The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-12-21
AS seen BY
AN EXPERT.
The Kintla Fields Described in
the Mining Journal
OIL FIELDS ABOUND
The Seepages Were Discovered Many Years
Ago by Trappers.- of
Petroleum Is Discerned.
OIL FIELDS ABOUND

kintla lake oil region is taken from
the current issue of the New York
Engineering and Mining Journal, and
is from the pen of Bailey Willis, the
well known geological expert, who
was in that locality the past sum-
mcr:
Speaking of the discovery and ex-
istence of oil seepage in the Rocky
mountain region upon both sides of
the international line, Mr.. Willis
says:
The occurrence of mineral oils as
a seepage upon the waters of springs
and streams in the vicinity of the
49th parallel in the main range of the
Rocky mountains has long been
known. They are sufficiently conspic-
uous to have attracted the attention
of the Indians. They were probably
found by trappers of the Northwest
Fur company. 1S06-1S1S, and their ex-
istence has been current information
to all who later traversed that re-
mote region down to the present time
Nevertheless, the first account of
them which the writer has discovered
is contained in the report of the di
rector of the Canadian survey, Dr.
Selwyn, for 1891. During the summer
of that year DR.. Selwyn visited sew
eral localities on the Canadian side
of the line which he describes as fol-
lows:
Lo11 4, .r
rising in lake on the international
boundary near longitude la degrees
west. flowing northeasterly for about
seven miles and thence south by east
into upper Waterton lake. After stat
ing that he assembled this stream
about a mile and a half above it's
sharp turn toward the south DR.. Sell
wynn says: While still in the saddle
and on the trail eight or nine feet
above the brook, l noticed a powerful
odor of petroleum. Descending to the
edge of the water and stirring the
stones and gravel in the bed of the
stream, considerable quantities of oil
at once rose to the surface and f1oated
away. Crossing to the right bank
it was again seen coming out of the
bank some inches above the then level
of the stream. Here. skimming it
off the surface of a shallow pool, a
wine bottle full was soon collected.
After crossing the divide of the
Rocky mountains and camping on
Akamina brook. DR.. Selwyn again
states: About four miles north OF
the 49th parallel. the trail came down
to the level of the brook. and here
on the edge of the beaver dam pool
We're ledgs of hard dark blue shale
dipping east so degrees north II de-
grees. Lifting layers of this at and
below the water. a quantity of dark
green circular patches of oil rose to
the surface, and precisely similar re-
suit followed by stirring up the mud
in the bottom of Inc pool. This place
is about fifteen miles in a direct line
west 10 degrees south from the &C.
currence on cameron Falls creek. the
main watershed of the Rocky noun
tains and Mountains Kirby, Spence
and lalrell intervening. Oil is said
by Indians who frequent this region
to occur at other points in the Aka
nina valley. both above and below
that recorded. The Akamina joins the
Flathead in Montana about four miles
south of the international boundary
line. The beaver dam oil is of a dark
greensh black and does not appar-
emily differ much from that of Cam.
eron Falls creek.
Sage creek is a stream entering
the Flathead short distance north
of the 49th parallel. and upon it DR..
Selwyn observed an occurrence of
oil which he describes as follows
| At about a mile and half higher up
Q0l-2 miles above it's mouth) the
creek leaves the high mountains
which border it's upper course in a
northeasterly direction up to the
main watershed some fourteen miles
distant. and here at the edge of the
water on the left bank l found hard
dark f1inty shales like those at the
beaver dam pool on the Akamina dip
ping south 25 degrees, 30 degrees
west. 25 degrees. Directly the layers
of this rock are raised. the oil rises
and spreads over the surface of the
water in such abundance lat shor!
time suf.ices with the aid of tin
cup to collect bottle full. Here
also. a considerable quantity OF gas
escapes from the cracks and joints in
the rock and ignites freely on The ar,
nlication of match. Less than a
half mile higher up on the right bank
and on the opposite or west side OF
the valley oil was again found issu
ing from the base of bank of drift
which has here filled the valley and
caused; the stream to make sharp
bend eastward to the base of the op-
aasite mountain. No rock was ey-
nosed here. but every one in the bed
ef The creek. especially on being bro
ken or rubbed. gave out siren odor
= - ~"trelau,, The oil collected here