Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-03
Valuable Product
Has Made Many
MLilliOnaircS

The development or the petroieuH'
fields of California during the past fif-
teen years has accomplished wonders
for Los Angeles. The industry pro-
duced radical results. 1t solved the
problem of cheap fuel, it opened the
way for the establishment of number
less manufacturing enterprises, 1t sup
planted the use of high priced coal to
produce power for the railway locomo-
tives and it brought great wealth to
many companies and individuals. Los
Angeles has long been recognized as
the center of oil interests on the Pa
cific coast. Within distance of twenty
miles are the whittier, Salt Lake and
Fullerton fields and those near Santa
Barbara and in Kern county are tribu-
tary to Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles County
It is estimated that Los Angeles
county in 1904 produced 100000 barrels
of oil, chiefly from the city wells, Whit
tier and Salt Lake. The yield at Whit
tier, twelve miles distant, was $4,000
barrels. the product ranging from Is
refining purposes. The Salt Lake dis
trict is near Rosemary, half way be-
tween Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
These wells were opened by Salt Lake
capitalists and all have been good pro-
ducers. The field now is the property
of the Associated Oil company. The es-
timated output for 1904 Is 100000 bar
rels. The oil has been piped to the
city.
Newhall, in the northern part of the
county, has sixty-f1ve wells that pro-
duced 10000 barrels of oil in 1904.
The Fullerton district is in Orange
county, where in 1904 over 100000 bar
rels were pumped largely for use on the
Santa Fe railway system. The Fuller
ton is the largest producing field in
ojai, Fillmore and Sespe fields, provid
ing 200, 900 barrels annually, are in Ven
tura county. and the summerland field,
partly in the ocean, in Santa Barbara
county, produces something over 1Oo.-
900 barrels yearly.
Other Oil Districts
The Kern River. Sunset, Midway, Nc
Kittrick, Coalinga and Santa Maria
wells are among the other big oil prop
critics.
The total production of petroleum in
1904 was around 100000 barrels, and
it is figured that the production this
year will approximate 100000 to H.
O00,O 900 barrels.
The Kern field was discovered in
1899. 1t has now over 900 wells COM
pleted the oil is fuel oil of IL to
IA gravity. There Is q storage Of
oil amounting to more than 100000 900
barrels and capacity for at least 1,000,-
900 more. The proven area covers about
5000 acres. OF the storage 100000 is
owned by the Pacific Coast (Standard)
Oil company.
Sunset, Midway and McKittrick con-
stitute the west side fields of Kern
county. McKittrick is the chief. It's
production for 1904 was about 100000
barrels, an increase Of about 250,OOO
over 1903. Sunset and Midway have
probably shipped about 100000 barrels.
The latter has no transportation facili-
ties and is entirely shut down.
Coalinga is the most active district
in the state. 1t is situated in the
southwest corner of Fresno county and
has a proved area of about 1000 acres,
producing oil for both fuel and refining
from IL to 40 gravity.
Situated in Santa Barbara county
within forty miles of the Pacific ocean
Santa Maria appears destined by ma
ture to become one of the greatest
fields of the state. Its development
has hitherto been somewhat retarded
by lack of proper transportation facili-
ties, but with the completion of the
Union Oil company's pipe line to Port
Hartford the field is expected to ad-
vance with giant strides, Its produc-
tion for 1904 is roughly estimated at
S50,000 barrels. New wells, some of
them making phenomenal records as
gushers, are coming in all the time,
ana the dTed OIL Inc Ilelu ID dIl ulkIlOWH
quantity, as much still remains to be
prospected, where excellent indications
are known to exist.
Summary by Mrs. Summers
Commenting on oil production in CAL
ifornia Mrs. e. A. Summers, Familiarity
known as the "Oil Queen of Califor-
nia," a woman of indomintable energy
and wonderful business shrewdness
and capacity, remarked:
Yes, know something about the OF!
situation but I cannot go into details
Millions of dollars are made annually
in the industry in Southern California.
The discovery of petroleum in the hills
was of great benefit to the business in
terests of Los Angeles and is con-
stantly adding to bank accounts.
I'm the local field the oil derricks
north of Temple street will soon dis
appear to give place to fine residences.
Two years hence all of the derricks will
be gone. When those wells were among
the big producers petroleum was as