Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-26
STANDARD WILL
FIGHT FOR FIVE
COALlNGA WELLS
SEEKS POSSESSION OF PRO-
DUCING AREA
LEAsER WILL PROTECT HIS I'M
TERESTs
Oil Record Gives History of Inter-
esting Fight Between George
D. Roberts and the
Oil Octopus

A lively battle over five big producing
wells on the east side of the Coalinga
field is promised between the Standard
Oil company, which claims ownership
of the ground, and George D. Roberts,
owner and general manager of the
Stockholders Oil company, which
claims a lease. Five wells have been
drilled, which are producing $4,000 to
1900 barrels day, and the oil is of
grade which is particularly desired by
the Standard.
History of Differences
The Coalinga Oil Record gives the
following interesting history of the con-
flict between the two companies, which
dates back several years:
"In 1899 Mr.. Roberts took twenty
year lease-ten years with privilege of
ten years renovation the property
from the Independence Oil company.
The Independence based its right to the
land on a lease from the Twenty-Eight
Oil company, which in turn looked TO
the parent Hanford Oil company for its
rights. These last three companies
We're later absorbed by the Standard
Oil company. In 1902 Mr.. Roberts no.
titled the company from which he was
leasing, and also the parent companies
that he had complied with the terms or
the lease and applied for the ten years
renewal. In those ten years Mr.. Rob
erts developed five excellent producing
wells, which are still giving produc-
ton of between 5000 and 1900 barrels
He spent more than $150,000 in develop
ment and maintenance, and has put the
property on a basis that will comfort
ably care for him for some time to
come.
1.-THE last day of September of this
year he was served with notice, through
20 nf fha Sfqnd1 ri
Oil company, to get off the land, that
the company intended to take over the
property What Mr.. Roberts reply to
the octopus representative was can be
pretty correctly surmised by those who
know the man. Mr.. Roberts immedi-
ately placed the matter in the hands of
his attorneys, Francis J. Heney and
Theodore j. Roche in San Francisco.
"a conference Mr.. Roberts had with
the Standard chiefs in San Francisco
resulted in the Standard being warned
not to make any attempt whatever to
take possession or send their employees
on the property for the next ten years
to come.
"'Their notice that the Stockholders
is the property of the Standard Oil
company and for me to vacate at once
is Just ten years ahead of time. 1 viii
not get off for the Standard Oil compa-
ny or anything else except an order of
the United States supreme court is the
determination expressed by Mr.. Roberts
in taking his stand.
"Mr. Roberts notified the Standard
chiefs that any further business they
had with him was to be transacted
through his attorneys, and that when
the company is ready to bring suit to
throw him off the property he would
stipulate for the hearing of the case
any place and before any judge in the
state.
Pursues IntimIdatinq Tactics
1.-THE story of Mr.. Roberts dealings
and encounters with the Standard Oil
company during the past ten years is
indeed an interesting one. 1t is full of
the intimidating, harassing tactics that
have caused that company to be thor
oughtly hated by the oil men through
out the country. From the day they
sent their surveyors on the land, ten
years ago, to mark off the property.
until the present time, when they are
endeavoring to take advantage of the
ten-year clause, Mr.. Roberts has fought
the big company as no other single op-
orator In the state has done, and thus
far has succeeded in taking nothing
less than the victor's share of the bat
tie.
ION numerous occasions the standard
has offered to buy and has endeavored
to make Mr.. Roberts give them prop
osition.
"Tf the land is yours, why do you
want to buy it?' is one of the answers
Mr.. Roberts has for their proposals.
II is understood that the company is
willing to part with $25,000 to gain pos
session of the ten acres and its i'm
provements. While Mr.. Roberts has
not publicly set price on the property,
it is certain that -s200,0 900 at least will
have to be forthcoming, and If the octo-
pus brings its threatened suit the costs
Of the trial will also be tackled on.
''Mr. Roberts is now in Coalinga SUI
pervising the cleaning out of several of
the wells, and incidentally making sure
that the Standard will make no effort
to gain possession of his property, at
least while he is here. He is a fighter,
and a scrap on top of one of the east
side hills would undoubtedly be heard
all over the state"
HAG ~ uHE-UH