The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-25
NEW OIL FIELDS.
Cottonwood Creek, Carbon County,
Shows Good Prospects.

Cottonwood Creek, Carbon County,
Shows Good Prospects.
Bowler, Oct. 24.-There has been
considerable movement of stock over
the new Toluca-Cody branch Of the
Burlington Of late. Among other ship
ments made last week was a train Of
Is double deckers, loaded with sheep
consigned by Wyoming parties to the
eastern market.
G. Bennett, the Sage creek flock
master, accompanied by Mrs. Bennett,
was in Billings last week, purchas-
ing supplies fer the winter. Mr.. Ben
nett sold about 1000 head of yearlings
this fall, but keeps his original band
intact.
After December 1 the first drive on
the Bridger-Basin stage line will be
lengthenedto Frannie, Wyo., instead of
a stop being made at Kings road
lance Of about 40 miles. 1t is said
that the stage line will continue to
run indefinitely, in spite Of the new
railroad, carrying mail and passen-
gers from Bridger to the Basin coun-
try.
j. w. Gardner, who formerly con
Quoted a general store at Laurel, but
who for the past year has been run
ming a similar establishment at Bow
Ter, is putting up a new store build
ing near the To~luca-Cody branch, and
is also building a telephone line from
Bridger to that point. Bowler is at
present without a. railroad station
house, but those who claim to be in
touch with the powers that be, say
that a new depot is soon to be built
here. The little two by four station
that was first built, was one day load
ed on a fiat car and taken down the
country.
Mrs. 0. S. Erickson of Bowler, will
spend the winter in Billings that her
children, Arthur and Ella, may attend
school. In the meantime Mr.. Erickson
who, by the way, formerly held down
a c1erkship at Yegen Bros, will look
after the ranch. Will Bowler and
Paul Lewis, also of Bowler, will attend
school at Billings this winter and will
make their home with the Ericksons.
Sage Creek valley stock men held a
meeting recently to consult over the
advisability Of forming an association.
The main object of this association
would be to protect the ranch owners
alcrg the valley from the encroach-
ments of "1oaters." These ranchmen
owning places along the creek, natur-
ally think they have some rights as to
range, etc., that should be respected
and they believe that by allying them
selves in an association they can bet
ter protect themselves. Another meet
ing is to held in the near future.
The undesirable element that al
ways follows up the line of a new
railroad, has been making no little
trouble for the sheepmen along the
line of the new Cody branch, commit
ting numerous thefts from well pro-
visioned camps. -- !,
Cottonwood creek, a dry creek,
tributary to Clarke's Fork a few miles
above Bridger, has been pretty much
all taken up this fall by Gebo parties,
who believe they have struck coal oil
there and already many of those who
nave taken oil claims have had
dreams in which automobiles, negro
servants and wine cellars figured
largely. Chemists who have examined
samples of the oil found there, have,
1t is said, pronounced it a very good
grade of petroleum. Those interested
are therefore quite elated and will
start operations this winter toward
development.
The Graham ranch on Piney creek,
midway between Bowler and Frannie,
Wyo, together with some so head Of
cattle and other stock. has been sold
to a st. Louis man, for a considera-
ton of $4,80O, it is said.
Prisoner Acted As Ex%ecutioner.