The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-25
Petroleum of High Grade.

Il
county. ..,-
Petroleum of High Grade.
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and
Indiana produce practically all Of the
high-grade petroleum refined in this coun-
try and, in spite Of millions spent in the
those states, the supply has gradually
diminished until the visible supply above
ground, which in 1891 was 9O,O0O,WO bar
rels, is now less than 100000 barrels,
rels monthly, so that the market price
of the crude product is constantly rising.
In this condition Of affairs it is certain
that as soon as Eastern oil men learn
definitely-What at first they will be slow
to believe-that there is a genuine high
grade petroleum field in Montana, there
will be rush Of capital and develop
mentz that will add. millions to the states
output of wealth. .
There are in Flathead valley at least
$1,000 to $1,000 an acre if the field were
located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or
Ohio, and this land will command just
such prices just as soon as the Eastern
discoveries in the Kintia district. 1t
is we'll within the bounds Of moderation
to say that the Flathead oil field lis
capable, under development, of an an
nual output of S5O,000,0O0 worth of pc
troleum., Abundant fuel, plenty OF wa
ter, an easy. grade over (which to pipe
to the railroad and a formation in which
fast and; cheap drilling can be done, will
inexpensive,
. Drill VIII Tell the story.
An analysis Of the seepags oils shows
Of the Fighter oils, Is per cent .lubricat1ng
oil and the remainder very heavy oil.
That there is. oil in the Kintla district
seems absolutely certain, but only the
iS in ma in O.
quantities. On the east side of the main
range of the Rockies and on the Canadi-
an side Of the border a man named AL
bridge and his son have for several years
dipped the petroleum from springs and,
after. putting it through crude pro-
cess of refining. have sold it in Alberta.
This oil, however, is purely a fuel oil
and and has has not the valuable properties Of
the kintla product. -.,
The seepage of the oils takes place along
the base and in the valley OF the main
divide. The formation is badly broken,
since the. main range is an uplift. But
underlying the floor Of the valley is a
formation consisting of shales and sand
stone, .dipping~ slightly to the north and
east, but seemingly almost hortzontaI
and here the experts think the drill
should show Oil at a depth of from $500
to 1000 feet. ~s:.'. ~. -...-.. ~. .,...
Will Start This Week.
If it has not already CONNIE nced, drill
III oAi> lie DuttS .So1llpdly 5. properly
will start this week. This company has
built a wagon road to Kintla lake from
Bolton, on the Great Northern, and a
small sawmili, outfit, a drill, and other
necessary machinery, were taken in more
than a month ago. After the derrick had
been erected, however, it was decided
that the boiler was not powerful enou 9Th
to handle the drill at any great depth.
1t was expected that this would result
in long delay, but the company was
fortunate enough to find a suitable Boiler
in tNaispell, and this was taken in last
week The services of an experienced
cured, and, barring accidents, this COM
pany will know if their property is worth
anything by next spring
A strong company Of local business
men has been organized for the purpose
of pushing development work and will
send in a drilling outfit as soon as the
snow is deep enough for shedding. 41r.
Francis has organized a company in
Helena, and this corporation will also
send in men and machinery for develop
ment work this winter Almost eyerv
man in Kaispell who could raise the
necessary funds has one or more claims
in the oil region, and if the confident
expectations Of those who are willing to
risk, their capital on their Judgment are
realized in any ordinary degree, Kalispell
is likely to be second only to Butte in a
year from now, in the matter Of indi-
vidual wealth, so far as Montana is CON
cerned
The'Kintla country is one of great seem
! ic beauty, many of those who have seen
IT asserting that it surpasses even the
far-famed Lake Mcdonald region in
that respect. -J-a 's5