The San Francisco call., 1910-05-25
STATE ENTERING
GREATEST BOOM
David Mailman Returns From
Oil Fields With Tale of
Untold Wealth

David Mailman of the Hopkins Malt
man company brings back from thu
Maricopa and Midway oil fields a story
full of interest. Mailman returned t
San Francisco Monday after inspecting
the recent developments in the territor.
covered by the districts named. He wa
among those who witnessed the re
markable sight Of the Standard gas wei
ablaze and the more recent throes o
the great Lakeview gusher. Regarding
these phenomena and existing condi
tions Mailman said:
No better evidence of the greatness of the
oil industry be secured than that which
greets one at first hand the train nears the
shipping point of Maricopa. What is known
as the Sunset fat spreading out from the
terminal of the Mount Diablo range, is a
forest of derricks. For a distance of five
miles, from the town of Maricopa great
standard rigs sawtooth the horizon, but
out Of the monotony of 1t all the blackened
circle that marks the Lakeview's site is the
most prominent. Lakeview retains its posi-
ton of the master well of the world 1t
no longer hurls its riches into the air, as
IL did through the first weeks of its exist
ence, but now it is the more awe insplr-
ing Its derrick smashed by its force, men
cribbed in the flow TO weight 1t down with
oil; but the crib is gone. Great tim
bers have been hurled from the vent; the
dune Of sand that gathered round the casing
head has been eroded away and the Lake
view boils as black caldron on black
its vent can be spanned only by yards; but
IFS flow remains the same: approximately
10000 barrels day.
There is about this well something of
majesty. It is the rule among oilmen to
step in to control gushers that iow beyond
their wanted supply, but not with the Lake
view. There are many men around the WELL
but they are not there to attempt control
They are guards. Their orders are TO keep
the curious away from the possible Ill
effects of gas. TO prevent men from destroy
ing themselves spd millions In confagration
by lighting match for the enjoyment Of a
cigar and TO keep them for enough from
danger should the well perform unexpected
fests of eruption. Within period of weeks
this well has belched in the neighborhood
of 1000. 600 barrels of oil 1t Shows no
sign OF wearying; what Its record will be
is problematical.
tically be called town" between the
gusher and the camp Of Pentland. There a
SlIage OF warehouses, nunkhouses and stores
has arisen 1t is in this camp the men live
that drilled the big .gasser," now afire,
that has added to the excitement Of the
months Developments
GIANT CANDLE ILLUMINATES
At depth OF about 2 900 feet the drill,
operated by the Standard on 33- %, en-.
tered a gas pocket. This was last Sstur-
day night at 10 O'clock. Instantly a fame
burst through the casing head and men fed.
Scme say the drill, acting like steel on a
flint, set the gas afre, others that escaping
gas reached the tool shsrpener's forge and
caught There was no smoke; there has
been none since. Like a giant candle the
well illuminuates the rolling hills. People
at distant points say there was first an ex-
plosion. then rush of air as hurricane.
At Bakersfield. So miles away, the great
torch is visible.
Truly It is spectacular, but, with its busl-
ness eye. the Standard oil only it's
value commercially. So a crew Of men IS
working night and day erecting boilers
the heat Will allow. When these
are In position steel pipes Will be run
the casing head, whence the burning gas
escapes and the fight Will begin. greater
pressure Of steam VIII be directed down the
pipe than backs the gas from the earth.
The admixture of gas with oxygen, that per-
mits its combustion, will be destroyed and
the fame will die. Then the Standard sill
cap the well and hold the gas for use as
occasion requires
But there is one more point regarding this
great ''gasser." II is the opinion of some
experts that Ii will relieve the pressure in
the surrounding country and permit the
bringing under control OF wells like the
Lakeview and others that have so far re-
sisted efforts TO harness them. This, how
ever, remains to be demonstrated.
From the summit of the Buena Vista hills
a wonderful panorama unfolds To the east
the derricks of the Honolulu rise; the Elk
Hills, a new district TO the north evidence
activity: the Mays gusher and Pioneer Mid
WAY of most Importance. in the west.
and the famous Section %, with boom of
its own. lies 10 the south.
To add TO the excitement that followed
the bringing I'm Of the Lakexiew and the fire
of the Standards -gasser." the Union oil
company's well on the Regal lease on IA
3D. -23 recently came in a gusher, 25. 900
barrels being estimated as its output. Prep
arations TO control this well had been made.
however and as soon as the pumps were
filed the well was shut down. Crews are
now trenching and preparing for additional
storage. and as soon as the entire line OF
defense is completed it will be let loose
full force.
There is no question but the town of Taft.
located just east, across the railway, from