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

better let me take you out to the oil
fields"
Who are your" demanded Hartman,
somewhat sharply.
Why, I'm the Teller that's selling
YOU the OIL he chuckled. My names
Keith. Better jump in"
You're just the man I'm looking
for replied Hartman. as he climbed
aboard the wagon.
Keith got good deal of fun out of
the situation. He and his associates
had bought the land from the Southern
Pacific for $3.50 an acre and had made
it worth $4,000 an acre by selling its
product 10 the original owners
Keith still holds his interest in these
two CONFERENCE.-The Imperial and Thir-
ty-three. Under the mana cement of
u. 5. Boggs they have been made 10
pay s2,610.0o0 in dividends. They are
still producing heavily and are valued
today at something like 100000.
ExCELs OTHER INDUSTRIES
This is merely one incident in the
romantic story of oil 1t has been
duplicated many times and in some
instances surpassed.
The investment in oil properties within
the state has run into figures so high
s to oyershadow every other industry.
During the year 1909 the petroleum
beds yielded oil TO the value of about
$4,000. 600. During the same year the
states output of gold was given as
approximately see, 100000 The pres
ent rate of oil production has so in
creased during recent months that 1910
may record value approaching $40
00o, goo or s45, 600, geo The forests of
California yielded last year a revenue
OF s25.000. GOO Citrus fruits brought
$1,000, 600. It may be truly said that
oil is king.
Biologists and expert oilmen have
little hesitation in stating that the great
underlying oil pools have been scarcely
tapped. There is an assured supply for
half century. But so vast has be-
come the market and so rapidly has it
expanded that ready sale will be
found for all that can be produced. The
magnitude Of the market may be
grasped when il is known that the
Southern Pacific uses 10000 barrels
daily, the Santa Fe $4,000 the Western
5000 and the United States government
1000 barrels q day at Panama
The one unsatisfactory condition lies
in the present lack of transportation
facilities. New pipe lines are required
TO carry the product of the fields. The
present facilities are insufficient. This
feature may cause some temporary in
jury. but with the assurance already
given that new lines will be constructed
1t can not be lasting.
GUARDED BY MOUNTAINS
The oil fields have their special guar
dian in San Emigdio, the patron saint
of the earthquake. A high range of
mountains, with crown of snow upon
its summit and long. forbidding scars
upon its slopes. looks down upon an
endless field of derricks that spread
over the plain and circling foothills.
This is the San .Emigdio chain. From
its loftiest peak may be seen the rich
beds that produce the bulk of the
states petroleum.
The San Emigdios date back to q
time that no man knoweth. They
held their secret through the centuries.
Occasional explorers ventured into the
remote Businesses. hut returned to re-
port that they had encountered the
most discouraging desolation. It is
the way of nature thus TO conceal her
most bounteous stores
But from this expanse of plain and
barren hillside have sprung the streams
of plenty. flowing as they have never
flowed before. A new Aladdin has come
and rubbed again the magic lamp and
brought to view the wondrous treasure
house.
James Marshall discovered gold in
IS4S. The fruits of his find made Cali
fornia state and built it to its pres
ent eminence. The day has come when
the romance of gold must yield TO the
glory of oil