New Mineral Oil Regions in the Tulare Valley.
BY WILLIAM P. BLAKE.
Recent examinations of prospecting parties, have added largely to the well-known oil-bearing portions of the State. A district some sixty miles in length, on the inner slopes of the Coast mountains, towards the Tulare Valley, has been found to abound in oil springs, or indications of oil. Oil exudes from the surface in large quantities, and collects rapidly in small pits sunk by prospectors. The soil about these pits is very black and saturated with oil. The gases escaping from this soil are inflammable, and many of the prospectors have been startled to see flames spreading over the ground, beyond their camp fires. In digging pits about these springs, large quantities of bones of various kinds have been thrown out, and all are wonderfully well preserved. These bones appear chiefly those of the horse, deer, and elk, though there are many others which I have not been able to recognize. The teeth of the horse, sent to me, are of unusual size, and induce the question, whether they are not of greater antiquity than the present race of horses. I am assured that the variety of bones and teeth of many kinds is very great.
The oil found gives an excellent article for lubricating purposes, and must be very similar to the oil found near Zanesville, Ohio, according to the descriptions given of the latter.