Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1920-12-29
OIL There, But
indian GUARDS
u. S. Engineers Have Hard
Problem in South Amer
lean Fields
GREAT SECRECY
is MAINTAINED

WASHINGTON. Dec. %. United
Press The new South American oil
field is bringing gray hairs 10
group OF u. 5. engineers. Biologists
believe they have discovered oil in a
Bolivian district which is flanked on
one side by mountains three miles
high, and on the other by an unex-
plored land, inhabited by savage In
dians. There are several million acres
Of American concession in this remote
Bolivian field. They are wasted I'M
less the engineers can OutNit the
Andes Mountains, or the Gran ChacO.
The Gran Chaco is wild region 20
the east OF the La paz district Of Boil
via, where the new oil field has been
found. A white man crossed IL once.
they say But he died in 1850 lie
was one Of the Spanish COnquista-
dOres. Other VenturesOme gentlemen
have attempted The journey since. but
the Indians got EN-. The Andes bulk
from 1900 TO 1900 feet high. to the
west OF the field, cutting or access
10 the Pacific Ocean. No railroads
cross the range in this region. Tun-
nels are impossible. But the world
needs oil, and American "Oil hounds"
are on the job. and that. il is said
here. means that the Gran Chaco.
which has resisted the white man
from pizzaros day TO this, must now
be forced 10 Yield.
A J0O-mile pipe line across a neck
Of the Gran ChacO would carry oil
from the La paz field 10 a point on
the parlna river and from there il
could be tanked 10 the South Amer
lean Atlantic seaboard L.. :. govern
ment iield men who have recently re-
turned from this territory say a small
army would be needed 90 ilght The In
dians while laying the pipe line
| through their territory. and that a
/ constant guard would be necessary
along its entire length 20 prevent its
destruction.
Other parts Of the new south Amer
| lean oil field offer fewer transporta-
| ton difficulties. but none. il was said
| here. have mOe promising indications
OF yield than the Bolivian district
l.. = Government trade representa-
| tiNes. after a years survey Of the
/ territory, expressed the belief that an
oil field great In area, but as yet of
/ unknown production, extends the
/ length Of South America just east NJ
I the Andes Explorers OF dozen cOun-
IAi NN" NNN ~ AN AAAr ANNN A.h-ANA MA'
I breadth Of this region. with American
companies easily in the lead, both In
The number OF parties In the field and
in The amount Of acreage for which
concessions have been obtained
Great reticence and secrecy have
been maintained by American oil in
| leersts about their South American
prospects and accomplishments. Gov
eminent reports heer indicate, how
ever. that American concessions are sd
extensively scattered through every
possible field in South America thai
wherever the big gush" comes, oil
men from this country viii probahl,
be i'm a position 10 control the larges
acreage Of any foreign group.
All South American countries ar
chary OF permitting outright sale q
foreigners Of oil land rights. accord
ing TO information here. Concession
Permit the holder. under government
TAD regulations. including a tax OF
percentage OF production. only q
lease the land for q prescribed mum
Der Of years with rights OF lease-re
newal