The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-28
AS HE THOUGHT HE HAD EN-
THE ROAD TO MANDALAY.
Nv. OIL FIELDS OF BURMA


wells were driven down to 1900 and
1000 feet. the deep springs in the rich
sand were found. and, just twenty
years ago, the modern Burma oil in
dustry had its birth.
The British still control the field In
a financial way, although the lands
and wells are owned by natives Of the
old Yoya stock, or Chinese and native
spectators who have acquired land on
chance. The actual work in the field
In done by Americans. Not long ago
an American became involved in q
quarrel with native and was arrest
ed on a charge of attempted murder
1t was proposed to try him summarily,
before a local judge without benefit of
counsel and without a jury. Petitions
were circulated praying the Govern
ment to have him tried in Rangoon
before jury of his peers. The petit
ton, which was formal and most re-
spectful, was re-enforced by the quiet
whisper that a. summary trial of the
American on such q serious charge
would resultfn a complete cessation of
the oil business in that particular ield.s
for every drill was being operated by
an American. Whether such a. threat
was necessary or not. the man was
taken to Rangoon, tried by jury and
acquitted. $G4s sf!ff
The great American company, the
Standard, was not successful in Its eff
forts to dominate the financial end of the
Burma oil business. great war of
competition was launched against the
Burma company In India, and the Amer
lean company delivered some telling
blows The Burma company retaliated
by going into territory therefore ex-
cIusively belonging to the trade OF
the Standard. For several years the
war went on at ruinous rate. but
two years ago the American concern
agreed to compromise. The Burma
company now has its natural sphere of
influence in the Indian Empire. and the
Standard is bound not to send any but
the highest grades of Illuminating oil
into Burma, and that must come in
tins and not in bulk.
|. The Burmese oil has been brought
down from Yenangyuang, which is the
chief producing field in tank floats
and boats. But this. of course, proved
too expensive and experiments have
been made in pipe lines, one to RAN
COON having been finished recantly
which is nearly three hundred miles
long. Too few pumping stations were
provided at first and the line was not
altogether satisfactory. but this defect
will be remedied in q short time.
The Burmese oil Is remarkable for
the great proportion of parrafin wax
which 1t contains and for its extraordin-
arily low flashing point. which is under
40 degrees Fahrenheit. It is refined in
the wax have an extensive sale
throughout the Orient and Australasia.
Very little of the oil has been used
for fuel. but with increased production
and cheaper method of bringing the
oil to the sea-board. this feature is
expected to take on great Importance
within the next, few years.sS
Side by side with the y up-to-date
methods employed by the big company,
the ancient Burmese pit-weiis are still
| operated by a remnant OF the Yoya.
| But the greater part of the native pro-
duction, which Is also taken by the
Burma OIL Company, Is derived from
the wells at Cheduba. The method of
gathering oil in that section Ia most
primitive. The earth is spaded to
depth of about two feet and a rough
bank thrown UP around space ABOUT
twenty yards square. The rains soon
transform this into a shallow pond, ana
the oil well is ready for business
Each morning the owner goes out TO
his pond and finds 1t covered with a.
thin scum of thick, rich oil. He skins
1t off with a cocoanut-shelf Upper tied
to a bamboo rod. and puts IT into re-
hning pot The pond is constantly
bubbling with escaping gases and the
daily crop of oil from new prospect
| Is considerable. The close of the rainy
season puts an end to the harvest, as
the pond soon dries up. In the dry
| sea SON the oil-farI1fer digs the SOIL IN
the bottom Of the pond. and the deeper
he ran loosen 1t the greater will be
the harvest of oil when the rains come
again.
Aside from the native pits operated
by the monopoly and the springs. which
really furnish a small portion OF the
annual production. there are seven
| European companies engaged in OIL
4 production In Burma, having combine
| ed capital of about $20.000.0o0. The
annual production Is now valued at
nearly 10000, 900. Prospecting Is carri-
ed onsall the time, and new wells and
new fields are reported frequently.
The British Government however.
was Wise enough to avail itself of the
late King Mindon's forehandedness and.
protesting sovereign power over the
whole business, regulates TO nicely
the conduct of the Industry. In addi-
ton to this regulation. and pursuant
10 the excellent plan OF Conservation of
Resources adopted by the British
Government in the Indian Empire.
about one-third of the known produce
ing oil territory has been reserved to
the government
In the exchanges Of KAnEoon one
hears much talk OF oil. and he also
hears II asserted as an indisputable
fact that the OIL business is an In
dustry which requires a monopoly for
, Its proper and economic development.
The history OF the Burmese oil trust
Is curious proof that. however wide
the gulf between East and West. there
ia pOOd daaI of huuaan ratf,Va araffar-