The San Francisco call., 1904-08-13
OUTPUT CAN BE TREBLED EASILY
BY OIL FIELDS OF CALIFORNIA
State MineralOgist Aubury Issues a Report
Describing States Petroleum Wealth.
Miners of Alaskan Tin Ore Are Active

remarkable reversal of the usual order
The oil industry of California actually
dates back 10 1865, when Professor
Benjamin Silliman reported on samples
OF petroleum and scepages in Ventura
County.
THE EARLIEST WELLS.
Wells were drilled in Humboldt, Men
docino, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Con-
ira Costa, Colusa, Santa Barbara and
Ventura counties A considerable indus
try was created in Ventura County
alone at that time. Then little devel-
opment work was done until 1892, when
+. 5. DOheny struck oil in the city of
Los Angeles. In 1895 c. A. Garfield. and
others found oil at Coalinga in Fresno
County. About that time oil was dis
covered on the James Means ranch,
near Bakersfield, Kern County. Then
came the boom period for petroleum.
Within three years 24O0 oil companies
filed incorporation papers in this State.
Most Of these companies sold more or
less stock. At least 1900 companies
drilled for oil What happened when
the boom was ready to collapse is de-
scribed in the bulletin by Paul w.
Prutzman, and an interesting period OF
history is summarized in few words:
The boom went the way OF all booms Great
principled parties. who put the proceeds Of
stock sales out OF harms way Many more
resources on preparations while others were
unfortunate in their locations. The production
Of the Kern River feld for the first year was
several times the production OF the entlre
State for any previous year. As consequences
the price OF oil. which had ranged from 81 TO
81 % per barrel, fell 70 or 10 cents. Pro-
ducing companies could not pay expenses.
Stock sales ceased and the bubble collapsed.
But the boom. while disastrous 70 many indlI
viduals, was OF much real benefit 10 the oil
industry and to the State at large. Hundreds
OF compsnes located IN the most remote ana
most unlikely spots, where legitimate capital
the percentage OF failures was very large. the
wildcatters developed. several hundred wells in
which would have remained untouched other
wise. When the excitement had passed away
the production OF the State had increased from
2,50O,OOO barrels TO nearly 7,75OOOO barrels
per annum. An enormous amount Of we'll
invested capital remained in the business. and
IL had been shown that, under rational man
peeti6 for peToIeum 9 IN csfoTnia % ahf fopms
legitimate employment for capital.
TIN IN ALASKA.
The mining of tin, according to the
Nome News of July 26, is going on
largely in the Seward Peninsula dis
uicts. The Bartels Company, that is
operating at Cape Prince of Wales,
may ship 1000 tons of tin ore at the
close of navigation. Five mines are
operating, about half a mile inter-
Vening between the first and last.
Two vessels were landing supplies at
the time of the report, which was
made by W. c. Bartels, the president
and general manager of the Bartels
Company. The Nome News has also
interviewed Charles Osborne, gen.
eTal manager of the Alaska Tin
Mines, Limited. Osborne made the
following statement:
His company has men engaged in the pre-
liminary work upon Nos. 3, 1 and 3 on Buck
Creek. The surveys have been completed and
everything is now in readiness for the in
stallation OF machinery.
Surveyors are at work everywhere laying
OF claims and many OF the mines are being
actively worked On claims Nos. and o.
Buck Creek. owned by the American Tin Min
ing Company. there are sixty at work
tons of placer tin are cleaned up every twenty
four hours. This company has also a drifl
with which the benches and tundra are being
prospected, with good results. The York
OF the creek and has a steam shovel on the
ground. II is also bringing itH steam
freishter the divide and Will use il for
the transportation OF its freight Nearly all
according 10 Mr.. Osborne is being taken in
by way OF Providence. During the recent
storm the water in the bay at that point was
comparatively smooth. From Providence to
the mine it is only a distance OF twelve miles
and II is possible 10 convey the supplies in
polling boats I'D the Mint and Grouse creeks
10 within nve miles Of the workings. BY the
construction OF few wing dams at ex-
pense not 10 exceed $500 Mr. Osborne thinks
that it would be possible to ascend these
streams 10 Buck Creek.
ACTIVITY AT JULIAN.