anaheim-gazette 1937-02-18

SENAGRAMS By HARRY C. WESTOVER Last week I discussed in these Senagrams a controversial matter now pending before hte state legislature—revenue bonds. This week I wish to discuss another controversial matter, the Huntington Beach oil situation, and next week will discuss a third controversial matter, the Sardine Conservation bill. Oil in Sacramento and the legislature means the Huntington Beach oil pool. Talk about pouring oil upon the troubled water. Oil also causes fire, and if you wish to "fire up" the state legislature, mention oil. For some years the legislature and the people of the state have been trying to work out a solution of the Huntington Beach oil situation. During the 1935 session of the legislature, an interim committee was appointed to study this important question. The chairman was Senator Olson of Los Angeles. The committee was composed in addition to Senator Olson, of Sentor Stow of Santa Barbara, Senator Hayes of Fresno, Senator Wagy of Bakersfield and Senator Edwards of Orange. For nearly two years investigations were made by this committee and numerous hearings held. At one time during the taking of testimony, when the members of the committee refused to back up its chairman, Senator Olson complained that he was not receiving the proper co-operation from his committee. The committee was supposed to jointly by the Huntington Beach company and the Pacific Electric Land company. The Standard Oil company is the major stockholder of the Huntington Beach company. In 1930 the city of Huntington Beach, claiming to own the land between the Pacific Electric right of way and the ordinary high water line of the ocean, commenced an action against the Standard Oil company, The Pacific Electric railway and the Pacific Electric Land company, to quiet title to such land. The case was transferred to San Diego where it was heard by Judge Beaumont of Fresno. Lewis Blodgett of Santa An was attorney for the city of Huntington Beach. The action involved a strip of land approximately 150 feet wide extending from the east to the west city limits of Huntington Beach, approximately 18,500 feet. During the program of the trial a compromise agreement was made between the litigants. This compromise was, and has been referred to, as a great victory for the city of Huntington Beach. By the compromise a judgment was rendered quieting in the city of Huntington Beach, 3700 feet of beach frontage just east of the Huntington Beach municipal pier. As a consequence the defendants had title quieted (as far as the city of Huntington Beach was concerned) to approximately 15,000 feet of beach frontage. By the litigation the city got 3700 feet of the beach frontage and the defendants 15,000 feet. Not only did the Huntington company and Standard Oil company get five feet for every foot of frontage the city of Huntington Beach get but the Standard Oil company reported, Standard Oil wells, No 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 on Pacific Electric strip are "compositionally shown to enter into a state lands" and are drawing from the state pool. The administration production of Standard Oil公司 well No. 1, from April 1930 to October 31, 1936, is 1,3421 barrels of oil, and from Standard Oil company well No. 2, the same period, 1,916,358 barrels of oil. The total value of oil gas taken from state lands, cording to the Olsen report, wells drilling from the upland is better than $7,000,000.00. The wells, or at least most of them, continuing to produce oil and gas. At the time of the compromise agreement between the city of Huntington Beach and the Standard Oil company and Pacific Electric company, some considerations was given as to whether or not city of Huntington Beach legally enter into such a stipulation, inasmuch as the land question, according to the complaint, had at one time been cited to the public. The defendants in the case now being in Department two of the Orlando county superior court, Stanley Oil company vs. Southern California Drilling company and others, attack the validity of their compromise agreement. The so-called leases or agreements made by the state through the director of finance, to a future production from the drilled from hte upland into state pool is questioned. The department of Finance was authorized to make settlement for thieves and gas produced, but no stakes gives the Department of Fire right to make agreements "future production." Edwards of Orange. For nearly two years investigations were made by this committee and numerous hearings held. At one time during the taking of testimony, when the members of the committee refused to back up its chairman, Senator Olson complained that he was not receiving the proper co-operation from his committee. The committee was supposed to make its report to the senate at the beginning of the 1937 session of the legislature. In the meantime, two of its members retired from the senate—Senators Stow and Edwards. The chairman of the committee prepared a report. The other members of the committee failed or refused to sign the report and Senator Olson filed his report at the January session of the legislature, not as the report of the committee, but as the report of the chairman of the committee. In all legislation and litigation had up to the present time, over the Huntington Beach Oil pool, it had been presumed that the state is the owned of the pool lying under the ocean. Very few are willing to concede that Orange county or Huntington Beach have any claim to the pool. In fact only three members of the legislature—Assemblyman Kuchel, Assemblyman Watson and the writer, even contends that Orange county and the city of Huntington Beach may have a claim to the oil pool. One of the most troublesome questions to determine is the line marking the division between public property and private property. Private property extends down to the ordinary high water mark. It is easy to say "the ordinary high water mark," but very difficult to determine. Three or four surveys have been made, no two of which agree. Judge Ames of the Orange county superior court rendered a decision in his court determining ordinary high water at Huntington Beach. His decision is now being reviewed by the supreme court. In other words, there is great confusion as to the exact location of the ordinary high water mark. The writer introduced a bill, Senate Bill No. 646, in the January session of the legislature, call- The writer introduced a bill, Senate Bill No. 646, in the January session of the legislature, calling upon the Division of Finance to make a survey of the coast line from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border, for the purpose of officially determining this line. Huntington Beach and the Huntington Beach oil pool has been the cause of prolific litigation. At the present time there is being tried in Department two of the Orange county superior court, a case in which the Standard Oil company is an interested party, which is the direct outgrowth of the oil situation at Huntington Beach. One of the first major cases was a case filed in 1930 by the city of Huntnigton Beach against the Standard Oil company. The land now occupied by the city of Huntington Beach was originally a part of a Spanish grant. By various transfers, it was finally acquired by the Huntington company. The Huntington company laid out a townsite, calling it Huntington Beach and built an electric railroad from Long Beach to the new townsite. A strip along the ocean and other land, was dedicated for public use. Between the electric railway and ocean is a strip of land approximately 150 feet in width. This strip of land and that occupied by the electric railroad are owned In the heart of DOWN-TOWN San Francisco HOTEL DRAKE-WILTSHIRE STOCKTON STREET • AT UNION SQUARE Convenient to Every Point of Interest 250 newly decorated rooms with bath and shower and many with panoramic view EXCELLENT COFFEE SHOP Rates from $2.00 Single • $3.00 Double GEORGE T. THOMPSON Managing Director According to Senator Olson's report, Standard Oil wells Nos. 1, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 on the Electric strip are "conclusively shown to enter into the lands" and are drawing oil at the state pool. The admitted action of Standard Oil company well No. 1, from April 1, 1936, is 1,319 barrels of oil, and from Standard Oil company well No. 2 for some period, 1,916,358 barrels. The total value of oil and taken from state lands, according to the Olsen report, by drilling from the uplands, more than $7,000,000.00. These oil or at least most of them, are going to produce oil and gas. The time of the compromise between the city of Kington Beach and the Stand-Off company and Pacific Elec-company, some consideration given as to whether or not the Huntington Beach could enter into such a stipulation much as the land in question, according to the commission, had at one time been dedicated to the public. The defense in the case now being tried department two of the Orange County superior court, Standard Company vs. Southern California Drilling company and other attack the validity of this promise agreement. He so called leases or agreements made by the state through director of finance, to allow production from the wells and from hte upland into the pool is questioned. The De-ment of Finance was authorized to make settlement for the oil gas produced, but no statute by the Department of Finance might to make agreements for pure production." ARTISTIC HOMES--- quarterly fully illustrated booklet, which prospective Builders will be interested in studying, for the best ideas, in Homes both interior and exterior views. FREE for a 1-cent postal card. We have arranged with the publisher to send these magazines "Artistic Homes" to those who are interested in Building Home in the near future. Call your request to our nearest Yard on a penny postal card. GIBBS LUMBER Three Retail Yards ANAHEIM FULLERTON PLACENTIA California CHECK THESE FEATURES Before you buy any Refrigerator Sav-A-Step . . . Slid-A-Tray . . . 16-Point Illuminated Cold Control with Summer-Winter Economy range . . . 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His bill would open the season between November 15 and May 15 to commercial fishermen, legalizing the use of gill and trammel nets; it would also permit the sale of bass taken incidentally with shad in District 12B during the open season. Plans for Military Ball Nearly Ready Arrangements for the Ninth Annual Military Ball to be given February 23 at the Valencia Ballroom are hearing completion by the citizens committee sponsoring this colorful function under the auspices of Jack Fisher chapter, Distabled American Veterans of the World War. With the attendance of naval and army officers, the drum and bugle corps of the Anaheim and Santa Ana American Legion posts, the guard of honor furnished by the National Guard, coupled with the patriotic theme of decorations, featuring massed colors of all patriotic organizations of the county, point to a brilliant culmination of plans of the committee, Harry S. Pickard, general chairman, announced. Rights of Neutrals Abandoning Urge America must give up certain "rights" traditionally accorded neutrals if she is to stay out of European war, according to statement issued recently by Ray Newton, executive director of the Emergency Peace Campaign. "Belligerent nations engaged in a life or death struggle naturally have little time or inclination to worry about the rights of neutrals," he said. "It follows: a inevitably as night follows day that insistence on these 'rights' will plunge America directly into war." Among the rights to which Newton referred are: complete freedom of the seas, trade with belligerents, and the protection of American citizens and property in war zones. 1937 rt--Warner REFRIGERATOR FIT THE SIZE AND NEED OF EVERY FAMILY $90 TERMS TERMS TO SUIT YOUR PURSE No Down Payment 3 YEARS TO PAY NOW AND SEE IT Fox & Co. AUTOMOTIVE & ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES Anaheim California