The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1920-07-29
Senator Pittman Reports His
Impressions of Fallon Oil Field
Says Operators of Falon District Entitled the Most
Liberal Construction of Oil Land Law. Locators
Must Not be Harassed by Department
Reno. Nevada, July 21, 1920.

Reno. Nevada, July FL, 1920.
Hon Clay Tallman,
Commissioner, General Land Office,
Washington, D. C.
MY dear Mr.. Commissioner:
Upon the request of those en-
gagged In prospecting for oil In the
State of Nevada. and particularly In
the Fallon Oil District, l have made
an examination Of the conditions
existing In the district and have at
tempted to explain fully the history
of the oil legislation and the neces-
sity for the enactment and enforce
ment OF the leasing bill. have ex-
planned the policy of the govern
ment and the growth of such policy.
| have also laid before the oil pros
pectors the various communications
l have had with the Secretary of the
Interior relative to the construction
that will be put upon the act under
the regulations of the department.
l very frankly stated that, In my
opinion, a very few claimants have
brought themselves within the pro-
visions of section 81 as interpreted
In the regulations. l have also at
tempted to clearly point out the es-
sential acts to entitle a locator to a
preferential right under Section 10.
After explaining this situation,
have discussed and illustrated the
advantages OF having a title and
protection under the prospecting
permit. | believe. at least | hope.
that a great majority of those en-
gagged In prospecting have been con-
vinced that the slight burdens un-
der the prospecting permit, coupled
with the protection and title, are OF
far greater benefit TO the prospector
than an uncertain right, which un-
avoidably arises out of location
under the old law.
Il am deeply sympathetic with
those who are attempting to d's-
cover oil In this state by reason OF
the natural difficulties that they
must face and the encouragement
that meets them on every hand by
reason OF delay and uncertainties
and a consequent lack OF interest on
the part OF capital that generally
spsculates in such undertakings.
These people are prospecting In
good faith and with an optimism
that has led to many discoveries
where wiser men have stated that 1t
was impossible.
For these reasons. II appears to
me that II Is TO the interest OF the
government and the state to lend
them every possible aid under the
law and the regulations. For their
benefit. have carefully analyzed
sections 13 and IT. l have taken
the liberty to give 1t as my opinion
that these two sections were intend
ed by congress to apply TO totally
different characters of lands. Sec
ton 13 expressly states that the
Secretary of the Interior Is author
lied TO grant prospecting permit
on ''land wherein such deposits be-
long to the United States and are
not within any known geological
structure OF producing oil OF gas
field"
II have taken the ground that no
prospecting permit may be granted
upon land embracing a geological
structure wherein there is a produc-
ing we'll, and l further suggested
that under the law. II q producing
we'll is brought in that all applica-
tions for permits will be held up
until the geological structure of the
producing oil we'll is determined.
also advised those who are inter
ested, that under section IT. lease
could only be granted upon a
known geological structure Of a
producing oil or gas field" | have
given 1t as my opinion that there Is
no land In the state of Nevada at
present upon which a lease may be
granted under the law, because
there is no producing oil or gas field
in the state of Nevada. Many OF
those who we're at first inclined to
stand upon their original locations,
are now determined to apply for
prospecting permits under section
l3. am informed that great
many applications for permits were
made shortly after the approval OF
the Act, but that no action has been
taken upon such applications