Clarence Barrett being duly sworn deposes and says:

I am a practical oil refiner. I was engaged in refining Pico oil at the Lyon’s Station refinery for a short time. Also had an interest in the business of refining oil at the small refinery hereinafter mentioned in Los Angeles and have now charge of the works in Ventura for making lubricating oil. For many years before coming to California I was in the business of refining oil, in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and also in Canada. I know from actual experience about the evaporation and deterioration of oil in California as compared with that of oil in Pennsylvania and the deterioration from evaporation is much greater in California than in Pennsylvania. The deterioration is very great and rapid in California. Oil produced in Ventura County after being tanked for two months deteriorates so much that it cannot be profitably refined for illuminating oil. I do not doubt the deterioration of the Pico oil would be quite as rapid, but am of the opinion that it could not be profitably worked for illuminating oil after being tanked four or five months, and could then only be used for lubricating oil.

I am now engaged in the business of making lubricating oil and know the demand for it is very limited on this coast. So great is the deterioration of California oil in this climate, and such is the state of the market, that I would not, if the oil was given me, as a free gift, furnish tankage for all the oil produced at the Pico wells if compelled to keep at tanked without use for six months, as the cost of tankage would, in my opinion, be greater than the value of the oil, at the end of the six months. The above mentioned Los Angeles Refinery was seen in the name of George A. Armstrong. It was a small affair, we did not on an average consume three barrels of crude oil per day, and our storage tank measured only eight barrels. The business was abandoned last year and the works dismantled. I know that C.A. Mentry has the reputation as a skillful and competent worker and operator of oil wells and would have confidence in his judgment as to operating wells. I am not in the employ of said company, and not interested in said suit.

Clarence Barrett

July 15, 1878