The San Francisco call., 1910-07-27
OIL BOOM STARTED
in WEST indies
British Government, Recogniz-
ing Use of Petroleum,
Boosts Project

An oil boom has struck the island o.
Trinidad in the West Indies. 1t had its
inspiration in the knowledge that the
British government is extremely de-
sirous Of making more general use OF
petroleum for naval purposes. Britain
is today without oil deposits of first
Importance. Despite the vast extent OF
the empire and the wealth of minerals
ii has yielded, it has produced very lit
tie in the way of petroleum.
The English government has been en-
couraging prospecting work in all sec
tions where indica tions are favorable
The men in authority in the naval de-
partment of the empire realize the supe-
riority of oil over coal. They have been
inclined TO proceed cautiously with
changes, however, until they can be
assured of something Of supply from
territory under their own flag
Franklin d. Hale, United States con-
sui at Trinidad, furnishes the following
in regard to the oil development on the
island:
The determination of the British
government to use oil for fuel
its naval vessels and the probability
that q far greater demand will soon
be made on the oil fields of the
world than is the case at present
have aroused great interest. both
here and I'm England. in the prob
able value and extent of the oil
fields Of Trinidad, and the results
of the investigations in the known
oil districts here have, since their
publication, increased such interest
to great excitement.
Experts from England and the
United States are here working in
the interest of their respective en-
ployers. The southern half of the
island is being Investigated and all
80 I~x nv ~ frT hi fn
a field of from 500 to 500 square
miles of oil bearing territory, some
of the experts saying that the field
in all probability will extend all the
way under the gulf of Paria and
westward TO the region of the 1000
acre pitch lake at Guanaco, which
is operated by an American COM
pany, and still farther westward to
the gulf of Maracaibo Should these
suFmises of the experts prove true,
this is undoubtedly one of the larg-
est oil fields in the world.
A SI,500,G00 company, foated in
London, has taken over the Cana
dian companys $4,000 acre oil prop
erty IN the southwestern section OF
the island and work thereon is be-
ing pushed with great activity. a
dozen wells. 500 TO 1.400 feet in
depth, have been bored with ats
factory results, some being excel
cfpal efforts are being made to
check their flow until facilities for
exportatiOn are completed
An American company which has
long operated the pitch lake has
been exploring for oil for some time
and is constantly extending it's op-
erations. II has a number Of wells
at depths Of 800 TO 1,400 feet, and
although II has two steel tanks of
$4,000 gallons capacity each and
land reservoirs OF great storage
proportions. many thousands of gal
Ions Of crude oil have run into the
sea which is Only a few. hundred
feet from the field OF operation.
Many other companies are organ
lied and being organized to develop
the oil fields, and private capitalists
are securing concessions and buy
fna property and mining rights for
prospective development or on spec
ulation. A company located near
the city OF San Fernando has not
only fair oil prospects, but has dis
covered coal of excellent quality IN
unknown quantity outcropping in
its property, samples of which have
been sent to England for eXamina-
tion and test.
Exploration work is in prospect
everywhere in the island; wells are
being bored in new districts. while
in the old districts everything is
being rapidly enlarged