Gilbert Armenta's Story of Oil and Gas in San Juan County, NM--Part III

Part 3

Our father who art in heaven halo be your name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it in heaven. How many oil and gas wells do you think there are up in heaven? Well here in the San Juan Basin we have about 50,000 or more so it must be a mess up there you think? About 1920 there was a great drought here in the San Juan Basin and there was no crops to sell and the livestock were poor. And then came the great depression of the 1920's and 30,s the land taxes and debts could not be met and those that could not pay lost their lands. Most of those that lost their lands were Spanish.

The white man that had money got the land by paying the taxes that were not paid. That was done because the white man ran the government here and knew what lands were up for sale for lack of none payment of taxes. From the 1920,s to the 1950,s the oil men would come and get a 5 year lease but would not drill on the land they sometimes would pay about $25 for a 5 year lease. Well for not drilling $25 was OK and everyone got used to the little money they were getting. Well what do you think happen next? 

It was not good next.       Gilbert  March 14, 2011