The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-07
DEVELOP LOCAL WEALTH.

sAH FRANcIsco, NOV. 2s.--EdItor
AatOrian: For a number Of yam
have resided N the oil region 0f South
ern California. During the past year
/ have had occasion % visit all Of the
oil llelds OF California, carefully exam
lnIng the formation and surface lndl-
cations Of oil lands.
During the past summer I have ex-
amined lands In TillamOOk and Clats0p
counties. Oregon. and | can truthfully
say that oil ls being today pumped
from hundreds Of oil wells in California
where the surface Indications Of oil are
not nearly 10 good as In ths two c0un.
ties above named. In those c0untlsa
found the sandstone, shale sOnglom-
crate, fossils. etc. Reliable parties IN
your city inform me that seepages Of oil
have been found within a few miles
OF your city.
Now with all the surface indications
Of OIL with the antlcllnals clearly de-
fined, II is bus reasonable 10 suppose
that strata OF oil sands VIII be found
beneath by boring. ] am aware that
many Oregonians seem n be Of the
opinion that there Is little or no un-
dergrOund wealth In the coast counties
0f Oregon. They readily admit that
the coast Of Alaska. the coast counties
Of British America. OF Washington,
OF California. ~ Mexico and OF Gem
tral America each and all contain a
vast amount n underground wealth,
but they seem 10 be Of the opinion that
states lines established by men thou
sands OF years after the country was
formed, have barred out underground
wealth from Western Oregon. The idea
II abFurd. In my opinion there II no
1 better field for the development Of un-
dergrOund wealth than IN Western Ore
gOn and particularly In the counties
| named. II simply wants enterprise to
develop II.
The development OF good producing
of wells back OF Astoria will do more.
much more. for your city than the SAL
mon business has ever done. II should
be All easy matter 10 develop II. You
/ have miles and miles OF county back
OF your city which have been denuded
OF their saw timber and which have
! but little value, bnt which contain good
! indications Of oil. Now II Is likely that
a bonus OF a part OF that lani would
be given by It's various owners to any
reliable company that would 20 out
there and bore. say 1000 feet, II neces-
sary. then a large amount Of land
could Dr Sonded there. and leases Bade
upon other lands Their with a good
/ reliable company formed IL each citi-
1 zen would take few shares Of stock at
bar, the money would b. raisei 10 put
down the well. Then II a good supply
of either oil. coal or gas was found
II would pay each Of .he.s stockhAld.
ers many dollars for each dollar in
vested. and would make quick sale for
these cheap lands. at prices that would
now seem enormous, j. would develop
your various industries ard bulld IN
your city. The cost being divided among
many win not be materially selt hy
: any one. The risk Is small. The prom
ise OF reward is great.
a city never builds itself: II Is bdill
by the enterprise OF its citizens. A.
::ssss!lss Is noted as being one Of the most
enterpfising cities on the coast. Here
Is an opening for enterprise at Asto-
ria which will, II successful. DO more
for your city than any other one thing
that has ever been done.
Millions are being made IN the devei-
opment Of the oil industry Of Califor-
MIA. There are thousands OF acres OF
land In California that today will sell
quickly at from $1,000 to $4,000 per acre
that year or two ago were begging
for buyer at $3.50 per acre. Callfor-
MIA enterprise developed these lands.
Now Eastern capital Is daily seeking
investments here. What will Oregon
enterprise do to develop her oil fields?
Yours truly. H. w. COTTLE.