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

past ages and the fact of oil seep-
ages i'll the many parts of the val
ley point directly to the truth that
below the valley is a vast petroleum
producing strata, only awaiting the
entrance Of the steel drill to force it.
self to the surface and become useful
to thriving industries and lighr the
homes of part of the earth's people.
Another striking indication of the
presence of vast oil strata under
the valley is the fact that natural gas
has been found escaping through
crevices in the rock formation and
it is a well known fact that wherever
one exists the other is always not far
distant.
1t has been demonstrated when
ever the rock reservoirs lie near the
surface most of the violate contents
escape into the air, leaving a heavy
or lubricating oil with little or no
gas present. Most of the samples
taken from the district are what can
be called heavy crude petroleum, and
hence the conclusion that the oil
strata will be tapped at no great
depth. Samples of the oil taken from
oil seepages in the district vary little
if any chemically. 1t S noticeable,
however. that some are very perma-
nent in the air, undergoing no change
when exposed in the flowing streams
or creeks or upon the ground. while
others soon become dark and vicii,
passing into maltha and finally into
the early stages OF asphaltum.
Chemically the oils of the district
consist of paraffine series. ranging
from marsh gas in the dissolved gas
to the solid parafline. wv lghtest
samples are yellow or amber. while
most of them are brown and dark
green and even almost black. The
dense and dark oils hold in solution,
in small quantities. solid substances,
containg but little hydrogen of high
boiling point and colorng power. The
latter is easily demonstrated by TAX
ing few drops of the dark samples
AMI adding them to any o1ear oil. 1t
will be observed to give the oil a
high auorescenCe.
Another very valuable and notice.
able feature of the oil taken from the
district is the absence of sulphur in
any of it's stages. Sulphur is an in.
jury. which makes the petroleum diff
ficult to refine and consequently les.
sens the market value of the crude
oils in which it is found.
AS stated the chemical analysis OF
the, oils taken from the district vary
little if any. That given below can
be said to be fair average of the
dark oils found in the valley of the
North Fork of the Flathead river.
N2ptna .......... per cent
GasOilne per cent
BenZlne ..... ....... Z per cent
Kerosene W.. ....... .33 1-3 per cent
Light lubricating or
valve oil ........ IT per cent
Heavy lubricating or
cylinder oil 10 per cent
NdSelne D per cent
Base or extra heavy
lubrlcatlng .... .16 1-3 per cent
Waste 49,. .......... 1-3 per cent
The oil has paraffine base equal
to five to one of asphaltum.
An oil expert of national reputation
who has thoroughly prospected the
field and who has made report 10
eastern oil investors has in his report
said:
After carefully going over the en-
tire district, there is nothing left to
determine but the quantity of the
flow and the depth at which it will
be reached. That there is oil in the
formation of the district there can
be no question. The heavy seepages
prove this. There can be no oil com
ing to the surface unless there is an
oil-bearing stratum below"
The quality of the oil is of the
highest In fact no better grade has
been produced in any field.
The oil-bearing anticline formed by
the lateral pressure of the organic
uplift. and having their strike paral
lei with the main range, traverse at
least Is and most probable many
more miles of the territory immedi
ately south of the international boun
Diary line, making the field an extern
sive one capable of an annual yield
running far into the millions of bar
rels.
The geological aspect of the field
is slightly tilted marine cretaceous
formation. interrupted on the east by
the organic uplift. Along the line
of interruption occur the seepages
the oil probably finding it's way
through the brecciated material in the
fractures until it comes in contact
with the water flow that carries it to
the surface.
There is plenty of water and fuel
A feasible grade will admit of pip
ing by gravity from the fields direct
to the railway.
Since 1888 the coal fields of the
North DIRK of the Flathead river can
be said to have attracted attention
of prospectors and parties who have
recognized the future possibilities OF
the district. From that time until the
panic Of 1898 the field was thorough
ly prospected and thousands of dol
lars invested in coal land.
In 1888 p. J. Walsh. then a resident
of Columbia Falls. but formerly Of the
Pennsylvania coal fields. while hunt
ing in the North Fork country. found
excellent coal indications. Upon his
return to Columbia Falls he inter.
ested Thomas Jefferson (Uncle jeff
Frank Emerson. Captain Laneau
George Chilson. William Daggett and