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September, 1929 3

(Below) The Alameda Point Refinery's he interested others in the oil-pro-
laboratory, the scene of a twenty-five- ducing possibilities of Pico Can-
year struggle to produce a satisfactory yon, the mayor of the city being
kerosene from California crude
petroleum one of those who joined Scofield's
organization. Thus came into exis-
tence, on June 16, 1876, the Cali-
fornia Star Oil Works Company,
a truly formidable name for such
a small firm, but reflecting its
boldness. Remember, fifty-three
years ago California was a young
state with few cities, and those
still linked mainly by El Camino
Real. The coming of railroads was
at Alameda
but optimistic talk. The lofty
ranges between Pico Canyon and
the south offered great barriers
which had to be conquered by the
teams that hauled heavy equip-
ment from San Pedro, where most
of it had been delivered by sail-
ing-vessels after rounding the
Horn and. visiting San Francisco.
General Manager Scofield, filled
(Left) Truck gardens provided a ver-
dant setting for the Alameda Point with optimism, sought and found
Refinery. The refinery's office build- in the big, bearded Alex Mentry,
ing is shown at the right of carpenter of Los Angeles, a fore-
the picture
man who immediately displayed as

(Above) Pioneering pipe-line activities in the San Joaquin (Above) With the turn in the century, came many improve-
Yalley-the Towne Pump Station as it appeared when ments in the Company's properties. Here Is the first office of
under construction the Pipe Line Department in the Kern River district, as it
appeared In 1901
(Below) Much of the credit for the present greatness of our
Company is due to the S.O.E.'s in the oil fields. Here is a (Below) This is what the city of Taft looked like in 1909.
group of old-time Producing Departme'nt employees It was then called Moron and had a population of 100 I