The Detroit times., 1914-04-27
Disease Greater Danger Than Mexican Bullets

, ance OF this policy that we have pur
chased the California oil fields IL
Is In connection with that purchase
mat we are providing the large sums
that we have asked YOU 20 subscribe.
FROM time 10 time properties haye
been purchased 10 strengthen the re-
serve or territory. The oil produced
is among the cry best obtainable in
Calliornia. We are satisfied that IL Is
gong te-pFeFe- an excellent invest
Inent at the price we have paid for II,
which was S2,0000O0 in Shell ordinary
shares, and $2,000,000 In CASH, 90 per
cent OF which is provided by the Royal
Dutch"
The latest information concerning
the efforts or the foreigners TO get
mold or the American oil resources
shows that the General Petroleum,
Ltd, has obtained an option on the
controlling stock OF the Union oil Co.
Tor S2OOO0,000 and that negotiations
Tor the sale are now on. The General
Petroleum, Ltd, has already acquired
tract of 40 acres at Point Fermin.
San Pedro harbor, near Los Angeles,
Cal, and is said TO be planning a
large tank farm for the storage OF oil
prior TO shipment, and Is also to erect
a great factory for the manufacture OF
Diesel engines, which operate on oil.
IL has also come 10 the attention or
those interested In Washington that
the Shell Trading & Transport Co. has
acquired so acres OF land In the mid
way field OF California for an oil tank
and station.
IL Is a knowledge OF this situation
and also what the nayies OF other coun.
tries are doing TO obtain a supply or
oil that led the navy department the
other day TO advance a rather unique
proposition to congress, which has not
vet been acted upon, because the mem.
bers have not yet recovered their
breath In the first place. the navy
has decided that In the future all bat
tleships and other ships OF the navy
are 10 be equipped 10 burn Oil That
is said 10 be a settled policy, and is
based upon greater. sustained speed
with Oil increased radius OF action.
absence OF smoke case OF firing. re-
duction in space for boilers and re-
duced pumber OF men for operating.
The navy department beEeves and
makes the statement that the military
advantages which are to be gained by
! hlliiding Dilbilr1ffng ships are suffi
cient TO justify almost .any cost for
fuel. and that the ships which burn
only oil fuel have distinct military
advantage over those which burn only
coal. This present fiscal year the
navy used 100000 gallons OF oil,
I ard for the next fiscal year=the esti--
mate is 30,000.000 gallons, with the
consumption increasing very rapidly
as the new ships come into commits
sion. The navy has been fearful OF
the eyer-increasing cost OF oil for
power purposes, and, learning that the
! United States still owned large areas
! OF oil lands in California. its proposi-
| ton 10 congress was that these lands
should be retained for the use OF the
navy. the government to drill the
wells and produce the oil.
Investigation proved that the Call
| fornia oil lands supposed to belong 70
the United States were In litigation
and that il might be impossible TO OBJ
tain control OF them. The next propo.
sition OF the navy department was
that the government should lease oil
| lands II has been figured that the
navy could produce its own oil for
practically nothing, by selling the by.
| products. the gasoline, Kerosene and
| paraflin. This suggestion might fright
en- some members of congress, who
ask. IF the government sold the by
products. would II not be directly
competing with private enterprise"
| In the meantime the British navy Is
going right ahead, the sum OF 81 ,50O.-
/ 600 having been asked for eilFe-
serves The officials OF this navy re-
ported to parliament that oil In large
quantities had already been purchased
and that there will be no difficulty in
obtaining oil in the future.