South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-02
Oil There, But Indians
and Mountains Guard IL

WASHINGTON. Jan. The new
South American oil field Is bringing
gray hairs 10 a group or L. :. engin-
GERS. Biologists believe they have
discovered OF in Bolivian district
which is thanked on one side by
mountains three miles high. and on
the other by an unexplored land. in
habited by savage Indians There
are several million acres OF Ameri-
can concession in this remote Boil
Wan 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
IL once. they say. But he died in
1850. He was one OF the Spanish
Conquistadores. Other venturesome
gentlemen have attempted the Jour
ey since. but the Indians got 'em.
( The Andes bulk from 1890 10 H.
! 600 feet high, 10 the west OF the field
/ cutting of access TO the Pacific
Ocean. No railroads cross he range
in this region. Tunnels are impos-
sible. 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 re-
sisted the white man from Pizzaro' s
/ day 70 this, must now be forced TO
yield.
A 5O0-mile pipe line across a neck
Of the Gran Chaco would carry oil
from the La Paz field 10 a point on
the Parana River, and from there Il
could be tanked 10 the South Ameri-
can Atlantic seaboard. L. s. gov
eminent field men who have recent
! ~ returned from this territory say
a small army would be needed 10
fight the Indians while laying the
pipe line through their territory, and
that a constant guard would be
/ necessary along it's entire length 10
prevent its destruction.
Other parts Of the new South
| American oil field offer fewer trans
portation difficulties, but none. II was
I said here, have more promising in
, dications OF yield than the Bolivian
district
U. S. government trade represen-
/ tatives. 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
Of the Andes. Explorers OF a dozer
| countries are scurrying the length
and breath OF this region, with Amer
lean companies easily in the lead
both in number of parties in the field
and in the amount Of acreage fol
which concessions have been OBJ
/ tanned.
Great reticence and secrecy have
| been maintained by American oil in
terests about their South American
prospects and accomplishments
Government reports here indicate
however, that American concessions
are so extensively scattered through
every possible field in South America
/ that wherever the ''big gush" comes
OIL men from this country will pro
! badly be in a position TO control the
largest acreage of any foreign group
All South American countries are
chary of permitting outright sale tc
| foreigners of oil land rights, accord
] ing TO information here. Concessions
! permit the holder, under govern
mental regulations. including a taN
Of percentage of production, only
to lease the land for a prescribed
number of years with rights oil
lease renewal.