The herald., 1898-10-03
AMONG THE WELLS
W. E, De 0root Building Derrick In
side the "Dead Line"

Considerable interest .has been aroused
during the past week by certain events
connected with the much-talked-or l0OV-
foot limit A number Of open letters De-
tween a prominent resident OF the west
lake park region and a member OF the city
council were printed in The Herald. A
movement has actually been set on foot
to test the legality of the ordinance in
question. Saturday morning some lumber
wes hauled onto lot II, block B, OF the Mob
Hill tract. This lot is on the west side OF
San JOAQUIN street, $50 feet north OF Ocean
View avenue. The workmen IN charge
were non-committal, saying that derrick
was to be erected but for what purpose
they did not know. They thought it might
be for sulphur water, as they understood
that Mr., Holobird desired some Of that
fluid for bathing purposes. Further than
this nothing could be gotten out of them,
not even the name of the lots owner.
When w. E. De Groot, however, was ap-
preached on the subject he freely admit
ted that he was the owner of the lot, which
lies just fourteen feet inside OF the dead
line"
"Yes, am erecting derrick upon that
lot" said Mr.. De Groot. ut is within the
lUUV-IOOL lILuit duu PtOPoSO " nav :"
whether or not can use my property as
wish.
"what Is the derrick for? You can guess
as to that 1t may be for sulphur water or
salt water or something else"
Mr.. De Groot's unwillingness to tell the
purpose of sinking the well was rendered
somewhat amusing by his going into an
extended denunciation of the oil ordinance
and his statement that number Of prop
erty owners north of Ocean View avenue.
whether they were oil men or not he would
not say, were interested with him in the
outcome of boring. Sulphur water-or salt
water, either-has not heretofore been re-
garded as a product of value, and most oil
men have been so wasteful as to throw 1t
away when it came up with the oil.
It is probably not possible to take any
action against De Groot for boring inside
the limit until 1t Is demonstrated that he Is
boring for oil, and that fact can only be
certainly proved by the actual production
Of some Of that commodity.
The lot in question Is some distance from
any building. In fact, the entire block Of
which it is g part is vacant.
In The Herald Of last Monday there was
presented the argument Of certain we'll
posted gentleman that the actual southern
limit of the field has about been reached.
The results Of drilling In Q certain we'll
this last week have gone far to add con-
firmation to this theory. The on Crude
OIL company completed drilling operations
a few days ago upon well on Miramar
street In close proximity to number of
wells which have proved failures. The
pump was set at work, but In short time
such great flow Of water was developed
as to drive away nearly all the oil within
range The force Of jthe stream was so
strong as to. collapse an eleven-inch iron
casing. This we'll. which is to be aban-
doned this week, is but short distance
north and east oflthe new well to be sunk
by De Groot, ami its fate. as well as the
fate Of seven others near at hand, fur
nishes some indication that If that gentle
man really desires salt or sulphur water
his wishes will probably be gratihed. There
Is a growing Impression that the councils
decree and the higher one Of nature will
pretty nearly coincide.
The WesElake Improvement and Pro-
tective association. formed under the Inn
petus ~ actual threatened encroachments
upon 1yie park region, has found that be-