The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-02-01
South America and the
Petroleum Industry Fa-
vOr Naval Disarmament

WI 4NdNIl DlSdI IidiIIcitt
Dispatches reporting the conference
at Washington wherein the fate or
battleships ard other fighting sea
vessels of nations was being deterin-
ined failed To mention the voice OF
South America, but information re-
ceived here last night as part of
most Interesting tale OF the south half
Of the American continent, contained
i statement of fact which would be-
yond doubt serve as strong argument
for those tavoring abolishmenr Of
the ocean monsters relative TO their
use OF gun.povder and yet tend 10 off.
set any objections OF people who do
not desire to see any "scrapping ol
the ships with an Interpretation of
waste. And in this connection. the
petroleum YduStry also takes a hand
For according to w. ID. Miller. now
located in this city as geologist with
the Gypsy Oil Company, the Royal
Dutch Shell Company is using four
or five monitors to tow barges from
the shores OF Lake Maracaibo in
Venezuela 10 the refinery OF the com
p1ny located ut Curazao. The moni.
tors were used by the British naval
forces during the World War. anu
after cessation OF hostilities were pur.
chased by the Royal Dutch interests
and are now serving in most useful
capacity. In addition TO towing the
barges the monitors themselves carry
2O0O 5000 barrels of oil. Lake Mara
caibo is very shallow. states Mr. Mil
ler, and also contains treacherous
bar. making navigation very danger
Gus at frequent periods when seas
are rough. and for which reason but
TWO trips month for each monitor is
the schedule. The Royal Dutch is
the largest refinery in the South Am.
erican countr5 at the present time with
10000 barrels capacity. The island on
which II is located is a Holland pos
session.
Mr.. Miller spent l6 months in South
America on geological work with the
South American Gulf Oil Company,
covering the northern part of the
country, including Venezuela, Trinidad,
Columbia, and the islands off the
northeastern coast. He returned to
the states last December.
The work which he performed was
of reconnaissance nature. and car.
ried him into the jungles and almost
inpene.rable portions OF mountainous
wlds. Often sole reliance for guild.
ance through the country had TO he
placed on the compass A group Of
dozen or more pack carriers accom-.
panied him during his work, all OF
whom were armed for protection
against the wild animals which abound
in the areas visited and also bandit
Indian tribes which are found in sew
eral portions Of the country In
speaking of the bandits. Mr.. Miller
states that they VIII attack 10 Kill
with bow and arrow only when
they outnumber their victims. Other.
wise, they do not attempt 10 over
come those whose property they de-
sire
There are two known countries in
which these bandits are found. They
are on the Venezuelan frontier and
Goa ajiara. Ii appears that the natives
in the mountains of the South Ameri.
can countries place little value on
gold. but are desirous OF obtaining
material objects, such as horses.
guns, etc. This is evidenced by the
fact that mining companies ship gold
bars valued as high as $4,000 via the
muleback route for distances of many
miles with only one peon in charge.
To Mr. Mller's knowledge there has
been only one attempted robbery since
the system was inaugurated many
years ago. White men who are com.
parative strangers are entrusted with
delivery of the highly valued ore
from one place TO another.
There are a greater number Of Am.
cream geologists n South Amerca at
the presen tine than there have ever
been. Extensive development is still
lacking. most of the work being OF
tons carried on chiefly along the col
umbian coast. Indications are that
within 4 few years intensive drilling
will be going American members
of the petroleum industry are now
predominating In Columbia. The Brit
ish interests are more active in actual
operation due 10 earlier entry into
the territory. but in the opinion OF
men who have been there. it will not
be long before the American inter
ests will be developing and forging
ahead
The headquarters of the majority
OF American interests in South Ameri.
"a are at Cartagena, Columbia, q
town VI great historic interest which
served as the treasure house Of Spain
during the zenith OF her career. In
the days Of the buccaneers gold was
shipped by mulebaek from the inter-
or Of Columbia and Peru To- tins
town. distance of more than 500
miles. During the middle ages. this
town had the most complete and
great,at system Of fortifications OF
any city IN the new world, but dcsnite
this fact was guckod by the British.