The herald., 1898-09-26
AMONG THE OIL WELLS
ATTITUDE OF PRODUCERS TOW
ARD CITY ORDINANCES
EAST LOS ANGELES AS AFlElD
Water Wells Struck Near Westlake,
Price Remains Firm at One Dol
lar-Outside Districts


given a lengthy account Of the intention
of some oil men willfully to violate some OF
the sections Of the existing oil ordinance
for the purpose Of testing their legality
1t is further stated that w. +. Do Groot
10 at the head Of the movement
Careful inquiry among leading oil men
Of the city leads to the conclusion that the
idea for this proposed movement probably
originated in the active brain of some
member of the Times STAFF 1t is possible
that De Groot contemplates such action,
but that gentleman's dislike for the oil
ordinances has been noticed before, and
what he says or does can hardly be taken
as indicative of the real feeling among
oil producers.
There Is one ordinance, however, upon
which the oil men are determined to make
a vigorous stand. 1t is the one providing
that no Oil nor refuse from any we'll should
be allowed to run Into a public gutter or
sewer. A certain prominent producer takes
the ground that water from an oil we'll
properly freed from any oil 1t may bear,
does not come under the head Of refuse
and claims that he has been supported In
his contention by membr of the city at
torney's office, who told him that as long
as he ran nothing but water into the sewer
system he was doing 1t good and not harm.
On the other hand, the oil men have oil
been served with notices that they shall
not run water into the cutters and sewers,
the inspector evidently holding that what
ever comes out Of a we'll besides oil and
gas Is refuse, and must be treated as such.
The settlement Of this ques tion is awaited
with q good deal Of interest. as in some
cases the disposal Of the water developed
Is a serious question:. There is too much
Of It to drink, and 1t is not At to drink. any
how. Besides, most of the oil men thus
affected do not care for water as a steady
beverage
A gentleman we'll acquainted with the
field believes that tho citizens of the region
Immediately surrounding Westlake park
need have no fear that the ''oil blight"
will further encroach upon their property,
for the simple reason that practically no
oil is to be found south Of the present
160O-foot limit. He cites the following
facts to confirm his opinion:
On the southwest corner Of Burlington
avenue and Miramar street there is a
we'll which has never produced anything
but water; on lot in the same block there
- another water we'll; on the corner Of
Miramar and Bonnie Brne another; and
over on lot 4. near Fourth ond Alvarado
still another. Lines drawn on a reliable
map between these different wells seem to
indicate ~ that tho southern limit OF the
field has about been reached and (O that
the general trend of the field fs toward the
Los Angeles academy instead of toward
the park.
Parker, Proudfoot & Craig have been
drilling on Maginnis' lot, corner of Mira
mar and Bonnie Brae streets, but on
Wednesday hast large body of water was
struck. SO the casing is to be pulled up and
further work abandoned.
DR.. Book has just completed we'll on
the corner Of Miramar and Quebec streets,
and the OF OIL company one on Quebec
street near by. Pumping on both of them
will probably be commenced Tuesday.
Both give indications of a fair produc-
ton
Mr.. Sanford who has been drilling a
we'll in an uninhabited section between
Eastlake park and Boyle Heights, has
struck an undoubtedly good vein of sand,
and if present difficulty with in flowing
water can be overcome, he will have a
good producer. Mr.. Sanford also is in
terested In a we'll now being sunk in lot
adjoining the Los Angeles brewery on
Main street. This also gives good indica-
tions.
The development of true oil field in
that locality is q consummation devoutly
to be desired, and is looked forward to
with great interest among oil men In
that region there would certainly be no
objection to the industry on account OF
proximity to valuable residence property.
Price conditions remain unchanged as
yet. Most of the oil sold last week went
for 81 per barrel
Considerable scepticism Is expressed by
local oil men as to the truth of report
last week that 1O0-barrel well had been
struck IN the Ellesmere field at Newhall.