Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-10
SOUTHERN PACIFIC OIL
LANDS IN L|MEL|CHT
Interior Official Starts for Cali
fornia to Investigate San
Joaquin Valley Condition

Frank Pierce, assistant secretary of
| the interior, will arrive in Los An
geles Tuesday or Wednesday, en- route
| to the California oil fields. for the pur>
pose of making a thorough investlga-
| ton into the conditions prevailing
| there, both upon withdrawal land and
| land alleged to belong to the Southern
Pacific. The Southern Pacific grant,
which comprises every other section,
| will, II is said, soon be contested ana
| the matter thrown into court for ad-
1ustment. Mr.. Pierce's visit to the
coast will be one Of the greatest I'M
portance to oil men, all of whom are
anxious to get the matter of oil grants
and Withdrawals Strengthened out.
They believe that they can show Mr..
Pierce many things which have not
vet been brought to the attention or
the interior department, and that II ne
can be convinced different condition
will prevail here.
The matter of railroad ownership OF
alternate sections has been referred
to the interior department many times
and one of the chief objects Of Mr..
Pierce's visit here is to get the facts,
also to learn what others have to say
upon the subject.
A short time ago the California Oil
Mems association passed resolution
inviting Mr. Pierce to be their guest
while here and to let them show him
around the fields. The oil mems as
sociation was originated chiefly for
the purpose of adjusting differences
now existing between them and the
government with regard to the with
drawn lands.
Mr.. Pierce, before leaving Washing
ton. is reported as saying:
"The situation in California as to oil
lands is even worse than it was before
congress adjourned, the failure to en-
act legislation of n remedial character
tending to embarrass the operators.
During the past summer we have had
yery large correspondence with the oil
producers and persons interested in oil
development in California. They have
complained vigorously and even Bit
terly Of the situation.
eve wish to determine just what Is
the proper policy to pursue. There are
two purposes in my trip to California:
first, to see whether we have put a
proper construction on existing laws;
and second, to see what course the de-
partment should take toward recon-
mending new laws. 1 expect to give
the oil men a hearing in Los Angeles
at which they may present their views
and possibly shall give another hear
ing in San Francisco.
at expect to visit the oil fields
around Bakersfield and I may go to
Coalinga, where I nave special invi-
tation to inspect conditions. In going
to the oil fields I Go not pretend to be
an expert. I shall have a representa-
tive of the geological survey with me
or readily available and the chief of
the field division of the general land
office in Los Angeles will be called into
consultation.
st shall not undertake to settle any
| question until I return, but l hope TO
get a thorough understanding of the
entire situation.
"There are two principal complaints
by oil men. They claim first that
withdrawals of lands by the. president
have retarded the development of the
country and that the law, as 1t stands,
provided for the location and patent
ing of oil lands under placer mining
laws. The act requires a discovery
of mineral before valid location can be
made, and of course the same law ap-
plies to oil locations. Now, man
can't discover oil under ground until
he has explored extensively. Opera
tors think they ought to be protected
until such time as they can sink shafts
or drill wells, but the law being inade-
quate to protect them any one may
come and erect rigs on land already
located; and then questions arise as
who has the most valid claims.
"As to the solution, I suppose oil
men want either a more liberal con-
struction of the statute permitting in
| dications of oil to be considered equiv
| alent to discovery, or else that con-
gress shall amend the law giving pros
pectors exclusive possession for def
mite length of time, thereby protecting
! them in their tentative rights"