Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-31
CALIFORNIA OIL ENTERS
BANNER YEAR OF HISTORY
Growing Export Trade, the Introduction of
Petroleum in China, Adoption of Motor
Cars by Railroads and Decrease in
Eastern Output Swell Demand

which will greatly increase the con-
sumption of the product. Besides the
Western Pacific are lines building or
proposed in Arizona. Nevada, New
Mexico and below the international
boundary.
Estimate for 1910
Estimates made of probable require
ments for 1910 will aggregate 100000
barrels of California oil. This estimate,
some authorities declare, will fall short
of the actual demand.
Estimates now made for 1909 places
the total at from 54,000,000 to 56,O0O-
900 barrels. The United States geoiog-
ical survey gives the production for
1908 at 44,S54,7S7 barrels of California
Oil, valued at $23,433,5 502.
Next to California came Illinois in
1908 with production valued at $22,-
648,SS1. The contrast will be more
marked when 1t is remembered that
California oil increased in that year
three cents a barrel at the wells, while
Illinois oil declined eight cents bar
rel at the wells.
Another gratifying feature of the in
dustry is the vastly reduced cost OF
drilling throughout the state This
reduction is not due to the cheapening
of materials or the lowering of wages
(these have advanced), but to the i'm
provements in methods and increased
knowledge acquired during the last
few years by oil well drillers. The extra
heavy pipe, under rimmer, wire drill
ing cable and calf wheel for handling
the pipe have contributed much to the
reduction of drilling time and insur-
ing the completion of a well in first
class condition to any depth.
Drilling Conditions Improve
Five or six years ago a responsible
oil well contractor could not be found
who would contract and furnish bond
to complete a we'll 20 a depth of 1900
feet. Today contracts will be taken
for any reasonable depth and guaran-
tee given to complete within reason
able time.
The question so often asked: what
is the average life of a California
well?" has not yet been answered.
Many wells in the Kern river and
Coalinga district, from five to eight
years old, are producing as much oil,
and in many instances more oil, than
when first completed
It is not generally known that there
are many wells in California that have
been producing oil continuously for
over thirty years. This fact is in strik-
ing contrast to the eastern fields, where
the average life of an oil well is only
five years.
According to state Mineralogist Au-
bury the total amount of petroleum
produced in California for twenty-five
years ending at the close of 1908 was
249. .274, Sal barrels, valued at $104295,O41.
In the same period there were pro
duced 625, 1S2 tons of asphalt, valued
at 81, $50 SOB. In 1887 there were only
1000 tons of asphalt, valued at S4l6,
900, but in 1908 this amount Increased
to 1O5,443 tons, valued at $1,OS2,Sl6 In
the same period there was produced
a total of 1892 tons of bituminous
rock. valued at 2,6O4, 664. The value of
natural gas in that time is placed at
81 .g37. .42S. The value of California oil
for 1909 is estimated at 60 cents bar
rel; no figures, however, are yet avail
able.
California Paves America
California holds the purse strings of
almost every city in the United states
in asphaltum trade. It's asphaltum Is
fhe hest in the world as demonstrated
| bv numerous tests, although before II
was finally introduced into the eastern
markets bitter war had to be fought
against the trust which used every
means to block it's advance. Unfair
/ tesfs were made and the results pub
| Iished, but quality could not De
downed. California asphalt has since
been put TO every test and has re-
ceiVed the stamp of approval every
| where. Despite its early struggles IN
the east it now paves the streets OF al
| most every city in the land and has
! emerged triumphant to first place
among its kind.
Consul Albert w. Pontius writing oil
the growing oil trade of the United
states with China, says the Standard
is carrying bulk oil to the interior OF
! China in steel tanks of about lO'0gl
gallons each. These tanks are bulll
in chinese junks, the low draft oi
which permits economical shipm ehtS
of oil He says this method is certain
10 increase the trade to considerable
| extent. American oil has been perlna-
nentlv established in China, being
| shipped direct from California ports
The Chinese are becoming educated
| In the use OF petroleum and while
little slow to grasp, perhaps are un
| dergoing change vastly beneficial tC
the oil interests Of this and othel
| states.