The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-04-21
SANTA FE ENTERS FIELD

SANTA FE ENTERS FIELD
Kay drilled for the Oregon Midway
oil company first on section 4 then on
section :. where he struck oil in what
is now known as the tar sand" later
on section sail in township 80 s.
range % Z. He afterward, in the
fail Of 1901 drilled the water well
which has since been developed into
the Stratton water company of today.
Locators OF government land with
unbounded faith in its value as oil
land were jameson and Wramplemeier.
:. Strassburger afterward joined in the
enterprise. The greater part of this
land IS now being operated by the
santa Fe interests.
The Santa Fe, under the name of the
Chanslor-Canfeld Midway oil company
began operations about 1902, but for
several years made little real progress
in locating oil in paying quantities.
Maricopa and the lower Midway field
were coming TO the front, and the
famous "25 hill" district was giving eX-
uellent returns in the shape of good
producing wells, but oilmen pointed to
the lack Of results achieved by the
Santa Fe as an argument that they
were too far north and that there was
nothing TO be hoped for in the north
Midway. 1t remained for the future
operations of this company to develop
the famous gusher on section six, which
really started the present interest and
investment in this promising field.
SCOTT WELL COMES IN
A good production in Maricopa and
the Is hill district brought in time the
completion Of the Standard oil COM
pany's pipe lines and the construction
Of the Sunset Western railroad into the
north Midway
About two years ago the interest and
faith Of few men in the future of this
held ripened into actual work of de-
Velopment. This went first along the
foothills in the more shallow territory,
and later out on the fat, where now
are situated the Mays. the Pioneer Mid
way and the California Midway gush-
Frs.
The first well Of note away from the
foothill country was the Scott well, on
section 81. now the property of the
Eagle Creek. This well was stopped in
the first or tar" sand and prouuced a
small amount Of heavy oil and some
water for about a year Next came the
Crandall No. 1 well, on the same sec
ton but farther out on the fat, which
found a lighter oil in good quantities
and supplied the surrounding leases for
months with good fuel oil.
In the meantime work had been
started on the leases of the Pioneer
Midway, the Mays, the California Mid
way oil companies and the Bear Creek
oil company had acquired land In Sec
lion IA, the 'farthest north
NORTHERN FIELD OPENED
This was three miles into the un-
known and was looked upon by many
as taking A desperate chance How
ever. the Bear Creek company was soon
followed by the Brookshire and the
Santa Fe was working on sections %
and IS in between, so that it was not
long before this territory looked active,
IL not promising.
When Johnson for the Bear Creek
people actually struck the sand at less
than 1000 feet and brought in 200
barrel well the whole complexion of
the North Midway was changed. IT
showed that the field extended three
miles farther 10 the north and called
the attention of those familiar with the
oil business TO the immense possibilities
ef the territory as d field for invest
ment. This was in October Of last
year. Before the year was out gushers
had been brought in along well de-
fined belt, and land values had doubled
over q great part Of this country. The
rush for the North Midway had com
menced-
RUSH To THE DISTRICT.
November, 1909. saw many develop
ments in this district and proved be-
yond doubt the future greatness ot
this field. The St Lawrence No. !
which had been more than "A year IN
drilling and had cost some $4,000
was finally finished under the direction
Of Ben Strand and upon perforation
proved TO be 2 gusher, giving abou
LOCO barrels Of fine light oil per day.
The great event of the month, how
ever. was the unforeseen striking on
November 2S Of the main oil sand b,
the Santa Fe on their well on section 6
This took them completely by surprise
and its flow of from 1000 to 5000 bar
rels per day was as unexpected as
- g c-ra tif.-i1ac. u The .ccr,nr,a ny