Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-11-28
BAKERSFIELD IS
VISITED BY THE
EXCURSIONISTS
SIERRA MADRIANS INSPECT
RICH TERRITORY
-
MILLIONS OF BARRELS OF OIL
PRODUCED
Original Well and Contiguous Proper
ties Are Looked over by Men
from Los Angeles and
coalnga
Especial to The Herald

BAKERSFIELD, Nov. 27.-The well
come extended to the Los Angeles WIS.,
itors to the oil fields by Bakersfield to-
day was q warm and sincere one, dif-
fering from that of Coalinga only In
the indefinable way which character
ICES the town from its newer neighbor.
The special train arrived early and the
excursionists were at once escorted to
waiting automobiles and taken through
the wonderful oil fields, through miles
of, derricks and past the immense stor-
age tanks to the headquarters of the
Associated OIL company, where G. A.
Cantields vice president of that COM
pany, had provided an elaborate
luncheon.
Alfonso Well, president of the
Bakersfield board of trade and one of
the pioneer oil men of the Kern river
field, accompanied the party, and after
the repast spoke a few well chosen
words of welcome.
A response was made by f. II. Tyer-
rell for the Sierra Madre club, and tho
visitors and the excursionists, after
posing for their pictures on the steps
of the big dining hall, sought the diff
ferent points in the field In which they
had an especial interest. One of the
show places most generally visited was
the first well of the Kern river field.
which was dug by hand to depth OF
sixty feet. thirteen years ago, by Jud
Ellwood.
The well and the-ground on which It
was dug was purchased by Edward l..
Doheney, who drilled it to depth of
$50 feet. 1t is now owned by the
Petroleum Development company and
is still on the pump and producing
small but regular quantity of oil.
Railroads Have Holdings
The Ellwood No. was sunk close to
the bank of Kern river on the break.
Later 1t became known that the sands
which hold the great pool of oil dipped
away from the seepage points and that
better wells could be found by drilling
farther back. The Bakersfield or Kern
river field is three miles wide by five
miles in length and has 1000 rigs on
wells.
Both the Southern Pacific and Santa
Fe have large holdings, here and get
their fuel oil from this field.
on the way to the oil field the visitors
were taken through the extensive
grounds of the Tevls ranch, which Is
one of the most beautiful places in
Southern California. The grounds are
planted with all sorts of fruits and
ornamental trees, and are well cared
for. Mr.. Tevis threw open the gates
for the day and escorted the visitors
through the grounds and green houses,
and pointed out the interesting places.
At o'clock tonight the visitors at
tended a banquet rendered them, to
which was invited n large number of
local oil men and several Coalinga
operators who accompanied the special
train from that town.
Tomorrow the Sunset and Midway
fields will be visited. the train leaving
Bakersfield for Los Angeles some time
during Sunday night.
Entertained at Club
The Bakersfield club extended the
courtesies of the clubrooms to the
members of the Sierra Madre club and
all visitors who came on the special
train, and members of the club were
on hand to entertain their guests.
The club rooms were haven TO the
tired members of the party, who rested
there in the interim between the re-
turn from the field and the hour OF
the banquet.
George e. Whitaker was POSTMASTER
at the banquet. and introduced each
speaker in a happy way.
The local sneakers were L. p. st.
Clair, w II. HILL T. A. Wells, Assem- |
blymen Rowen Irwin and George w.
Wear.
Capt. ]. F. Lucey of the Sierra Madre
club made a speech in his usual witty !
vein and Lee c. Gates responded for |
NHG EliciibVl VI anu - ~ |
Garfield for the Los Angeles oil OPP
orators.
The banquet was the most elaborate |
affair the oil fields have supplied since |
the excurslonists landed in the San I
Joaquin valley. 1t was served in the |
Workmen's hall and more than 200
guests. numbering the prominent OIL
operators and business men OF Bakers
field. were present The hall was deco
rated with ferns, roses and carnations.
and an orchestra rendered the latest /
musical successes. Geo. p. Whitaker, |
toast master, made a short and humor-
GUS address complimentary TO Los An
geles, and introduced Rowen Irwin,
assemblyman from Kern county.
Speeches were limited to five minutes
each and were all in a happy vein
The day and night were voted a sue
cess.