The herald., 1898-10-23
The LOCAL OIL FIELD
SOME NEW MOVEMENTS OF IN.
TEREST ARE ON
Exploiting in the Old Field-A Scram
BILE for Lots-Notes on Prices
and Organization

The first excitement in months i'll the oil
field is on. 1t is in the way of development,
despite the general belief which has pre-
vailed for year or more past that the IN
dustry, so far as Los Angeles is concerned,
has about petered out.
Exploiting in the old field has begun in
earnest Not all the oil has been gotten
out of the old district, say numbers OF men
who are in position to know. In fact, the
movement was inau9urated yesterday, when
Fish u Williams began drilling in the old
field near the corner of First street and
Belmont avenue. When the old wells, many
of which are now worked out, were drilled
five or six years ago, the implements used
were not nearly so perfect as at present.
Little or nothing was known about casing
In consequence, there were many cave-ins,
and il was regarded as dangerous to go
deeper than few hundred feet. Now, how
ever, casing is understood and wells can
be drilled to depth of 1000 feet and more
with confidence. Not only, therefore, are
new wells being drilled in the old district
but elaborate preparations are being made
to deepen the old wells to the second oil
stratum Perhaps salt water will be struck
but the chance will be taken.
Another bit of excitement is the scramble
for new lots joining the old field on the
north Young & Shaw started well Thurs
day on Quebec street, between First ant
| Lie WdtcI WcllS w Iuc SOubH ouN
west seem to indicate a trend OF the OF
current to the north and west l.. G. Park
er is prospecting between Boylston ant
Temple streets, on line with the Baptis
college and the Catholic cemetery. He hal
six wells on North Temple street doing well
and is leasing a number of lots OH the nortl
side of Temple, near Metcalfe-an entirely
all lots out in the cold. and if, as oil me1
believe, there is oil to the northwest, it will
be found. Many are confident that the fielC
extends north and west of the Baptist col
lege.
In the matter of organization and prices
something new can be said. Secretary
| Strasburg of the Oil Producers trustees doe,
not believe that the organization will b
renewed upon its expiration January lst
This opinion seems to be general among thu
producers and oil men in general, many O
whom have seen outsiders get better prices
than members of the organization received
There have been no plans laid for a new
organization of any sort.
There is much conjecture as to what price,
will be next month. Secretary Strasburt
believes that the supply on November Isl
on hand will be 25,OO0 barrels less than al
the lst of this month. A local broker, upor
hearing of this statement, said that he cred
tied it, and that if the producers in genera
could be brought to believe in it, the price
would go up to $l.2J Immediately, though il
is weak at 80 cents now. Brokers say that
oil is being sold as fast as possible every
where. Contradictory to this statement
however, several wells have ceased pumping
because of overfowing tanks, and it is es
timated that there are 800, 900 barrels of OF
stored in town.
w. E. de Groot, who few days ago con
veyed the impression that he would give
up the project of testing the Westlake pro
tective ordinance, is perfecting preparations
for drilling-for sulphur water, he says. Tht
authorities cannot interfere with his drilling
for sulphur water, but if he gets oil ant
handles it, then they can restrain him, ant
they announce that they will test the ordi
nance, frail though it may seem.
ToIorl ,,a~ . ,,,,....:...4 D.J1..J. Ia: