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office show that the land in which the wells are located, was patented April 23, 1891, and July 10, 1894. It is recommended that the supended lands be now relieved. The records of this office do not disclose any reason for the further suspension of the lands in question and townships 22 S., ranges 15 and 16 E., M. D. M., are hereby relieved from suspension. Make the proper notations upon your records.

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By telegram "P" of February 28, 1900,1 townships 28 S., ranges 19 and 20 E., M. D. M., were suspended upon the allegation that same contained valuable deposits of mineral oil. Said lands have recently been examined by a special agent of this office who recommends that the order of suspension be recalled, reporting that, so far as he has been able to ascertain, no oil or other mineral has ever been discovered on any of the lands and that no attempt at mineral development is being made. His statements are corroborated by the affidavit of a citizen of Kern County who states that he is well acquainted with the lands in question and that same are chiefly valuable for agricultural and grazing purposes, there being no oil or other mineral thereon, to his knowledge. No reason appearing on the records of this office for the further suspension of said lands, I concur in the agent's recommendation and said townships 28 S., ranges 19 and 20 E., M. D. M., are hereby relieved from suspension. Make the proper notations upon your records.

Very respectfully,

J. H. FIMPLE Assistant Commissioner.

RESTORATION OF JANUARY 7, 1904.

JANUARY 7, 1904.

REGISTER ANd Receiver,

San Francisco, California.

SIRS:

By telegram "P" of February 28, 1901,2 T. 28 S., R. 18 E., M. D. M. was suspended from disposition under the agricultural land laws upon allegations that the same contained valuable deposits of mineral oil. The lands in said township have been examined by a special agent of this office who now reports that, so far as he has been able to ascertain, no oil or other mineral has ever been discovered in said township, and that at the present time no attempt at mineral development is being made. The agent further states that he questioned a number of persons who reside in the vicinty and failed to find any facts which would indicate that said lands have any value for oil or minerals. The report is accompanied by an affidavit made by a resident of Kern County who states that he is well acquainted with the lands in question and that the same are chiefly valuable for agricultural and grazing purposes, no discovery of oil or other mineral having ever been made thereon to his knowledge. No reason appearing upon the records of this office for the further suspension of said lands, I concur in

1 See p. 61.

This should have been February 26, 1900. (See p. 61.) See also telegram to Register and Receiver, San Francisco, February 28, 1900, (p. 62).

the recommendation of the special agent to the effect that the order of suspension be recalled.

Said Township 28 S., R. 18 East is accordingly hereby relieved from suspension. Make the proper notations upon your records.

Very respectfully,

J. H. FIMPLE Assistant Commissioner.

RESTORATION OF JANUARY 13, 1904.

JANUARY 13, 1904.

REGISTER AND RECEIVER,

Visalia, California.

SIRS:

By telegram "P" of February 28, 1900,1 T. 23 S., R. 16 and 17 E., M. D. M., were suspended from disposition under the agricultural land laws on account of their alleged mineral (oil) character. A special agent of this office has recently examined the lands therein and reports that same are rough and mountainous and have for many years been used principally for the grazing of cattle and sheep; that on Sec. 18, T. 23 S., R. 17 E., he found "an oil or tar spring" and that near this spring two wells have been bored for oil in one of which he was informed that some oil had been found but not in paying quantities. That in T. 23 S., R. 16 E., four wells were bored for oil, about three years ago, which were practically failures and that since that time no attempt has been made to develop oil on any portion of the lands in townships referred to so far as he was able to ascertain. He recommends that the lands be relieved from further suspension. It would not appear from statements contained in said report that sufficient indications of mineral exist in said townships to justify a further suspension thereof and no objection appearing thereto upon the records of this office, T. 23 S., R. 16 and 17 E., M. D. M., are hereby relieved from said suspension. Make the proper notations upon your records and notify the parties. Very respectfully,

J. H. FIMPLE Assistant Commissioner.

RESTORATION OF JANUARY 14, 1904.

JANUARY 14, 1904.

REGISTER AND RECEIVER,

Marysville, California.

SIRS:

By letter "N" of September 5, 1900, certain townships in your district, among them townships 18 N., R. 5 W., and 17 and 21 N., R. 6 W., M. D. M., were suspended from disposition under the agricultural land laws on account of their alleged mineral (oil) character. Said action appears to have been based in part upon a petition filed by Ben F. Geis of Willows, California, and others, through Hon. V. H. Metcalf, House of Representatives, in which petition it was stated that townships 18 and 19, 20 and 21 N., R. 6 W., M. D. M., are in a locality where a number of oil locations had been made and petroleum discovered. It was stated in the affidavit accompanying said petition that a corporation had been formed for the development of the alleged oil deposits and that it was the intention of persons connected therewith to proceed as rapidly as possible to thoroughly investigate and explore the entire tract and it was asked that the land be withdrawn and suspended from entry until a complete invesSee p. 63.

1 See p. 61.

tigation and thorough development could be had. A special agent of this office has recently made a personal examination of townships 18 N., R. 5 W., and 17 N., R. 6 W., M. D. M., and reports that although many mineral locations were made upon lands in said locality, apparently for speculative purposes there does not appear to have been any attempt to drill for or discover oil either upon the lands in said township or in the immediate vicinity thereof. He states that he has not examined T. 21 N., R. 6 W. recently but has examined the territory upon three different occasions during the past three years, has also made diligent inquiry of every person to whom he was recommended as having knowledge of conditions in the locality and so far as he could learn there has been no mineral discovery in the township. A well has been drilled to the depth of 2500 feet in the township immediately south but no oil in paying quantities has been discovered. He expresses the opinion that in view of the fact that no development work has been done or mineral discovered upon the three townships last described, although same have been suspended for more than three years, that the lands therein should be opened for entry under the agricultural land laws. In letter dated August 26, 1903, you stated that in the territory withdrawn by letter of September 5, 1900, there has not been to your knowledge any discovery of oil in paying quantities and at present no prospecting is being done for the purpose of developing oil therein; that frequently inquiry is made at your office by citizens who desire to make homestead entries on the land but who are prevented from so doing by the suspension, and express the opinion that the lands in question have no mineral value but are valuable only for agricultural and grazing purposes. The statement made in the special agent's report are not controverted by anything of record in this office and it would appear that during the period which has elapsed since said suspension, as above stated, more than three years, the petitioners hereinbefore named, and any other persons interested in the mineral development of the lands have had ample opportunity to explore and develop same. In view of this fact, and of the fact that it appears from the special agent's report that no oil has been discovered upon any of the lands in question, it is believed that no good reason exists for the further suspension of the lands in question.

If locations and discoveries of mineral have been made upon any of the tracts in question, the locators may protect their interests in the premises, should any of the tracts be entered under the agricultural laws, by filing in the local land office their duly corroborated protests. Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, townships 18 N., R. 5 W., and 17 and 21 N., ranges 6 W., M. D. M., are hereby relieved from suspension. Make the proper notation upon your records.

Your are also directed to notify Mr. Ben F. Geis, Willows, California, hereof.

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The Department is in receipt of your office letter (N) of the 6th instant, wherein it is recommended that the indefinite continuance, by departmental direction of November 28, 1903, of the definite suspension ordered in paragraphs numbered one and two of departmental letter of March 16, 1903 (32 L. D., 48), respecting the lands

1 See p. 81.

therein described, situate in the Evanston, Wyoming, land district, be determined, for the reason that your

office has made a further examination into the existing conditions and has reached the conclusion that no necessity now exists for the continuance of the withdrawal from disposition of the lands described.

In accordance with the recommendation contained in the aforesaid letter of your office, the said departmental order of indefinite continuance of the suspension is hereby revoked.

Very respectfully,

E. A. HITCHCOCK

Secretary.

[Notification to Register and Receiver, Evanston, January 27, 1904.]

RESTORATION OF FEBRUARY 10, 1904.

FEBRUARY 10, 1904.

REGISTER And Receiver,

Marysville, California.

SIRS:

By letter "N" of this office dated September 5, 1900' an umber of townships in your district were suspended from disposition under the agricultural land laws upon allegations that they contained deposits of mineral (oil). Said action appears to have been based in part upon a petition filed by Ben. F. Geis of Willows, California, and others through Hon. V. H. Metcalf, House of Representatives, in which petition it was stated that townships 18, 19, 20, and 21, N. R. 6 W. M. D. M. are in a locality where a number of oil locations had been made and petroleum discovered. It was stated in the affidavit accompanying said petition that a corporation had been formed for the development of the alleged oil deposits and that it was the intention of the parties connected therewith to proceed as rapidly as possible to thoroughly investigate and explore the entire tract and it was requested that the lands be withdrawn and suspended from entry until a complete investigation and thorough development could be had. January 14, 1904, Twps. 18 N. R. 5 W and 17, and 21 N. R 6 W were upon recommendation of a Special Agent of this office relieved from suspension.

I am now in receipt of a further report from the Special Agent to the effect that he has made three separate trips into the suspended territory and from personal knowledge gained from examinations of the land and from diligent inquiry, states that active development work for oil is being prosecuted in only four places in the vicinity of the suspended territory; viz.

1. By Chehalis Oil and Mg. Co. Sec 13, Twp. 14 N. R., 6 W. (not in suspended territory) where considerable natural gas has been developed and good prospects for oil

appear.

2. By Bear Creek Oil Co. on patented land in Sec. 10 Twp. 14 N. R 5 W.

3. By Williams Oil Co. on patented land in Secs 16 and 18, Twp 15, N. R 4 W: claimed to have discovered a good grade of oil.

4. By Washington and California Oil Co. near town of Fruito in Twp. 20 N. R 5 W., well drilled 2500 feet deep without striking oil, but still hopeful and endeavoring to raise funds to continue work.

As a result of his investigation the Agent recommends that the W} Sec. 6. Wł Sec 7 and NW Sec. 19, Twp. 14, N. R 5 W, Secs. 6 and 7 Twp. 15, N. R 4 W and all of Twp. 20 N. R 5 W remain suspended, in order that those who are in good faith

1 See p. 63.

endeavoring to develop oil deposits upon the land and in the immediate vicinity may be encouraged and protected. The remaining land suspended by order of September 5 1900 should in his opinion be relieved.

In letter dated August 26, 1903, you stated that frequently inquiry is made at your office by citizens who desire to make homestead entries upon the lands, but who are prevented from so doing by the suspension, and in your opinion the lands in question have no mineral value but are chiefly valuable for agricultural and grazing purposes. The statements made in the Special Agent's report are not controverted by anything of record in this office and it would appear that during the period which has elapsed since said suspension petitioners herebefore named and any other persons interested in the mineral development of the lands have had ample opportunity to explore and develop same. In view of the foregoing it is believed that the public interest will be best subserved by a removal of the order of suspension from the following lands and said order of Sept. 5, 1900 is hereby revoked to that extent.

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Sec. 19.

All of Twp. 14 N. R 5 W. M. D. M. except W Sec. 6, W Sec. 7 and NW

All of Twp. 15, N. R 4 W. M. D. M. except Sections 6 and 7.

If locations and discoveries of mineral have been made upon any of the lands so relieved from suspension parties interested may, should same be applied for under the agricultural land laws, file in your office their duly corroborated affidavits of protest. You will notify Mr. Ben F. Geis, Willows, California thereof.

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By telegrams "P" of February 21 1 and 28,1 1900, Townships 30 S., Range 23 E. and 32 S., 25 E., M. D. M. were suspended from disposition under the agricultural land laws upon allegations that same contained deposits of mineral (oil).

I am now in receipt of a report from a Special Agent of this office who has examined the SW1, Sec. 1, Sec. 15, NE and St, Sec. 17, NE and S, Sec. 19; Sections 21, 23, 25, 27, 33, 35, Tp. 30 S., R. 23 E., SE, Sec. 23, SW, Sec. 25 and the SW, Sec. 27, Tp. 32 S., R. 25 E., M. D. M., and who states that a careful examination thereof failed to disclose any oil seepages, oil springs, surface or other indications of oil or minerals of any kind that would tend to warrant the lands being classed as mineral. He recommends that same be relieved from suspension. The statements made in the Special Agent's report are not controverted by the records of this office and it would appear that during the period of nearly four years which has elapsed since said suspension, any persons interested in the mineral development of the lands have had ample opportunity to explore and develop the same.

1 See p. 61.

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