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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1909)
TIIE MORNING OREGOXIAX, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1909. m h mmsm mm i;. M. BKERETOX FIXDS TRACES OF PETROLEUM. Ccof-ogical Formations Similar to Those or Oil-Bearing District of California. (From The Orf?onlan December 29. 190ft.) "WOODSTOCK. Or., Dec. 27. (To the Editor.) The enclosed data, form the basis of my belief in the probability of petroleum belnff found In the Wil lamette Valley. In 1871-72 I saw the seacoaat of Cal ifornia, from Santa Barbara to San Diego, iridescent with petroleum, and reported to TV. C. Ralston and others that California would be found a great oil region. Their eyes and minds were then so full of the gold placers and the Co ms to ck mines that they paid no Attention. It was much the same with my great irrigation project In the Ban JoevQnin Valley, when the whole of It was a peml-arld region. In both of these I v aa about 2D years too early In advo cating exploitation, but the present out tome shows I was entirely correct. The data follows: Firt The geological formation of Weet r rn Oresoa are In the umi relative se quence aa those extitln Jn the oil reflona .r California, vlxi (a) cretaoeoua. (t eo itno. (c) mlocene. Second The moat productive of petroleum in these m California today lie within the upper mlocene tertiary formation. Third The whole of the Tualatin and Tamhlll valleys Trithin the counties of V. aihinirtcm. Tamhlll and Polk lying west of the Willamette Klver are In the mlocene formation. The same formation exists east of the river a Ion the western slope of the rnsrarte ran re, north from Eugene to the Clackamas River. Fourth The shales and aanrtatonrs throughout this mlocene region are fully r fossillferous and dlatomaoeous as are this In California, This fact Is revealed I" the dralnak'e aroa of Dairy Creek, north t.f Hill.iboro and Forest Grove; also in Ga!es Cre-k and In Boons' Quarry, west and aouth v -st of Freat Grove; also at North Yam hill, at the south end of Wapato Lake, and ;it Carlton. In Yamhill County; also In the )ii!l range east of Amity In the same county. ar:d in the aame hills east of McCoy and Ji dimes' Gap In Polk County. I lank three wells for water on the farm I had between T ir-st Grove and Cornelius, from thest. within 2 feet of the surface I obtained mlocene shales and fossils. During the past yeara that I have been resident In Ore pon. I have collected specimens of mlocene f o3!l!ferou8 sandstones and ah ales from all the above-mentioned points. Among thee pre bituminous shales. In ' the Tualatin Valley I found ehales which contained a Ftrong cent of petroleum. K:fh petroleum differs from coal In that 1: !s the product of marine vegetation and nroinism; c-al Is the product of fresh, water v-fce-ation, and generally Is only found In "Western Oregon In the eocene formation. In Polk and Yamhill Counties lies Salt rwk. a tributary of the Yamhill River; In tMs are found strong salt eprinjrs. An M settler at Amity showed me a well he ha.l sunk for water: he could not use it bM a It was so oily. 1 ixth All geologists admit that the pa r'r.c Ocean extended far eastward before t uplift of the Kocky Mountain Range. Thn It was thrown back to the westward by the latter uplift of the Cascade and Si erra Nevada. Ranpes; and lastly still farther . the uplift of the Coast Kange. Recently, the oil-bearing strata of the mlocene for mn tlon have been found In Mono County, California, on the summit of the Sierras; thus Illustrating how the ancient ocean bed has been lifted. Seventh Hitherto nearly all the boring exploitation work for petroleum In "Western Oregon has teen done In fcthe eocene forma tion: I do not know of a single case In the mione. If the. miocene formation m the Tualatin and Yamhill valleys has anythfr.p l'ke the thlcknese found In California. I should look f'r oil and gas to be found therein. The United State geologists havn not Vet explored this region, and it sevms to ire full time for Oregoniant to urge tho Ovrnmont to undertake thia most impor tant Investigation. Kirhth The mlocene strata are far more exterfMve Jn area and depth In Eastern n-gnn than they are in Western Oregon ; i;t there the are covered with a great depth of basaltic lava flows and fresh -wntr deposits, which would make any ex ploration work far more expensive than In the Willamette Valley. Ninth The California oll-bearlr g strata have been traced and exploited In Humboldt County. I have found the mlocene strata In Curry County, the so-called "pitch-coal" found In Coos County is an asphalt pe troleum analysis) and not a lignite coal. The Nehalem and the Cowlitz coal are in the eocene formation. R. M. BRERETON. C. E. AGREATTH1N3 FORPORTLAND HOSE CITT WTLI BE OXE OF WORLD'S GREAT OH, MARTS. Sir. Brweton Believes This City Is Soon to Be On of tho World's Greatest Oil Centers. From the Evenlnc Telegram, April 23, 1908. That Portland -will be. at a date not far distant, ons of the world's greatest n't centers. Is the prediction of R. M. Krereton. perhaps the best-known civil engineer on the Pacific Coast. He has been a resident of this city for many years, during which time his work has led him all over the Northwest. He has studied every foot of soil and rock that he has gone over, and he now de clares that Oregon will soon be pro ducing oil in far greater quantities 'than California, In Mr. Brereton's autobiography "liemlnlscences of an Old English Civil Kngineer" which has Just been pub lished In handsome book form, one chapter Is devoted to the future of Portland as a commercial city and of Oregon as an oil-producing state. On both subjects he speaks as one having authority. He says: "I believe it possible, and even prob able, for Portland's more rapid growth in population and wealth In the near future, through the development of the now occult and wholly unexplored natural resources of what should be Oregon's own' oil fielcs. My faith In the existence of these is based upon the fart that the oil fields of California nre mainly found Jn the geological Ftrp.ta known as the mlocene or neocene sandstone and shales, and. more espe cially. In the geological horizon of the middle miocene rocks. "Oregon possesses, from my own personal observation and study, a far greater area of these oil and gas, mlo cene formations than California, In Kastern Oregon and In the "Willamefte Valley these miocene formations abound. These are marvelously rich In f.-issillferous and dlatomaoeous and rorsiniir.iferous organic materials of marine origin. These form the accept ed sources of petroleum, bitumen and asphalt on the Pacific Coast." It was Jlr. Brereton who some 40 years ago showed the people of Cali fornia what great wealth lay at their feet if they would but irrigate their lands. He laid out the first of the reat Irrigation enterprises that now make the Golden State flourish, and It was through the effort of Mr. Brereton than Congress was induced to allow the Federal Government to aid In t watering tho dry lands of the Nation. J CHAS. E. LADD SAYSl Mr. H. A, Cushing." City. Dear Sir: Replying1 to your Inquiry concerning Mr. R. M." Brereton, I take pleasure In advising you that he has done considerable work for me, and I have always found him to be honest and capable, and think that his judgment Is conservative and can be relied upon. Tours truly. CHAS. E. LADD. CALIFORNIA PRODUCED 20.0OO,O0O WORTH OF OIL IX 1908. And there are producing fields In both British Columbia and Alaska to the north of us. It has been found in Wyoming and Colorado to the east, and .who will assume that the coun try is barren between all these points? We nrmly believe that we hnve It within fifty miles of Portland on lands covered by onr leases. THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY There is but one way for a poor man to escape ETERNAL poverty. Saveup a little money and put it to work for himself. Do not rent it to the banker at 4 per cent and let it work for him and earn 100 to 1000 per cent. Invest it yourself in prof itable stocks and let it grow. WE HAVE 6500 ACRES OF LAND. TVe have 6500 acres of pros pective oil lands bow under lease, and we are not going at this job with a posthole auger, but with machinery that will go the required depth to find it. WE'LL BORE SEVERAL WELLS ONE HOLE -would not develop a new oil field, so we'll bore at least THREE and possibly FIVE. "We are going to sell enough stock for that purpose, and we're GOING TO GET OIL! It will be wise for everybody to bear this fact in mind. WE'RE AFTER OIL AND NATURAL GAS For Portland. We have select ed our Manager from the Oil field of Pennsylvania and our Drillers will be the best that money can hire. Andrew Sherwood, a Distinguished Geologist from the Oil Region of Pennsylvania, Will Have Charge of the Company's Work in the Field, and Will Direct the Location ana sinKing or me i e&i v cu& WHO'S ANDREW SHERWOOD t (Who's Who In America, Portland Public Library.) ANDREW SHERWOOD Geologist: born Mansfield. Pa., July 16. 1848; educated State Normal School and old Chicago University; connected six years with geological surveys of Ohio and New York, under J. S. Newberry and James Hall; Assistant State Geologist second geological survey cfPenn sylvanls; in charge Pennsylvania mineral exhibit World's Columbia Exhibi tion. Chicago, 18S3; leader of expedition to Yukon, 1898; delegate from Penn sylvania to National Prohibition Convention. Indianapolis, Indiana, 1888; Prohibition candidate for Congress 1894; member American Philosophical Pociety: member American Forestry Association; member American Associa tion for the Advancement of Science; corresponding member New 1 ork Academy of Sciences; author of geological works published by the state; author numerous newspaper and magazine articles; United States Deputy Mineral Surveyor, and HE'S VICBJ - PRESIDENT AJfD FIELD MANAGER OF THE PORTLAND OIL AND GAS COMPANY. Onlv the names of GREAT men are In that book "Who's Who In America" and if It were not a great book It would not be In the library. By references to its pages any one can readily find out who IS who in this country. Mr. Sherwood caul' to Oregon some time ago on a visit to his son. principal of the Terwilllger School, and upon ascertaining his great ability as a geologist he was engaged to make a critical geological examina tion of a large tract of country in the Willamette Valley, with a view of ascertaining the probability of the existence of petroleum, gas or coal de posits beneath the surface of the earth in that section. For years it had been rumored that the formation here was identical with that of California s oil producing section, and this investigation was to be mode with the sole object In view of ascertaining tho facts In the case, and sinking for oil if the reports were favorable. We therefore have pleasure in appending hereto MR. SHERWOOD'S REPORT IN FILL. I have the honor to submit to you the following brief report of observa tions on the geological structure of a portion of Yamhill County, in the State of Oregon, with reference to the possible .existence therein of petroleum. The region In question embraces that portion of said County of Yamhill 'lying in and around the villages of McMlnnville and North Yamhill and the inter vening country between these two places. This beautiful valley. Iving between the Newberg hills on the east and the foothills of the Coast Range on the west. Is a typical exanjple of what Is known among geologists as an anticlinal valley. In other words, it is in the llr.s of a grat arch In the underlying strata, and belongs in and is one of the series of great axes of upheaval and depression constituting the Coast Kange mountain system. This is an axis of upheaval, or an anticlinal axis, while on either side, under the Newberg hills to the east, and under the foot hills to the west, there is an axis of depression, or a synclinal axis, beyond which, but more especially to the westward, there exists a succession or series of these folds of the same general character, only that in the moun tains they are much steeper and more complex. All these arches of up heaval and depression run north and south, or with the mountains, and in conformity with the coast line, and. as I have said, they are known as antl clinals and synclinals. An anticlinal is an arch In the rocky formations lvlng between and parallel with two synclinals, and from It the strata dips down and away to the bottom of the synclinals. A synclinal Is an inverted arch, lying between and parallel with two synclinals and from it the rocks rise over the anticllnals. . I have been thus explicit in the matter of the geological structure of the region for the reason that the existence of oil depends so largely upon structure. Of the three fluids- found In rocks formation namely, water, oil and gas water Is theheaviest, and because of its greater specific gravity will naturally be found at the bottom of a synclinal trough. A well located thore would very likely go' into water, and might even develop an artesian r-r flowing well, because of hydrostatic pressure. Next In density, being lighter than water, is oil. which will be found collected in the slopes and at a higher level than the water where the strata are gently dipping. But the greatest flow of gas. the lightest of the fluids, may be looked for higher up the,slope. even to the top of the anticlinal arches, it being In just such loca tions that the great "gassers" of Western Pennsylvania occur. It will be seen, therefore, that the contour of the surface, that Is to say, the topography, may have little or nothing to do with the existence of oil. An experienced oil man will be governed entirely by the underlying struc ture, and will select an anticlinal arch, or the sloping sides of one. as a spot for locating his well, no matter whether the surface there is represented by a range of hills or a pleasant valley. Anticlinal arches are generally pre ferred to svnclinal basins bv oil locators, for the reason that the latter struc ture is generally encumbered with water. The geologist knows that In the synclinal basin, after a few hundred feet of drilling, on striking a thick porous sandstone, water will be encountered. " So to be able to recosrnize rock structure, or the position Into which rocks have been thrown by upheaval or compression, such as that of anti clinal and synclinal folds, is important. So, too. the rocks themselves, and the geological periods to which they belong, are Important, since the rocks of certain geological periods have been found by experience to be more likely for oil than others. For example, tho oil of Pennsylvania Is found In devonian rocks, while that of Texas and California is fojind in tertiary and cretaceous rocks, but no oil has ever been, and It Is safe to say ever will be. found In granite, basalt, or any of the igneous rocks; yet cases are on record where parties have actually bored down on granite In search of oil. The first question, then, to be determined, is, have we the right structure for oil In the Mc.Mlnnville-Carlton-North Yamhill Valley? As I have already intimated, this beautiful valley is in the line and marks the location of an anticlinal axis or fold, from v.hleh the rocks dip gently away to the east and to the west, and I have seldom, if ever, seen a more ideal structure. The coast of this great arch or fold can be seen at the shale quarries near the Village of North Yamhill; the beds In the new quarry dipping to the east, while in the old quarry tliev din to the West. So that the structure is all that could be desired. Especially Is this the case in the neighborhood of Carlton, and farther on toward Mc.M Inn vllle. where the arch Is broader and the dips more gentle, all of which is favorable. But at. North Yamhill, and to the north of that village, the fold is sharper and the dips steeper, and I should not be Inclined to regard the conditions as being quite as good as around Carlton. Neither do I givi-. any weight to the so-called "oil-scum" in the locality, as in the Perkins well. 1 saw no such scums there, or oil of any kind, although the well was uncovered foj- me. and I should very much doubt its existence. In my opinion, all that has ever been seen there or in any of the neighboring wells or springs, is a little of irrldescent oxide of iron so common in some springs and marshes. ' Moreover, to the northward from North Yamhill, I found fissure eruptions of basalt, where cracks have opened and molten lava has poured out as water pours from a crack in the Ice. and these I should regard with disfavor, for the reason that such disturbances of the earth's crust would very likely have released any pool or subterranean reservoir of oil which may have existed prior to the date of these lava flows, whlcn was during the miocene tertiary. Good Judgment would seem to dictate that we should keep away from these places, and this we would do by going further south. The next question is the kind of rocks. Have we the right formations here for oil? To which we should have to answer. Yes; for the reason that the underlying rocks belong to the tertiary and cretaceous periods, which are the oil-bearlr.g rocks of Texas, Colorado and California. The first rock to be penetrated by the drill would be a mass of clay shales of unknown thickness, in which there would be no hope of finding oil. The drill would most certainly have to penetrate this deposit into a stratum of porous sand rock before it would be possible to find any oil In commercial quantities. At some depth, unknown to me (it mav be of several hundred feet), other strata of a different character should and would be encountered, but whether oil bearing or not the drill alone car. determine. No man can tell with any decree of certainty what lies there, in the wav of oil or gas, twelve or fifteen hundred feet below the surface; but I have a good deal of confidence upon the fact that the geological structure would appear to be ideal that the underlying rocks are of tertiary and cretaceous age which would mean that they might be oil bearing; and that there are numerous mineral springs along and near tho line of the anticlinal axis, where saline waters, accom panied with much gas, are constantly escaping. These waters and gases are indirectly a favorable sign. The gas may occur without oil. but oil rarely occurs unaccompanied by gas. There Is something wonderfully Interesting about these springs, and which I must say is very suggestive of both oil and gas, and I f m very glad to have seen them. I ought, perhaps, to sav In passing, that in drilling a well in this valley for oil there is a possibility bf finding not only oil. but coal and gas; und although the coal would be lignite, it might still prove to be of great importance; while a good supply of natural ghs would be of untold value to the City of Portland, as well as to the surrounding towns. In conclusion. I would say that I am firmly of the opinion that oil will yet be found in large and paying quantities in Oregon, and one of the most promising places I have seen in which to look for it is In this valley between .McMlnnville and North Yamhill. Having carefully gone over the ground I should most certainly advise a test-well, to be Judiciously located, of course, at some point In the valley between the above-named villages, though preferably, perhaps, on the east slope of the anticline. I consider the indi cations of oil. coal and gas such as to amply justify the expense of putting down one or more test-wells to a depth, if necessary, of 2000 feet, although I should be hopeful that a less distance would suffice. In other words, since ro test has ever been made, and after weighing all the facts, and seeing that It would mean so much in case of success, 1 feel that I would be war ranted In advising that farther researches be made. I have the honor to remain. Your obedient servant, ANDREW SHIJRWOOD, Assistant State Geologist in the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania. mv. i o .n.i.fnrm o riirne nusrht tn be an inspira tion to every reader of this newspaper, and a well-spring of buoyancy to every citizen of Portland and the Willamette Valley. But the company has fortified itself with the report of another eminent engineer -a. man who nas represented the greatest financial interests of citizenc. of this city in anotner direction. ' MR. BRERETON, AN OIL - GROUND EXPERT. Mr. R. M. Brereton, of Woodstock, a suburb of Portland, is a man of International reputation in the line of minerals and extensive irrigation proiects. He was for years employed y the government of .Great WJ'Jf'" in its work In India, and is given the credit of being the father of Irrigation In California. Twenty years ago he urged upon California capitalists ine wisdom of searching the earth for oil. in the Identical territory now so pro lific in that Important product. But men's mind were turned entirely to gold, all other thoughts of profitable enterprise being subservient to this one effort. So the oil agitntlon became comatose and for more than two decaaes was permitted to enjoy the quietude of profoundest slumber. But Mr. Brereton's words were not forgotten. The spark he had kindled was at last fanned Into flame, money was subscribed, a test-well put down, ana OIL BURST FORTH AS GEYSERS FROM THE EARTH, and one of the monster industries of the Pacific Coast was born! Other wells followed "in million-dollar succession," and fabulous fortunes have been grown from the seeds of poverty of less than two decades ago. More than $20,000,000 was received for California oils last year. ANOTHER IMPORTANT REPORT. Mr. Sherwood's report was made, and subsequently Mr. William SIcIntosh, S gentleman connected with a local bank, employed Mr. Brereton to make observations and report on the probability of oil and gas being found in practically the same territory covered by Mr. Sherwood, except that Mr Brereton's observations extended to parts of Polk County. In this district this gentleman found strong evidences of oil deposits, set forth by nlmseir, in his own language, as follows: , rt ,. .Mr. William Mcintosh, care Bank of California, Portland, Oregon Dear fair. WILLAMETTE VALLEY OIL FIELD In accordance with your request I have examined alleged Indications of petroleum, in the forms of oil, gas. bitumen and asphaltum in Yamhill ana Polk Counties, this state (Willamette Valley), between Whitson on the North and Crawley on the South. . I found the statements regarding the existence of fossils, bitumen ana. asphaltum in the exposed surface shales and sandstone rocks to be correct. I examined the country surrounding for many miles, and- thus obtamea a very fair idea of the general outlook for the production of petroleum from this region in the near future. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS AND DEDUCTIONS. The main and most convincing evidence afforded at the present time, from the view of surface indications, which is all that is visible to the eje and touch of man, is the richly fossillferous and dlatomaceous character of the exposed shales and sandstones of the district, and the anticlinal folds or the earth-crust. The fossils tell the geological age of these formations, and the anticlines show the movements which have arisen .since these sedi mentary strata were deposited in horizontal layers, and formed the successive beds of the Pacific Ocean. . During geological tertiary periods, and before the Cascade and coast Ranges were upheaved, the fossils show very distinctly that the formations belong to the mlocene geological horizon, and so they directly correspond with the same formations in which the oil fields of California are found and established today. . , . . So far as I know, from personal observation, the most promising portion of this mlocene area for present prospecting operations lies In the southeast corner of Yamhill Countv and in the east and northeast sides of Polk Count. At Amity there is an east-west spur from the main range, and another to the south at Holmes' Gap. This latter trends southwesterly some 4 or o miles north of Dallas. The main range south trends toward Eola. on trie Willamette river. The above described main range, together with Amity and Holmes' Gap spurs, form a horseshoe shape to the western slope or the range of the mlocene upheaved formation. It is in these hills, ana in their east, more especially, slope, that petroleum deposits will be round lr they exist. ' GEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. The general formation of this special district shows very clearly the anticlinal features whlc are considered so important and favorable in tne various oil fields of California. The folds appear, from surface observation, along the eastern and western slopes, to be fairly uniform and gentle, and the summits, .which average about a mile and a half In width, do not appear, so far as what I saw of them, in the three places, to be folded steeply ana in Before the Cascade and-Coast Ranges were upheaved, the. shores of the Pacific Ocean extended eastward to the western slope of the Blue Mountain Range in Eastern Oregon. The marine fossils' I found in this Yamhill and Polk miocene district appear to belong to the middle mlocene horizon; the same as that which has furnished California its most productive oil fields. Some of these fossils are shown in the accompanying photograph. Another good feature I observed in this district, as favorably associated with ' petroleum deposits, exists in the known salt springs, along Salt Creek, which the map shows drains this specialized district. These indicate a marine origin of the formation. There Is a well-known strong salt spring in the southeast quarter of section 34. In Township 5. South of Range 4 West. I went to this but could not roach the spring because of flood waters around It. Geologists today recognize the association or affinity of petroleum origin with saline or marine organisms of animal and vegetable nature. Another favorable Indication of the mlocene formation I observed in the presence of silica filling of some of the fossils. Some of these contained perfect casts of chalcedony and agate. This silica infiltration was strongly in evidence during the miocene period. It has not been observed In the upper and later pliocene tertiarv formation. The coating of the one celled marine plant life, called diatomas. was pure silica. The mlocene period contained a marvelous and inconceivable wealth of fossillferous and dlatomaceous animal and vegetable marine life. The subsequent silica infiltration In these fossils was probably due to the pressure and heat produced under the vast weight of later sedimentary deposits, which in this district have since ben removed by action of erosion. COAL AND PETROLEUM IN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON. It Is a pertinent question why so little coal and so much oil-bearing rocks and deposits are found In California. Both ar supposed to, be derived from organic matter ot different nature and formed under different conditions. Coal Is the residuum of terrentlal vascular (cellular) plants and trees formed under pressure and heat in Iresh water.. , Petroleum in the forms of oil. bitumen and asphaltom. Is derived irom more perishable microscopic cellular plants and animals called diatoms. Infusoria and foramina, which mainly form the constituents of ooze or inud: subsequently hardened into shales and sandstones through pressure and heat, in salt water. The coal formations Include the fat or cannel. the bituminous, the semi-anthracite, the anthracite and finally the graphite. Petroleum forma tions furnish the gas, the light oils, the tarry or heavy oils, the bitumen, the asphaltum and finally the diamond by the ultimate crystallization of the California and Oregon produce coal only In limited quantity and in the lignite form. I believe the reason for this to be that coal In this character exists only in these states in the tertiary formation Known as ine eocene (the lowest) and pliocene (the highest). The former for long geologic periods was above the sea level, and so under fresh water and favorable to climatic conditions for forestal and plant growth. Petroleum deposits in these States exist probably mainly in the miocene shales and sandstones, which were the original beds of the Pacific ocean, and in which forestal and fresh water plants dould not have had a birth-place; but which would be peculiarly favorable to the marine fossils and other organisms which are found so marvelously abundant therein both in California and in Oregon Petroleum products have been disclosed in this formation in Humboldt countv. California. Professor J. S. Diller, of the U. S. Geological Survey, states" that the so-called "pitch-coal" in Coos county. Oregon, is asphaltum. This occurs in the upper eocene, which directly underlies the miocene. This Is linking the California oil fields very closely with what may. In the near future, be one of Oregon's oil fields If the upper eocene and the overlying mlocene formation In California ore now furnishing the main supply of gas and oils, the same vast forma tions in Oregon, equally if not more so, endowed with organisms which form the sources of petroleum, can reasonably be expected to yield similar outcome. Hence tho prominence I would give to Oregon for the petroleum fuel supply in the near future. The geological strata, with their abundant petroleum-forming ingredients, are herein. The same earth movements which have upheaved the Sierra Nevada and coast ranges in California, havo upheaved the Cascade and coast ranges in Oregon. The compressed, folded and metamorphic conditions of these formations through pressure and heat which have distilled the petroleum products therefrom and stored these therein in California, have been existant in Oregon. All these features and processes of nature are, in my Judgment, very significant and encour aging facts for Oregonians to consider and to speculate upon. All mining of nature's underground resources is more or less of a speculative enter prise The accompanying illustrative sections serve to represent the anti clinal folds of the California oil fields and the location of the testing wells sunk thereon to the oil-sand strata. . . These are equally characteristic of the topographical features of the same formations In Oregon. The more these miocene shales and ,andstones are found closely folded, the more the pressure and consequent heat have arisen and concreted the oil Into bitumen and finally into asphaltum. WE WANT 1500 MEN AND WOMEN To become stockholders in this company with tia by subscribing for $50 worth of stock each, payable $10 down and $10 a month. This is a very small sum, and the payments are so easy that every one can get in and help develop what may in the near futnre be an immense oil and natural gas field right at the front door of Portland. Should we strike oil or natural gas, or both, and as our chances are even better than they were in California before they struck either, it is needless to say that the returns on even such a small investment would simply BE IMMENSE. I trust the fnrep-nlno- infn.m.fiA. j .1 i.v. . - . , " .iiiwuiianirii anU VJUBCI VrtllUIl Will LUI111BI. JUU ana your friends all the preliminary Information you need. Yours faithfully. (Signed) - R. M. BRERETON. M. I. C. E. t Thi? I.P0!1 5f Mr- Brereton was purchased from Mr. Mcintosh by the Portland Oil & Gas Company, the latter acquiring all the Interests of the former in the explorations of Mr. Brereton. OTHER STRONG OPINIONS. . In. the book, "Elements of Geology," by Joseph LeConte, page S77, the following may be read: "It Is a curious fact that petroleum Is often associated with salt. It la so in Pennsylvania, in Virginia and in manv other localities. I have said that petroleum and bitumen are found in all fossillferous formations, but in each country there are certain formations where it especially abounds. In Europe it is found principally in the tertiary: in eastern United States it is found almost wholly In the paleozoic below the coal measures; In Cali fornia it is found in the tertiary. In Pennsylvania and Kentucky oil is found in the upper devonian; in Canada and Michigan in the lower devonian; in West Virginia In the sub-carboniferous; in Ohio in lower coal measures, though It probably originated below: in California it is found in mlocene tertiary of the roust range, all the way from Los Angeles to Cape Mendo cino. These have been called "oil horizons." Professor Thomas Condon. Ph. D.. professor of geology in the University of Oregon. In his book, "Two Islands," writes th;it "Southwest of Forest Grove, where coast mountain streams rut through the mkirene foothills, the fossils (indicative of petroleum) are again very abundant and very fine all miocene." .Here are the opinions of FOUR men whose judgments are worthy of consideration. They are so worthy that the originators of the Portland Oil & Gas Company have expended several thousand dollars of their own coin in the formation of the corporation and ji carrying it along to its present position, and we are confident that we ar pioneers in an undertaking that will soon gladden the heart of every citizen of this active metropolis and all Its neighboring towns and villages. The original map of the district, likewise photographs of the fossils referred to, as well as some of the fossils themselves, may be seen at the company's office, 601 Worcester building. CAN THESE MEN BE MISTAKEN? Here are the observations of two learned gentlemen, one fresh from the oil fields of Pennsylvania, where he has had a part In the development of the oil industry, and perfectly familiar with the contour of the country and indications of the existence of oil. and the other from the pen of one of the most scholarly men" In this country, who for more than fifty years has been engaged in mineral and geological avocations that have qualified him to speak intelligently on all subjects of this nature. And it is agreed by each man's report, neither knowing the other had inspected the ground, and neither having so much as the acquaintanceship of the other, that there is the best of Indications of the existence of oil and gas and very likely coal in the territory covered by their careful explorations. Is there a like lihood, then, that both are mistaken? Reason teaches otherwise, and THE PORTLAND OIL A GAS COMPANY BELIEVES THAT OIL AND GAS DO EXIST IN YAMHILL AND POLK COUNTIES. AND WILL GO AFTER IT WITH AN EARNEST HEARTINESS THAT MUST SPELL SUCCESS. Its discovery means fortunes to the stockholders of the company. It means that the production of oil will keep at home the thousands of dollars paid each month for California fuel oil. and that this vast sum will go into the hands of the people and business men of Portland and the Willamette Valley. It means added prosperity for every individual In any wise engaged In business pursuits of any character, from the smallest to the greatest, from the top to the bottom of them, from rooming-houses, restaurants and hotels to the wholesale merchant, manufacturer, banker and the state. IT IS A MONEY-GROWING PROPOSITION, AND WE WANT A FEW PART NERS IN THE ENTERPRISE. We want those who will, be satisfied with a "Square Deal" all the way through, the principles upon which this company has been founded, to get into the bandwagon with us now, and when the profits come share with us In Its distribution. In 1907, in round numbers, California produced 116,000,000 worth of oil, Ohio and Illinois a like amount, and Oklahoma and Kansas $18,000,000 worth. California increased its output J4. 000.000 in 1908, and producing oil shares In that state are stable as wheat. Who knows but Oregon will be one of the great oil producers within a year or two, and as J. C. Bayer once said. "The chances are so good I cannot afford to be out of it!" TWO HOURS' RIDE FROM PORTLAND. " 1 North Yamhill Is but an hour and fifty-three minutes' ride from Port land, and another 31 minutes carries the passenger to McMlnnville. It li therefore "but a step" from, the state's metropolis to the territory covered by the reports published herewith, with a down grade for a -pipe line all the way to this city. Then our first well, it is expected, will be located not more than six or eight hundred feet from the Yamhill river, so that its product may be loaded upon barges and brought to this railroad center and steamboat distributing point at a scarcely computable expense per gallon. The Southern Pacific and electric railway lines afford the very best facilities for reaching the district, so that it Is but a pleasure Jaunt by those modes of travel. WHAT THIS -MEANS TO PORTLAND. We come before the people, therefore, with the opinions of at least TWO scholarly and thoroughly experienced gentlemen, worthy of the most serious consideration, that there is more than ' ordinary indications of both petroleum and gas in Yamhill and Polk counties, with a strong probability of coal deposits. That there is gas Is well known. It hubbies from the salt springs of the neighborhood so copiously that in some places it may be lighted with a match, and the several excellent authorities, apart from Messrs. Brereton and Sherwood, we have quoted, so encourage us to believe we shall discover oil that we will go after that product with an earnestness and zeal that cannot fail of oil discovery. If such exists in the region we have named. And If we do find oil every citizen of Portland may well toss up his hat and shout In gladness. If gas be added the acclaim can not be too vociferous, and if coal shall be ;in the discovery the town might well engage in a Jubilee. Who can comprehend the importance to not only Portland, hut the entire Willamette Valley of such discovery? Every fndustry in the city and valley would feel Us beneficent Influence. In fact. It might truthfully be said that its prosperous touch would be felt all the way along, from the bootblack's stand to the treasury of the state. Think what this cheap fuel would mean to the mills and factories of the entire valley! What it would mean to the water craft' and railroads! What it would man to the immense deposits of iron in our hills. What it would mean to our public buildings. What it would mean to hotels and restaurants! How it would light and heat our homes! What It would mean to labor! And if found the natural gas would quickly solve the lighting problem. ' IT WOULD DOUBLE THE POPLLATION OF PORTLAND WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. Property values would soar and millions be added to the realty of this city. Men and families would flock in here from all parts of the country. There would be a hum in all Industrial lines and the flag of progress would be unfurled wherever the eye might turn. There would be a pell-mell rush in this direction, and Who would not profit thereby would most certainly be entitled to his peaceful rest. As the raindrops fall upon all the earth, so would the beneficent effects of this enterprise fail upon every individual of this great region. In fiict, the immensity of our proposition cannot be grasped by any one who has not sat quietly down and pondered the question In his own mind. . WE SHALL EMPLOY ONLY OIL EXPERTS. Onlv oil experts will be employed by this company. We shall provide a standard West Virginia oil drilling outfit. We shall have a machine capable oboring to a depth of 4000 to 5000 feet, with a 13-inch casing at the top, and Mr. Sherwood will superintend the operations on the 'ground. With a force of expert drillers, therefore, wo have every confidence that we shall be abundantly and speedily successful in our aims. The same eruption that created the mountains of California created those of the entire coast range all the way around to British Columbia and Alaska. Oil is already flowing from the wells of all these localities California on the south to British Columbia and Alaska northward. It does not seem possible, therefore, that this territory can be barren, and we never will believe it until we have been actually convinced by faithful exploration. And this is the only way the question can be settled. No officer ot the company will receive any pay at all, save those working in the field. AS THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT MEANS SO MUCH FOR PORTLAND AVE SHALL EXPECT TIIE GOOD WILL AND CO-OPERATION OF EVERY MAX AND WOMAN IN THIS CITY. If a stockholder, . and we find oil, gas or coal, or all three, you will have an- investment bound to pay surprising profits; but If you own no stock at ail and we are successful, you cannot help but profit immensely in conse auene'e of the new activities and enterprises that will be created and the influx of money that will come to Portland and the Willamette Valley. No one can afford not to give, us at least their moral support, and we do not see how any one can afford not to be an owner of our snares. There are more than a million stockholders In Standard Oil and allied companies, ihese are all receiving enormous dividends. Many, like Rockefeller himself, ooor at first are now in most affluent circumstances and Immeasurably glad that they took a chance. At 13 Mr. Rockefeller was digging- potatoes tt 7 rents per day. and saved a little money. He was a thinker and worker too, and it occurred to him that his savings could be made to help him earn his bread. Seven per cent was then the legal rate, but it struck VTr Rockefeller that that was not enough that his hard-earned savings should be worth ten times that sum and he Invested in what now Is Stand ard Oil. and is the richest man on .earth Had he been contented with a "safe" 7 per cent ne misrn. iiuw ": ?""-f more He was not afraid to run a little risk. The company owns leases on 6500 acres of land in the district, all cov ered by the reports of Mr. Brereton and Mr. Sherwood. The directors of the comDanv are alive as to what is required of them, and have already engaged Mr Sherwood by wire to superintend the field work. Only the best talent in oil' land development will be secured, and no expense will be spared in that direction to secure the best. THE FIRST 100,000 SHARES WILL BE SOLD AT 25o EACH, OR 30c ON INSTALLMENTS OF ONE-FIFTH DOWN AND BALANCE IN FOUR EQUAL MONTHLY PAYMENTS 601-2 Worcester Building, Third and Oak Sts., Portland, Or. Telephone Main 8185 OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY President, H. A. Cnshlnje;, vice-president and manager the Chan. H. Lilly Seed Co., 200 Front St., Portland t 1 lee Presldent and Field Manaeer. Andrew Sherwood, to arrive from Pennsylvania nhout April ltt Sccretnry-rrensurer, Francis Sealev, of the Sealey-Mason Co.. pioneer grocers; Attorney, 8. C. Spencer; Director, In addition to the 1 oregolnsr. E. C. Mears, formerly cashier Lnnibenuens National Rank; John E. Davis, president Davln Sate &. Lock; Co, 6tt Third St., and Robert S. McBride. office manager.