The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-12-27
The Citizens of This Enterprising
Town Enthusiastic Over the
Artesian Well.
STRONG INDICATIONS OF NATURAL GAS
Lights Excluded From the Derrick
so as to Prevent Accident to
the WOrkmen.
Stock in the Milk River Valley Look.
ing Notwithstanding Ex-
periments in Agri-
culture.

A reporter of the TRIBUNE while visit
ing Fort Benton on Wednesday acciden-
tally ran across the we'll known old-time
Montanian, Mr.. Patrick McMeal, who is
now a resident of Chinook and who has
quite extensive interests in lands and
stock in that vicinity. Mr.. McMeal is
enthusiastic over the artesian we'll which
is being bored in that town and says there
is no doubt but that an i~nexhaustible
supply of petroleum will be struck there
soon, as there is every indication of the
presence of that valuable natures illumi-
mating fluid. The we'll has now attained
a depth of about LOO feet, the water
reaching to within about 40 feet of the
surface with ten feet of genuine petro-
leum floating on top of the water, while
considerable natural gas is constantly
escaping. Gas was first struck at a
depth of about 500 feet which would
burn readily on applying a light to it.
1t now escapes in such large quantities
that all lights have to be excluded from
the covered part of the derrick, where the
drilling is being done, in order to insure
safety to the wOrkmen and to prevent the
machinery from obstruction from a pre-
mature explosion of gas. The people
there are awaiting with great expectancy
the grand realization which will make
Chinook and vicinity equal, if not SUI.
perior, to the oil regions of Pennsylvania.
A stock company at FIRST undertook to
sink the well, but after reaching a depth
of about 800 feet suspended operations
on account of want of funds. Recently
Mr.. Thos. O'Hanlon, an enterprising citi'
zen of that place, has bought the com
pany's interests and is prepared to sink
the well to a depth of $500 feet if neces-
sary. 1t is understood that James j. Hill
stands ready to back Mr.. O'Hanlon in the
undertaking.
The great desideratum was water, but
Mr.. sO'Hanlon, too, will be perfec city
satisfied with a plentiful supply of either
gas or petroleum if he can not obtain the
former. 1t has been demonstrated in
boring this we'll that flowing water can
be obtained at a depth of about $50 feet
by boring most anywhere on the level
lands In the Milk river valley proper
The Chinook we'll is on a rise of land 81
feet higher than the surrounding country
and when it attained the above mentioned
depth, a flow of good water reached to
within IS or 40 feet of the surface.
A little excitement occurred a few days
ago in Chinook by the appearance of an
attorney from Great Falls who, it was re-
ported, came there In the employ OF
some would-be lot jumpers, who were
making preparations to jump lots claimed
by the townsite company. A meeting of
the citizens was held IN regard to the
matter, which evidently quieted the
ardor Of the jumpers.
The people of Milk river valley are re-
ported to be in good spirits as stock is
looking we'll and will no doubt pull
through in good condition until spring.
Farming is only in its infancy in the
valley, and the experiments already made
in the production of the cereals and
grasses is encouraging.