El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-17
IN
TOYAH oil
FIELD
Declares 1t Will Not Be
Abandoned, and There Is
Plenty Of Oil For All.
HAS DEEP FAITH
IN THE FIELD

Chihuahua, Mexico, Sept. 17.-Dr c..
F. 4. Caracristi, who is here making a
geological survey of territory sur
rounding the city and who is known to
( have made and published an extensive
report on the economic minerals of the
Trans-Pecos country with special ref
erence to the sulphur and oil fields of
that region, when shown the report that
the three large oil companies in the
Toyah district would suspend work I'M
til the state legislature passed more
favorable laws regarding the sale of
the mineral rights on public school
lands said:
Personally, I believe the report
simply fake inspired by a desire to
keep the field before the public in view
of the fact that the operating COM
panies refuse TO give out information
as to the result of their expensive de-
velopment While, of course this
policy on the part of the operating COM
panies may work a hardship on a long
list of promoters. VINO have leases and
options on lands that they desire to
sell at good profits yet it is good bust
ness policy to keep ones affairs conf
Dental
But, on the other hand. if the state
ment is true that the large companies
wifi appeal to the legislature in order
TO force the general land commissioners
10 sell valuable mineral rights for a
song, every effort should be made to
oppose the passage of such a law
The school lands are a public trust
and the mineral right should not be
sold in the case of oil, gas and coal
The state of Texas SHOULD follow the
conservation policy OF the national gov
eminent.
Mineral and Surface Rights.
7 "a l,1t, I
petroleum Of Reeves and FL Paso coun-
ties in 1905 1 recommended to the gem
eral land commissioner the segrega-
ton of the mineral rights Of the region
from the surface owing to the petrol
cum possibilities that have since been
proved y monopoly of any oil field by
any combination of powerful companies
is against public policy and the rights
of individual citizens of the state. If oil
exists at ali, a few sections of land
are ample for the creation of wealth for
the operators.
Monopoly of this or any other oil
field restricts competition and enables
the companies to dictate prices of the
product. The best result TO the COM
munity can only be derived from, the
development of the field by a number
of independent operators. The mo-
nopolg of the Oklahoma and Wyoming
AAclUS " pow NOA poA dllOliS mas W
barred the small legitimate operator
from participating in the national re-
sources of the region and has forced
a dictatorial policy regarding the price
of oil and its bi-proGucts to the con-
sumner as well as independent pro-
Queer
There is ample territory IN the vast
Trans Pecos field to satisfy the ambi
ions of many companies. and if the
wells are properly located lucrative re-
suits can be confidently expected. While
there are large and valuable oil bear
ing basins in many parts Of this terri
tory, not over 80 percent of the field
can be expected to become commercial
producer of petroleum.
"Of course, it is good business policy
on the part Of the present owners of the
producing We'll to keep their informa
ton to themselves and to acquire as
much more territory as they can and as
cheap as possible. Any conservative
and live business man would do like
wise. but l doubt if any legislature
would open the territory, embracing
the school lands, open to entry at
nominal price per acre; that is, unless
Mr.. Bailey happens to be attorney for
the companies.
Il am strongly of the opinion that the |
state should lease the lands on royalty !
basis in blocks of four sections each and !
force developments