davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
'PURISSIMA HILLS
OWNED BY union
Big Oil Territory, Seven Miles
Long, Belongs to One
Company

Purissima hills territory, seven miles
long, is owned solely by the Union oil
company. It has 1000 feet of oil sand
and is pronounced one of the best fields
in the world, its resources being prac-
tically inexhaustible, says the Bakers
field Oil Journal. There being no
danger of its territory being exhausted
by neighboring companies, it has issued
orders to suspend operations and pump
ing in the territory near Lompoc and
will transfer it's crews TO Midway, Nc
Kittrick and Coalinga, where it's hold
ings are not so extensive and may be
drained through drilling close to it's
side lines.
Purissima hills oil, after one and a
quarter years of work, have abandoned
No. IL and will start new well, it
having proven that the sand cut by No.
/, which was down 5000 feet, is barren.
Orcutt oil has No. 3 at 900 feet and
the rig completed for No. A. Graciosa
No. 20 is down 300 feet in brown
shale with good showing. Purissima
hills are in the sand and ready to bring
in a we'll at $500 feet.
Los Alamos petroleum in the north
east corner of the Las Flores has gone
into 100 feet of rich light oil sand at
1900 feet, which sanded up, and the
owners are afraid to sink deeper for
fear of spelling the we'll Las Flores
land and development has No. 1 we'll
down ESQ feet and No. 2 down 900 feet,
both in blue shale. Alliance No. 20 on
the south side of the Graciosa lease has
its eight inch down 1855 feet with a
strong gas pressure and indications of
pay sand
on the banks of the Santa Ynez river,
where the San Lucas oil company is
validating. is down 500 feet in brown
shale that is getting darker and show
ing considerable quantities of gas that
is taken as an indication that the drill
is approaching oil sand in paying guam
titles. AS this is more than IL miles
from any producing wells, if brought
in it will give wonderful extension to
the coast field.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11

ing the first instance in the history of
the government where there has ever
been retroactive legislation depriving
persons of valuable property rights.
The constitution of the United
States contains a prohibition against
the states doing this thing, but does
not contain a prohibition against the
national government doing so.
AMENDMENT LOST
when the bill was before the house
committee an amendment was added
reserving the equitable rights of any
bona fide claimant who prior to the
withdrawal initiated a claim thereto
and made valuable improvements there
on. When the bill came before the
house, vigorous efforts were made,
particularly by the California congress
men, to retain this amendment. but 1t
was stricken out, and the bill was
passed retroactively, validating the
withdrawal of these lands, irrespective
of the amount expended by parties
thereon, and irrespective of the good
faith of the occupant. The California
oilmen consider this unjust and I'M
authorized and unprecedented, and it
is against this bill that they propose
TO make their strongest fight.
There are many companies in the
field which, prior to the withdrawal or
der, entered upon lands and in good
faith proceeded with the work of de-
veIopment. I personally know at least
three companies that have spent close
to 100000 in developing their proper
ties, the bulk of which was spent be-
fore the withdrawal order. Valuable
discoveries have been made on such
lands since the withdrawal order, but
If the Pickett bill is passed as it now
stands the rights of the parties in such
lands will be forfeited.
SACRIFICING INTERESTS
The committee feels that this is not
a case where the welfare Of the indi-
vidual should be sacrificed for the well
fare of the community, for the reason
that the public in general will not ben
eft by these Withdrawals. The stop
page of development work on the gov
eminent lands and the withdrawal of
such lands from entry will simply serve
to enhance the value of lands which
have already been patented and enable
the holders of patents to drain the oil
out of the unpatented lands. This is not
a case of sacrificing. therefore, the in
terests of the community, but sacri-
ficing the interests of one individual for
the benefit of certain large corpora
lions.
THE most prevalent criticism of the
present public land system of the
United States is that 1t allows the ac-
emulation of thousands of acres of
land in the hands of single individuals.
This criticism does not apply to the oil
situation. In one section alone in the
Coalinga oil district, consisting of $40
acres, there are II different oil compa-
MES. l should say that the average
holding of corporations in California,
outside of the Southern Pacific, the
Standard oil, the California oil fields
Limited, an English corporation, and
the Union oil company, the bulk of
whose lands are already patented and
hence not affected by this withdrawal,
are held in parcels not exceeding on the
average 80 acres apiece"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
Big DEMAND FOR
OIL FOR REFINING
Ventura County Continues to
Supply Choice High Gravity
Product From It's Wells

VENTURA, May 10.-The demand
for high gravity refining oil is con-
stantly increasing At the present
time it is about 10 times the supply.
1t remains for old Ventura county, the
grandfather of the oil business of this
state, to produce enough high gravity
oil to keep the refineries of California
running. Consequently there is great
activity in this county. Over 40 rigs
are being erected at the present time.
While Ventura county has never been
noted for spectacular wells 1t holds
the record for the length of time any
one well has been pumped.
There are a number of wells be-
longing to the Forest City National
which produce green oil of high quail
ity. At least two of these wells are
among the very oldest in the state and
have been producing oil for practically
40 years, being drilled in the seventies
by a hand worked spring role rig.
Just west of this canyon comes Sui
phur mountain, Saltmarsh, Adams,
Wheeler and Also, in all of which
light oil has been produced in large
quantities for many years.
There is greater activity in Sulphur
mountain district, in the upper Ojai.
Saltmarsh canyon and other regions
than there has been in years.
The demand for high gravity refining
oil is increasing to such an extent that
the ultimate development of the Ven
tura fields IS inevitable. One of the
principal factors is the demand for
gasoline which is caused by the in
creased growth of INSTRUMENTATION en-
gines. In this respect the automobile
has been a big factor.
The Bard people and the Upper Ojai
are drilling three wells-Nos. q, 2S
and 20. The rigs are on the ground
for Nos. 80 and 81. There Nos. % and
26 are now pumping. The latter is
making about $50 barrels of oil per
day.
Across the road from the Bard and
the same group are the DIAL wells.
The company is drilling one we'll and
has two on the pump. The first well
runs rs to 100 barrels per day and the
second we'll is said to run $50 barrels
per day. They are drilling their third
well now and are down about 500 feet.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11

duction is now passing on it's way TO
the sumps and an estimate of the flow
is being. obtained by measurements at
this Wier.
RESERVOIR BEING CONSTRUCTED
Work is progressing rapidly on the
big reservoir being constructed in the
deep canyon that runs through sec
tion 50, just south and west of the big
gusher. and into which the oil will be
pumped. This new storage stump will
be so feet deep and will range from
$50 feet at the bottom to 100 feet wide
at the top and extend back up the can
yon for a quarter of a mile. A force
of so men and teams are now engaged
in the building of this dam, which will
soon be ready for use. 1t will accom-
modate more than 100000 barrels of
oil. Three $4,000 barrel steel storage
tanks are to be erected on section "a.
The grades have been completed, and
with the arrival of materials construc-
tion will proceed.
The Union oil company. through it's
geological department, is conducting
a thorough study of the well and the
conditions surrounding it, from a SCI
entific standpoint. The evaporation
and seepage are points under study
and many other phenomena of scien-
tific interest are being thoroughly gone
into
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
SECOND PIPE Line
TOTHEkERNFIE
Standard Oil Company Begins
Construction Work on New
Outlet for Midway

The Standard oil company has be-
gun digging the trench for it's sec
ond pipe line from Midway to the Kern
river field, and the stringing of the
pipe will start the first of this week.
says the Midway Oil Courier Much
of the pipe has been received, and
more is arriving daily.
Part of the work done so far con-
sists in tunneling under the railroads
and irrigating canals en- route In the
case of the canals a trench is dug
through the canal and an IL inch cas-
ing is placed therein and the canal bot
tom and sides replaced above it.
When the pipe layers come along
they shove the pipe through The rail-
roads are tunneled in the same manner
except that hole is bored through
the earth under the track so that the
roadbed is disturbed but little.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11

Attorney for Protestants Outlines Cause of
Complaint Against Pickett Bill

The delegation of oilmen which has
gone to Washington from California
to protest against the Pickett bill will
be given a hearing today before the
senate committee. In the party are:
T. V. Gordon, T. A. O'DonneIl, S. A.
Guiberson Jr., David Ewing, S. w.
Morsehead, A L. Well. NJ II. Whittier,
George D. Roberts, +. H. Hamlin, w.
W. circuit. Ralph Arnold and William
Matson. They represent the interests
of San Francisco, Los Angeles and
every oil section in the state.
A L. We'll is the attorney of the
party and has prepared much data that
will be left with the senate committee.
Before leaving, Well said;
1T has always been the policy of the
government TO develop its mineral
lands to the fullest extent and to pre-
serve them for the benefit of small
holders and prospectors, and hence in
land grants by the government to the
railroads all mineral lands have al
ways been reserved from the operation
of the grant. Even in forest reserves
the right has always been given to
serves and prospect for mineral.
In 1897 congress passed law to the
effect that oil lands should be located
as placer mining claims. Under the
placer mining law discovery of min
eral is necessary to validate location.
In oil mining it is impossible 70 make a
discovery at the time of location,
owing to the fact that seepages and
other surface indications have been
held by the land office and by the
courts to be an insufficient evidence of
discovery. 1t requires an expenditure
of from $4,000 to 100000 and from
six weeks to two years in time in order
TO prove that an oil location is really
valuable mineral land.
BIG MONEY SPENT
Persons who have interested them
selves in oil heretofore have gone upon
these lands and spent money in good
faith on the theory that a subsequent
discovery would validate their loca-
ton, and the government has con-
sistently recognized this as a proper
construction of the law from 1897 up
to 1909.
ION the third day of October, 1909.
the secretary of the interior withdrew
all oil lands from entry on which no
discovery had been made on the pre-
ceding twenty seventh day of Septem-
Der, so that, without notice to the par
ties or without giving them any op-
portunity to protect themselves, they
were deprived of lands upon which
anywhere from S10,0 to 100000 had
been spent in the attempt to discover
oil.
1T is generally conceded by at
torneys who are experienced in mining
law that this withdrawal was beyond
the power of the secretary of interior
or of the president, and hence the OIL
men were not unduly depressed by the
withdrawal order.
The Pickett bill, however. which
has passed the house of representatives
and is now before the senate, entirely
changes the situation. According to the
terms of that bill, the withdrawal
order of September 81, as it is usually
called. is retroactively confirmed, it be-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
DEPUTY CONSTABLE
FIRES BULLET INTO BRAIN
Louis Wells, With Joke on Lips,
Attempts Suicide
[Special Dispofoh to The Cali

SACRAMENTO. May IO.-Saying
goodby to friends with whom he had
but recently been Joking, Louis Wells,
deputy constable of Perkins. and well
10 DO rancher of that section. last night
placed a revolver to his head and sent
a bullet through his brain.
The bullet passed entirely through
his head. but he still retains his senses
al a hospital in this city.
Wells had been toying with the
weapon early in the evening and il was
hidden from him by his house keepers
daughter. The moment she returned il
10 him he shot himself. He can not
recover
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
SECOND GIRL ELOPES
FROM ONE FAMILY
Mother Learns of Marriage
Through Newspaper
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

SACRAMENTO. May I0.-Following
the example set by her sister a few
months ago, Miss Mabel Welshons of
this city slipped away to Oakland with
~ oseph Buffers Gilman, an engineer.
yesterday and they were married.
The first the mother knew of the
wedding was today when asked for
particulars. She could hardly believe
licenses.
Although IL was the second eIope-
ment IN the family of late the mother
said that she would welcome the young
souple home
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
"FRIEND" TAKES DEAD
MANS MONEY; FLEES
c. III. Norton of Boise Dies in
Bakersfield Hospital

BAKERSFIELD, May 10.-C. H Nor
ton of Boise, Idaho, and Randsburg,
this county, who came here to close an
important mining deal, died Friday
at the Bakersfield sanitarium, and un-
less some one claims the body he will
be buried in the potters' field. man
called at the sanitarium, took away
all Norton's money and papers and,
saying he would arrange for the
funeral, disappeared. Norton's wife
is supposed to be in Boise.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
MARIC0PA OIL COMPANY
SINKING NEW WELLS

Work is being steadily prosecuted on
the ground of the Maricopa 36 oil COM
pany, which adjoins the Lakeview
gusher op the south. Well No. 1 has
reached depth of 1920 feet. with the
10 inch casing. 1t is expected that the
first oil sand will be encountered at
1850 feet. The derrick has been
erected and the machinery installed
for we'll No. 2. 1t will spud in during
the present week.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
DREDGERMAN DRUGGED
AND ROBBED OF 1925
Given Knockout Drops and Is
Found Unconscious
Special Dispatch TO The Call

OROVILLE, May 10.-H D. Porter. a
local dredger worker, was found I'M
conscious near the Northern Electric
depot this morning, presumably from
knockout drops. He recovered suffi-
GENTLY by noon to tell his story. 1t is
believed companions with whom he
was drinking last evening admins
tered the knockout drops and then
robbed him of 1925 in cash
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
SIS, 900 DAMAGE SUIT
is WON BY DEFAUL I
Father of Mine Explosion Vic
tim Gets Judgment
[Specid Dispatch to The Call

AUBURN, May 10.-One of the Iarg-
est judgments ever given in default in
this county was entered today against
the Brand gold mining company in
favor of c. E. Martz, administrators of
the estate of his son, Elmer Martz,
who was killed in the company's mine
by an explosion several weeks ago.
Martz asked. for $4,000 damages for
the death of his SON and the company
refused to make any defense.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
FANCY PRICES PAID
FOR CALIFORNIA CHERRIES
First Carload to Reach New
York Brings $3.50
TSbecioI Dispatch 10 The Call

SACRAMENTO. May 10.-Fancy prices
are being paid for California cherries
in New York and Chicago. The first
carload auctioned in New York yester-
day brought $3.50 and the first car
auctioned in Chicago Melted $3.50, or
an average of s2.53 each IL pound box.
The cherries were from the orchards
of vacavilfe and Placer county.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
KICKED TO DEATH BY
VICIOUS STALLION

COLUSA, May 10.-John L. Sampson,
whose sisters are living in Kansas
City. Kan, and Kansas City, Mo-, was
kicked to death by stallion at Syca-
more. near here, today.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11
MINING COMPANIES
INVOLVED IN BIG SUIT
California Consolidated Said to
Be Behind in Payments
Especial Dispatch TO The Call

IOpecfdI Dispdtch 10 ne Call
JACKSON, May 10.-An attachment
suit involving s112,946.95 and costs has
been filed in the superior court The
plaintiff is the Amador keystone min
ing company and the defendant the
California consolidated mines company.
The latter company recently purchased
the former, but it is now claimed it
is behind in its payments.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11

WOMAN JAILED AS RoBBER-Ben fowler,
Admiral hotel, East street. drinking with
Florence Shafer in the ITALIA dance hall early
yesterday morning and fell asleep. When he
awoke he missed $3.50 from his pocket and
the woman was arrested on charge Of grand
larceEy.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-05-30
Eight Year Old Girl Disappear.
ed From Her Home Last
December
BODY WAS WRAPPED N PIECE
OF CARPET ANO PARTLY BURIED
The Condition of the Corpse Indicated
That 1t Had Lain in Its Damp Hid.
ing Place for Several Months
Crime Hidden.

p Louisville. KY, May 30.-A body
which is fully believed to be that of
Alma Kelner. the s-year-old daughter
Of Fred L. Kelner, and who disap-
peared from her home on Broadway
and Jackson streets last December,
was found in the sub-basement of St.
Johns Catholic school at Clay and
Walnut streets, five blocks away, this
morning
The condition of the corpse indi-
Gates that it had been in its damp
hiding place for several months. The
decaying torso was wrapped in a piece
of carpet. Further investigation de-
veloped the fact that a rude attempt
to bury the body had been made, in
dicating that the child had been mur-
dered and that the slayer or slayers
had sought to hide their crime in the
darkness Of the cellar.
Alma Kelner disappeared December
and from that time until the body
was found this morning not word
was heard concerning her.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-05-30
Believed Hole Will be Found
in Her Port Side or tho
Bottom
VALVES we're NOT LEFT OPEN
As WAS At FIRST BELIEVED
They We're Leaking, But Dock Sank
More Rapidly Than It Would Even
If All the Valves Had Been Left
Open.

Manila, May 30.-Further examina.
tion of the United States dry dock
Dewey. which is partly submerged at
Olongape in Subig bay, has strength
ened the belief of those of the navy
who have held that the damage was
done deliberately by band Of con-
spirators against the government.
However, it is now learned that the
valves had not been opened as at first
declared, though they were found to
have been leaking little. This leak
age would not have caused the trou-
BILE and the dock sank more rapidly
than would have been the case had all
the valves been opened and no other
opening made. Accordingly, the ex-
perts believe that large hole will
be found in the port side or bottom of
the dock. 1t is probable that the
mystery will not be cleared until the
dock has been raised. How long this
will take cannot be said. but likely
it will be four or five weeks.
The position of the dock was un-
changed today except that the port
side containing the machinery was
farther settled being now imbeded in
the mud to depth Of twelve feet.
making it's present examination impos-
sible. The starboard is one-third dry
and can be easily floated.
The engineers will employ COM
pressed air when the wrecking equip
ment is brought here from Cavite on
Wednesday.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-05-30
GRAND FORKS. N. D. MONDAY, MAY 80, 1910.

lingering in the reservation hospital
for two days. The accident occurred
last week, but the facts have Just
come to light. An Investigation of the
affair delayed thesfuneral until yes
terday.
All during the afternoon of the day
he was shot, HSthegton crept about
ON the - uembankment, peppered with
lead while the hullets whixzed about
him. His cries could not be heard.
After the first bullet had brought him
down. he made an effort to drag him
self out OF range. but no matter
which way he turned his escape was
cut OF by the flying missiles. Finally
he sank ON the sandmound awaiting
the shot that would end his torture.
Bullets speed about him. ripping his
clothing and tearing his flesh. Heth-
ertOn was married.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-05-30
Meeting
IS POSTPONED
President Taft Will Attend the
Session and Deliver Key
note Speech

Washington, May 36.-In order
that President Taft may attend its
sessions, the executive committee of
the National Republican league has
changed the dates of the biennial con-
to June 24-25. The convention will be
held at Carnegie hall, New York city.
on those dates. The president has
accepted the invitation extended by
John Hays Hammond, president of the
league, and agreed to make speech,
which will sound the keynote Of the
leagues campaign for the fall elec-
tions. The presidents speech will be
looked forward to with great inter-
est, as it is expected that 1t will not
only be the battle cry of the officers
of the league for the fall campaign.
but will also set a pace to be follow
ed by the general campaigners. Be-
sides the president. there will be pres
ent Vice President Sherman, at least
fifteen Republican governors, a num-
ber Of senators and representatives
and delegates, including prominent
Republicans from all over the coun-
trt.
The convention will be the first po-
litical convention to be held in New
York since 1888 and promises to be
the largest ever held in the metro
polls. On the evening of June rs
banquet will be given at the Hotel
Astor, at which President Taft, Vice
President Sherman. and other lead
ers Of the Republican party will
speak. 1t is expected that the ban
quet will be a record-breaking one,
both as to it's size and the prominence
of the diners.
A special feature Of the convention
will be an appeal to the first voters
and the foreigners who have become
citizens of the country since the last
election. This feature has always
been leading policy Of the league.
and it is the intention of President
Hammond and the officers of the
league to redouble their efforts to get
these two factors out at the polls
Clubs will be organized in addition to
the regular league clubs to look af-
ter the interests of the league during
the campaign and to organize effec-
lively for the presidential campaign
of 1912.
Secretary Atherton said: II feel
very much encouraged as the result Of
letters and kilograms that I am re-
ceiving from all parts of the country
praising our movement. These tele-
grams come from governors. from
senators and representatives, and
from presidents and officers Of diff
ferent state clubs. showing US that we
will not only have record breaking
crowd at the New York convention.
but that it will exceed in enthusiasm
any convention the league has ever
held. I believe the leagues influence
will he prominent factor in the COM
ing elections. also in the national
election"