The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-12-29
INDIANS AND MOUNTAINS
ARE OIL FIELD GUARDS
u. S. Engineers Have Hard
Problem. in South
American Fields
(By United Press) .

Washington, Dec. .29.-The new
South American oil field. is bringing
gray hairs TO a group of U. 8. engl-
neers. Biologists believe they have
discovered oil. in a Bolivian district
which is fanked on one, side by
mountains three miles high, inhabited
by savage Indians. There are sew
eral million acres of American CON
cessions in this remote Bolivian field.
They are wasted unless the engineers
can outwit the Andes Mountains. or
the Gran Chaco.
The Gran Chaco is a wild region to
the east Of the La Paz district OF
Bolivia, where the new oil field has
been found. A white man crossed
it once, they say. But he died IN
1850. He. was one, of the Spanish
Conquistadores. Other venturesome
gentlemen have attempted the Jour
new since, but the Indians got 'em.
The Andes bulk from $4,000 to IT.
900 feet high, to the west Of the field,
cutting off access to the Pacific ocean.
No railroads cross the. range in this
repion. Tunnels are impossible. But
the world needs oil, and American
"oil hounds" are on the job, and that,
It is said here, means that the Gran
Chaco, which has resisted white man
from Pizzaro's day to this, must now
be forced to yield.
A 50O-mile pipe line across neck
Of the Gran Chaco, would carry oil
from the La ,Paz field to- a point on
tho pafana river. and from there IT.
could be tanked to the South Amerl-
can Atlantic seaboafd. United States
government field men, who have re-
Gently returned from this territory,
cav a small army would be needed to
fight the Indians while laying the
pine line through their territory, and
that a constant guard would be nec-
essary along its entire length to pre-
vent destruction. ,
Other parts Of the new South
American oil field offer fewer trans
portation difficulties, but none, it was
said here. have more promising lndl-
cations Of yield than the Bolivian dis
trict. -
United States government trade
representatives, after, 2 years survey
Of the territory, expressed the belief
that an oil field great in area, but as
vet of unknown production, extends
the length of South America just east
Of the Andes. Explorers Of a dozen
countries are scurrying the length
and 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 nave
been obtained. y
Great reticence and secrecy have
been maintained by American OIL IN
terests about their South American
prospects and Accomplishments. Gov
eminent reports here indicate, how
ever, that, American concessions are
50 extensively scattered through ev-
CIV. possible field in South America
that wherever the "big gush" comes,
oil men from this country will prob9b-
" be in q position to control the
LARGEST acreage Of any foreign group.
An South American countries are
chary Of permitting outright sale to
foreigners of oil land rights, accord
inc to information here. Concessions
hermit the holder, under govern
mental regulations, including tax OF
a percentage Of production, only to
lease the land for a prescribed num-
Der of years with rights Of lease re-
newal.
-,,r o,1>,eEn WANT Ans