The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-12-18

In 1891 quantity of the coal of
the district was RATED down the
Flathead river to Demersville. From
that point it was taken across the
Flathead lake and freighted owe rthe
Flathead Indian reservation and then
shipped to Butte, where tests wer>
made.
Again during the summer Of 1892
a carload was RATED down the North
Fork of the Flathead river to Col
umbia Falls and shipped to Butte,
where additional tests of the coal
were made. Both tests resulted in a
decision that it was of the finest
quality, in fact superior to the Rock
Springs coal for all purposes, espec-
tally smelling. Since that time moth
ing has been done in the way of de-
velopment. The company interested.
however, are said to have purchased
considerable additional land in the
meantime.
The coal banks lie on the west side
of the river along Coal creek and op-
posite the mouth of Logging. Quartz
and Anaconda creeks, which empty
into the North Fork from the east.
The coal veins range from four to
seventeen feet in thickness.
The South Fork of the Flathead
river is another promising coal dis
trict in the county. Samples of the
coal shown are of an exceedingly high
grade, but up to the present time
nothing has been done to prospect
the field for coal in a systematic
manner.
Taken all in all the resources of
Flathead county are perhaps un-
equaled in their variety and value
by any other territory of equal area
in the United States. The vast area
contained within the county's Dor
ders is practically untouched, an1 t.
day awaits in all it's virgin fertility
the hand of the prospector. The
tests Of the oil found have proven it
to be of higher quality than even the
best that was ever found in peAnsyl-
vania or other states. Crude petrol
cum of the quality found in the
Kintla lake districts is capable Of
being converted into an indefinite var
iety of useful and valuable articles of
commerce only about 5 per cent of
the crude petroleum being wasted.
The manufacture of these various
articles is one of the features which
adds to the wealth and population of
any country in which oil of the au"'
ity found in the Kintla lake district
is secured. One feature of great ad-
vantage that is present In the Flat.
head fields is the elevation at which
the oil is found. From the line of the
Great Northern railway at Bolton on
the south of the fields the country
gradually ascends in an even manner
to the oil district. This is an import.
ant fact, because it insures an easy
and cheap method of transporting oil.
In most of the oil fields of the
United States it has been found nee
essary to invest millions of dollars in
huge pumping plants for the purpose
of transporting the oil. In the Flat
head district it will only be neces-
sary to lay pipe lines from the
points where oil is struck to the rail
road on the south, some SO miles dis
tant. The force of gravity will do
the rest
The people of the state of Montana
and particularly of Flathead county
should not lose an opportunity to
help along the development of the
district. But few people if any real
ize the great changes that will be
brought about by the discovery Of
oil in any district.
From a mountain wilderness of
stream and forest the country is sud-
denly converted into scene of life
and activity. Not only are values of
lands in the district greatly increased
but the value of all property is en-
HANGED in proportion to it's business
connection with oil districts, for the
business must have toll for it's pass.
age in every hamlet or city through
which it passes. The vast sums OF
money spent in the immediate dis
trict do not remain stationary. but
spread over the entire surrounding
country like the ripping waves from
stone cast into the center of a lake.
Not only is Flathead county rich in
deposits OF oil and coal, but other de-
posits of equal or greater value are
known to exist. Vast deposits of
fire clay of the best known quality
have been found, but owing to lack of
railroad facilities such deposits are
still unworked and unclaimed. Be-
sides the beds of fire clay known to
exist there is also extensive beds of
clay from which the finest pressed
brick can be made.
Samples of these clays have been
tested and from them have been pro-
duced pressed brick of various colors
that equal the finest pressed brick
made anywhere in the United States.
Another variety of mineral deposit
that is destined to become of great
value is the beds of mari that are
known to exist in great purity. Mari
is the substance from Which Portland
cement is made and as there are no
other beds of mari known to exist
in the west it is certain that the