The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-02-01
PETROLEUM LEADS
OUTPUT OF GOLD
Oil Product of California Ex-
ceeds in Value That of the
Precious Metal

The producers OF petroleum from
California wells boast that petroleum
again bids fair TO be king of Cali
fornia mineral productions on the basis
of the annual returns of 1905 Gold
was beaten by petroleum in the
race for premiership in this state for
the first time in 1907. This was due
to the increase in the market rates for
petroleum at the wells, and the result
ing increase in the volume of output.
The same causes acted in 1908 with
even greater intensity to put petroleum
in the trent. a preliminary estimate
made by the director OF the United
States mint predicts that the gold pro-
duction of California IN 1908 will
amount to S19,O00.0O0 in value. This
is a return to the up grade movement
Of gold but the gain in petroleum will
be much greater, according to the most
reliable Information that can be gath
cred
Calculating the average price per
barrel for California petroleum in 1908
at 4S cents the facts that are known
regarding the total production in bar
rels last year leads to the conviction
that petroleum will make a record OF
SIS. 900. 600 at least. or S4.0O0.0O0 ahead
of gold. The price of petroleum Ia
still rising. There are predictions that
il will reach 81 barrel. The induce
ment to drain the oil sands Is there
fore great. ----4-zs ~
Several factors are making for
great advance all along the gold line.
The increase in the number and eff
cheney of gold dredgers in California is
one of the prime factors. but the cheap
ening of processes, the establishment OF
transportation lines In richly mineral
lied sections that heretofore have been
isolated from shelters and Tefineries.
a
of large properties with ample capital
for all necessary development work
all these tend to make gold the perma-
nent king in the long run. The gold
dredging combination has been followed
by the announcement of combination
of certain quartz mining interests in
Nevada county. and both these projects
are illustrative OF the progress of gold
mining.
Concerning the combination OF gold
quartz interests in Nevada county some
statements have been made by Joseph
WeisSbein and NJ. B. Kerr at Nevada
City They say the combination has
secured the control of the Pittsburg.
Potosi, Gold Flat and other properties.
all located in the Gold Fiat section in
the Nevada City mining district. The
Nevada City Miner Transcript says that
the enterprise will be one of the great
Nevada county so years ago.
Whatever the gold and other mineral
developments of the present year NAV
amount to. there Is good reason to be-
lieve that the combined mineral out
put of the state was at least 100000
in 1908, and the probabilities are that
the total may reach SOS. 100000. or a
gain Of $4,000. 900, as compared with the
aggregate for 1907. being. in fact as
great gain over 1907 as the last men
toned year scored when compared with
1906.
Practically all the mineral industries
of California show progress. This ap-
plies especially to structural materials,
nonmetallic substances. hydrocarbons
and by-products. At $50, 100000 as a
total output for 1908 the mineral prod
ucts of the state average more than
$50 per capita. with moral certainty
of large Immediate increase.
Men who have been operating in
what is known as poor mans ground
in Calaveras county. near Murphys.
have cleaned up $4,000. according to
the stockton Independent The story
is as follows:
About three weeks ago near Murphys. at
point that Is commonly known as French gulch.
a patient prospector By name OF Saltuarf found
pocket OF gold In quartz. This discovery has
undoubtedly netted the miner $1,000 and he
stiil has good line lunches. The
above Is only one Instance OF the great gold
producing section around MurDhys that has only
been partly advertised for years past.
Within the last 20 years over S50.ooO has
been taken out Of the ground few miles tiles, West
earth from what might be considered the poor
mans mines.
The Curley boys at French Gulch have taken
out several thousand dollars. y. Barrow $1,000
from the Gold Bug mine II the grass roots;
Lee Brothers. $500 TO $1,000 from the Black
pocket mine Black aud Mc6ann. $1,000 from
the same nine: John Sublette, 100000 from the
Red Gold and adjacent propertiess Bucnhorn
placer mine at French gulch. $1,000; Taylor
mines have produced several thousand dollars.
Enos at Six Mile creek in the vicinity OF the
Tazlnr nines has taken out various sums. aEact.