Evening star., 1943-07-12
By CARTER BROOKE JONES.

BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
II all the printed court decisions
and briefs growing out Of conflicting
claims to the fiercely fought-over
Elk Hills oil field in California dur
ing the last 40 years could be COL
lected, they'd make library Of
sorts.
Standard Oil Co. Of California
owns 8,298 acres of this Midas
touched land, and the Navy owns
nearly all the rest-exactly 35,495
acres. The latest in a decades-long
series of efforts by the Navy to ac-
quire for its protection control over
private properties in the reserve
this one a contract between the
Navy and Standard for mutual de-
velopment of the field and division
of its products-has set of fresh
dispute which is before two con-
gressional committees.
Three sections of Standards hold
ings, once owned by the Southern
Pacific Railroad. were lost to the
Government through default. The
Supreme Court, deciding case with
similar circumstances, had deprived
the Southern Pacific Of other Sec
tions and these had reverted to the
Government. But the Justice De-
partment then headed by Attorney
General A. Mitchell Palmer, failed
to appeal an adverse District Court
decision in the second case. and so
the railroad kept the three sections,
and eventually they were acquired
by Standard.
In Heart of Reserve.
Sections %. 81 and 33, which the
Government could well have had,
lie in the heart of the rich reserve.
Navy geological experts estimated
that one section alone had 42,000,-
600 barrels of oil in the ground. The
other two also are on land regarded
as excellent.
Standard Oil was involved in years
of litigation with the Government
between 1925 and 1910. The Gov
ernment sought to recover Sections
16 and SO of the Elk Hills reserve,
These sections, too, have a long
title history.
Congress, in 1883. stipulated that
Sections is end SO of every township
of public lands in California should
90 to the State for public schools.
Later the courts held that this did
not include land which the Federal
Government otherwise would have
,syaA
Sections 16 and So in the Elk
Hills region were duly ceded to the
State for schools. Standard bought
them from the State in 1910. Sec
ton 36 has been called one OF the
most valuable square miles OF oil IN
the world.
Ownership Challenged.
In 1914, while the cases against
the Southern Pacific still were at
issue, the local land office In Cali
fornia challenged the validity OF
Standards ownership Of the school
lands. Again the question was
whether it was known the lands
were mineral at the slime they were
surveyed for possible sale, in 1903.
This proceeding dragged along for
years. Finally, on June 9, 1921,
Secretary of the Interior Albert B
Fall dismissed the hearing.
But in May, 1925, Secretary OF
the Interior Hubert Work vacated
Mr.. Falls order and directed a
hearing. Standard sued to enjoin
the hearing. Eventually the Su-
preme Court upheld the Govern
ment's right to delve into the title.
In 1881, the Government sued
Standard for title to Section 36.
This case went it's tortuous course
through the courts. and early in
1910 the Supreme Court held the
Government had been without au-
thority to convey this land to Cali
fornia and that ownership still was
vested In the United States. The
Government had sought damages
for the oil Standard already had
drilled from the section, and the
court sustained judgment OF
$7,138, 8,2s7.44.
Other Section Taken Over.
Then, In June, 1910. Secretary OF
the Interior Ickes, following the Su-
preme Courts Interpretation, held
that Section is likewise belonged
to the Government. Since evidence
regarding the two sections was con-
sidered identical, the Secretary!
ruling was not challenged further
Thus Sections SO and Is were
added to the naval reserve. Stand.
ards direct connection with ths
legal history Of the reservation has
been outlirtp.