Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-11
Written for The Herald by Col. Joseph
D. Lynch

THE fact that certain citizens of Los
Angeles are seeking to oppose the
building by the Standard Oil COM
pany of a mammoth tank designed to
hold 100000 gallons of oil shows the
tremendous demands which have grown
up for the use of petroleum here; or,
rather the circumstance that the great
corporation thinks that such a facility
is needed in it's business shows the
growth of the demand.
Oil development in California, prin-
cipally in Southern California, is MAX
ing tremendous strides. Nevada county
last year led the gold producing coun-
ties by a yield of SO, 030, 304. Kern coun-
ty led the oil producing counties by
product of $3.431, 40S.
This enormous interest has grown
from very small beginnings. For many
years past it was known that Southern
California was rich in petroleum.
Away back in 1866 Gen. Phineas Ban
ming started out to sink well in the
Canada de la Brea, about half way be-
tween Wilmington and Anaheim. He
struck oil, but in small quantities, and
abandoned his well. He also tried to
strike oil on the Brea ranch, near Cole
grove, once the property of Major
Hancock. This also was failure. In
1867 George j. Clarke, postmaster of
Los Angeles from 1866 to 1873. went in
with a party to sink for oil in the
Newhall district, but the experiment
was abandoned, having had no salts
factory pecuniary outcome.
OIL on the Waters
In those days one of the most inter-
esting features of a voyage from San
al, I A INr I1ro
quantity of oil to be observed floating
on the waters fronting Santa Barbara
and Ventura. From this sign the con-
clusion was drawn by many that there
must be deposits of petroleum on the
lands adjoining the ocean there. At
later day oil derricks were pushed into
the very ocean itself in the effort, in
many cases attended with success, to
exploit these ocean Oil measures. But
the hidden riches there were for long
time allowed to lie perdu.
Towards the close of the decade end
ing with 1870 Thomas r. Scott, the
president of the Pennsylvania Central
railway, sent Thomas r. Bard, since
United States senator, out to Southern
California to manage large estate in
Ventura which the railway king owned.
Bard early made some attempt to find
oil on the property entrusted to his
care, but. at that time, did not meet
with much success. He soon became
so much Interested in selling Col.
SCOTS bean lands, at prices beginning
at 81 an acre and running up, al their
value became known, to 500 an acre,
that he had no time to give to exploit
ing the country for oil. He took that
up again at a later day.
First oil Development
The first development OF petroleum
in California on commercial scale
took place i'm this county in the Pico
canyon, i'm what is now known as the
Newhall district. Why the name of
Newhall replaced that Of the last MeXi-
can governor / could never understand.
These wells are i'm an almost inaccessi-
bic spot of high mountain. Their ex-
ploitation was necessarily difficult and
expensive.
curious story attends their devel-
opment which began ON a real busi-
ness basis by eX-Mayor Bryant of San
Francisco, who afterward committed
suicide by Jumping off a ferryboat into
Inc bay. Having become interested i'm
the talk of oil in the Pico canyon,
Bryant came down here TO examine into
their merits for himself Amongst 9TH
ers he sought the opinion of Cover
nor John q. Downey. who at that
Time was the president of the Farmers
and Merchants bank. That gentleman
ADVISED Bryant TO have nothing TO do
with the Pico wells, telling him that
they We're of no account
the san Francisco mayor, however,
was not to be discouraged and went
ahead with his work; and / believe.
successfully. After some years he sold
out his interests to Senator Charles N.
FELTON, ID. g, Scoteld and come others,
who organized the Pacific Coast oil
company, which sank many additional
wells, and which was mainly instru-