actually above the ground.
A mass meeting was held last night at
the chamber of commerce, upon the call of
the Oil Mems Protective association. Dr.
w. A. Lamb was in the chair. The present
ordinance concerning the loading and un-
loading upon public streets came up for
discussion. 1t was decided to be an in
opportune time for asking further legis-
lation upon the matter by the council, ow-
ing to the position taken by the Westlake
property owners.
A long discussion then ensued upon the
matter of a combination to succeed the
present one, known as the Oil Producers
Trustees, which expires as a body at the
first of the year. 1t was the general feel
ing that a combination, in order to be eff
fective, must include every purchaser in
the field.
Jesse Yarnell then read an elaborate
scheme for a compact, providing for the
formation of a second party corporation,
which was to receive the oil produced by
those signing the joint agreement, and dis
pose of it at a price fixed by the producers,
in return for which services it was to
receive as compensation certain percent
ages.
The scheme was referred back to the
committee for perfecting and the securing
Of signatures OF parties willing to form the
necessary corporation mentioned.