The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-23
Contractors Expect. to- Begin Work
on the Artesian Well About
October 1,
More Money Needed to Give tho
Problem q Thorough and
Final Test.
Those Who Believe There IL y Great
Probability of striking oil or Gas
Tho Irrigation Com RESI-.

Copeland Bros, the contractors who will
bore the arteaian we'll in the valley, lasi
friday began the work of removing the APP.
parxtus from the Brooke we'll to the new
location. It is hoped to start the work by Oct
/. Before it will commence, however, 1t will
DO necessary 10 Put up buildings for winter
quarters.
The contrsot with Copeland Bros. calls 70,
a bore 2,cuG feet in depth. This will cost
$4,000. So far there has been subscribed
about sos 0 SO it will be seen that unless
more OF the stock IL subscribed for, nc
matter how favorable the outlook may be
when the 1000 feet il completed, if not
successful then, the work must cease.
In order TO make q thorough test of the
question whether there is artesian water,
oil or gas in the valley, it may be necessary
to 60 5000 feet. 1t is felt that now, before
the work starts, ia the best time to prepare
for a thorough test. The company is incor-
porated for S25 5000, in shares Of 300 each,
and not more than 25 per cent. of sub
scriptions will be called for in one month
While the subscribers 30 far are a repre-
sentative body, there are still a large
number Of property owners in Helena and
vicinity who have not taken a dollars
worth Of stock. II these latter will do
their duty the subscriptions can be easily
increased to $15, 600, and with this latter
sum the we'll can be bored 5000 feet, if
necessary. As it now stands the PROPOSE
ton il a pretty safe one. The Northern
Pacific Railroad company has given an OPP
tion for one year on nearly 1000 acres of
land in the valley, at 81 an acre, the stipu-
lation being that a we'll must be bored
within the time to a depth of 1900 feet.
The land can DO purchased at that price
when this is done, whether an artesian flow
is struck or otherwise.
But the question of whether there is an
artesian basin in the Prickly Pear is not
the only one which it ID proposed to solve
by this bore. Owners of property in the
valley have, if anything, more faith that
oil will be struck than an a~rtesian flow of
water. They base their belief on the fact
that in the immediate vicinity of the place
selected for starting, the we'll a greasy, oily
are acquainted with the conditions in the
Wyoming and Colorado oil fields. say the
formation and the appearance of standing
water in those states are just the same as
here.
There is also a probability of striking a
flowing gas we'll. When Lord Mount
Stephen was in Helena last week he was
asked it there were any arteSlan wells along
the line of the Canadian Pacific, He said
that directly north of here, in q radius of
200 miles, the company had started a num-
Der of artersian wells. In nine cases it had
struck flowing gas wells, instead of water,
and he would not be surprised if a similar
result followed in the vicinity of Helena.
With the above facts in mind, it will be
seen that it is of the utmost Importance that
the boring of the we'll about to be started
should be in the nature of a thorough test.
To do this it may be necessary to so 5000
feet and this will cost $15,o 600. OF course,
whom water, oil or gas is struck, the work
will cease, as the object of the company
will have been accomplished. If successful
at a depth of 1000 feet, no more calls on
subscribers will be made; if at 1900 the
expenditure will cease there. But if it
should be necessary to go 5000 feet the
officers of the company want to feel they
have the money subscribed, SO that the en-
terprlse can be carried on uninterruptedly,
and for this reason they ask that every one
who has the interest of the city and state
ut heart. who is able and who has not yet
taken stock, will do so. The subscription
books can be found at the Office of w. j.
Fuchs, secretary lin the rear of::the Montana
National bank.