The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-12
TRfADWfLL'S Wharf
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC AFTER
SUNDERLAND OIL
L.f
AN AUDAcIoUS MOVEMENT
no Rob the Sea and the State and
Coerce the Oil Nen-Tread-
wells Latest

SANTA BARBARA, August 1.-THE
Freadwell-Moore fight at Summerland is
reaching a climax. Treadwell left yes
terday for San Francisco, and 1t Is believed
he has gone to consult his principals and to
try to influence the attorney general in his
behalf. The facts of the trouble are thus
stated by the Daily News:
For some time past 1t has been known
that the oil wells of the Summerland draw
their supply from the rock or ledge Dip
ping at a we'll defined angle. Lately it
was shown by actual experiment and tests
that the real reservoir bottom was some
little distance below low water mark, and
to reach 1t one must go even out into the
waves to bore, If one was to get the best
results. And, more, If one did that and a
well was located behind or inland, the well
in the waves would soon exhaust those IN
land. 1t is generally known that the state
owns and proposes to hold for benefit Of
the peoplpe the land between low water
mark and point three miles off the shore.
Quite recently the Santa Barbara board of
supervisors granted a franchise for build
lng wharf at Summerland. It was sup
posed to be structure similar, II not SO
extensive. to the Stearns wharf In Santa
Barbara. The main object, of course, was
to facilitate the shipment of oil per
steamer, but also to ship or land other COM
modities such as a town like Summerland
would desire. Under such an impression
the supervisors granted the franchise, and
what is now known as Treadwelrs wharf
Is the result. 1t Is In one sense wharf,
but in sober fact 1t was more intended as
platform from which to bore for oil beneath
the waves. The wharf" completed, Mr..
Treadwell began to run line of piles to
the right parallel with the shore line. This
was also to be used for the same purpose
to tap the oil "keg'' near the bottom and
thus render less valuable II not actually
exhaust the wells on the shore back of 1t.
Treadwell proposed TO build another
wharf some little distance down the
coast to the left of the one he has already
completed, and then by new line of piles
to connect the two. and so on until he
actually controlled the whole water front
of the town of Summerland and the oil
wells also.
W. NJ S. Moore purchased from H. L..
Williams n strip of land between the bluff
and high water mark. He supposed this
was a good business proposition, as the
wells back of him were on other peoples
land, and he knew the oil-producing land
in front of him was the property of the
state. He has fourteen oil-producing wells
bored at no small expense to himself.
Now Treadwell has run his line of piles In
front of his (Moore's) wells, and If allowed
to continue will cut off his Oil supply and
soon render the wells valueless and the
expenses Moore has incurred &l6,OOO Will
be as SO much money lost.
Treadwelh has declared that he is backed
by the Southern Pacific who would spend
millions to carry their point. and has also
boasted that he would soon own the whole
oil business OF Summerland. This is like
~ to prove an idle boast. as both Mr.. Moore
and;T. ID. Wood, the latter Of whom lately
leased 1900 feet of shore front, will fight
the interloper to the end They have run
O long double line of piles along the desired
oil belt, and there they stand and say to
Mr.. Treadwell you shan't!" And more:
they will build a high board fence along
the whole line, and If any one desires to
throw 1t down or interfere In any way with
the rights of others he can take the conse-
quences. Today armed retainers Of both
sides are around the disputed territory
looking for trouble. The Treatwell gang
is armed with revolvers and knives.
The suspicion that the Southern Pacific
company is interested in Treadwell' S
scheme has added fuel to the fire of public
Indignation. The News declares that the
company proposes
First-Steal the water front of Summer
land, and thus be able TO straighten out a
rather crooked piece of track and not pay
for the right of way.
Second-To gobbe up the main part of
the oil-producing land Of the place-ac-
tually steal 1t.
Third-To get the balance of the Sum-
merland oil men In the condition that they
must sell their product at a price fixed
by the Southern Pacific company and not
by themselves. This, If successful, would
mean the ruin of Summerland.