The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-07-30
klNTLA LAKE OIL PROSPECTS.
Experts Find Best Surface Indications
Of Superior Quality.

| Experts Find Best surface indications
Of Superior Quality.
Development of the lands in the
northern part of this county, forty
miles north of Kalispell, for oil, prom
Uses soon to assume large proportions.
San Francisco, Seattle, Spokane, Hell.
| ena and Illinois men are interested in
these lands. Reports of experts who
recently visited that section of the
state predict great yield of the best
quality of oil, with comparatively
small development.
Work is being pushed on a wagon
road from Bolton, on the main line of
the Great Northern railway, to the oil
fields. This road will run to the foot
of Kintla lake, which is in the heart
of the oil district, and from which the
section takes it's name.
At the present rate Of progress the
wagon road will be completed about
the end of August. From the oil fields
to the railroad will be down grade
Operations will be facilitated by this,
and those interested hope to do some
development work this season.
The country in the vicinity of the oil
fields is heavily timbered. This is
suitable for construction work, as we'll
as fuel, and can be secured at low
cost. There is also plenty of water,
reported to be of the best quality.
| Experts from California and other
points, who have recently visited these
fields, report favorably upon them.
They have backed their statements
by securing possession of thousands
of acres for their clients and them
selves. Upon their reports active and
general development work should be-
gin at once.
There can be no doubt of the pres
ence of great body Of OIL" said
California expert who recently in
spected the Montana fields.
"The evidences are that .gushers
will be secured at moderate depth.
Oil coming from the springs is the
finest grade.
North of the district and closing
the broad Flathead valley are the
mountains and the great Crows Nest
coal fields, producing anthracite, BIZ
luminous and coking Goals, all of
which lie in extensive measures COW
ering the head of the valley.
South of this explored coal field
the Flathead valley extends southwark
between two mountain ranges, the
summit range of the rockies skirting
the oil field on the east. The valley
is watered by river and stream. The
surrounding mountains are rugged
and precipitous and are timbered up
to timber line. The valley is but
slightly rolling, interspersed with
parks and groves, and the surface is
'hummocky.'
There are many oil springs
throughout the district and there are
great number of seepages. In many
places where there are no springs or
visible seepages, the odor of the pc
troleum with which the surface soil is
impregnated is so strong that a tent
remaining closed during the day be-
comes so heavy with the fumes that it
/ &c IN 3&o ho
fore it can be occupied during the
night.
"Asphaltum, berea, or oil float, is
abundant on the surface throughout
the district. The samples of oil ex-
hibited are taken from the springs of
the district, and they will speak for
themselves.
There are seepages of oil from the
rock of the mountains fully 1000 feet
above the level of the valley The oil
secured here is as clear and colOrless
as water, the presumption being that,
as the petroleum is forced through
the close pores of the mountain rock
to SO great height, the heavier oils
are deposited, and the crude oil is real
ly refined by this process of filtra-
ton.
$50, from just the surface, there are
the oil springs, the gas, the abundant
asphaltum, the seepages, the demon.
stration of pressure as evidenced by
the forcing of the oil through the high
and close mountain rocks that border
the oil field, as evidences of the body
of oil below the surface of the field,
lying confined in the cretacious de-
posits.
1.-THE valley covering the oil field is
level and unbroken, the sand rock out
crop, which is plainly in evidence in
many places, showing that it is very
nearly horizontal with but the slight
est dip to the south. This positively
shows and proves that there has been