El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-20

unless development work is under
way.
Spectators Busy.
Many are filing now with the idea
OF selling their claims 10 spectators.
Many are filing with the earnest in
tention OF drilling If they can get the
money. In some eases. individuals are
pooling their interests and will drill.
Never In the history Of Ell PasO
county, have 20 many mineral
claims been filed IN such n short
space Of time as during the past
week
Mineral rights are open on all lands
not solG by the state prior to 1907 Up
until that time mineral rights went
with state lands Since then the state
has retained its mineral rights and
many oil rights filed with the county
clerk during the past few days have
been upon land actually owned as
grazing lands by private individuals.
In at least one instance, up the valley.
an owner Of some land gave an option
upon It TO several FL Pasoans who in
tended 10 buy II outright. but when
they went to investigating the title
they found that three FL Pasoans had
filed upon the mineral and oil rights.
50 the deal fell through. as they did
not care for the land without these
rights.
Some Own Mineral Rights.
land sold prior TO 1907 carried the
mineral rights and all such land is
controlled by the owners. In many
cases. however. they are leasing the
oil and mineral rights on the same
terms the state gives-10 cents an
acre for the first year and one-eighth
Of the product in the event oil IS
found. The leasors pledge themselves
TO develop the land.
While the excitement locally IS
intense over the likelihood OF obtain
ing oil in this locality, 1t o not con-
fined to that: there Is much inter
est in the oil developments IN the
proved fields and much stock IS be-
ing sold here IN wells about to be sunk
OF now drilling in the proved fields.
So intense is the interest that many
companies are opening offices here
and at least one oil exchange has al
ready opened and another is about TO
open 1t is said a third viii be opened
shortly for active trading in oil stocks.
OIL Here-How Muehf
For years there have been indica-
tons Of oil near FL Paso. Old timers
is here, for there are many Indications
OF oil-but oil in great quantities Is not
always found even where the gologf-
cal indications are good. Toyah has
as fine oil indications as any section
of the country and oil has actually
been found there; also plenty Of gas.
but the oil has never been found in
paying quantities. However. as one
man remarked today. there is lots Of
territory around Toyah that has not
been drilled in" Coal has been found
almost opposite Fl Paso in Juarez and
oil bearing shale has been found near
here at several points Geological for
nations have also been found near
here that indicate oil Rocks that
stink" when hit with hammers=i
said to be sure indications OF the
presence Of oil or gas-are found in
many localities about FL Paso. OIL has
been found in small quantities at Co
lumbus. 80 miles west and at Alamo
gordo. 90 miles north. Somewhere
around here there must be a lot Of IT, Z
the enthusiasts argue. II is certain
that there is oil here-iust how much
is the question-and that Is what is
causing a great deal OF the excitement. T
this actual belief that FL Paso itself
is an oil field. This brings the excite
ment so much nearer home that Fl
Pasoans cannot be blamed for a little
undue activity.
Fl Paso has really got the oil
fever-almOst as badly as Dallas
and Fort WOrth-fOr there Is
lure in the idea that there IL
chance to make n fortune in
night lure that calls TO the
human anywhere, and Fl Paso f.
no exception.