The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-23
WINNIPEG'S FOURTH KINTLA OIL FIELDS
Canadian Pacific Will Build In if It
Makes Good It's Claim to
Lands.
Survey Just Completed Thru the Re
gion to Columbia Falls in
State of Montana.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
kalispell, Mont, June 23.-Northern
Montana Is watching with interest the
fight that is going on between the Cana
dian Pacific railroad and the government
of British Columbia for the possession Of
the land on the Canadian side Of the Kint-
la lake oil district, which lies in the north
ern part Of Flathead county and In south
ern British Columbia.
The government sought to revoke the
crown grant which transferred the lands
to the Columbia & Western railway, a
branch Of the Canadian Pacific.
This resulted In the resignation of the
ministry and the dissolution Of parlia-
ment, while an appeal to the country was
prevented only by the institution of
charges against the government. The evil
dence before parliament seems to have
been Of a very contradictory character.
The result Of the investigation went to
show that the company had earned the
lands and was entitled to patents, but
was tricked by the premier into returning
demonstrated that the lands are valuable
for the oil and coal they contain. and
others want them, the company might not
recover them.
The difference Is expected to be adjus-
ted early in September If the company
acquires possession of the land, it is eX-
pected that active development operations
structed from the Crows Nest pass.
Should the crown grants be cancelled pri-
vate parties will endeavor to develop the
properties upon large scale. The oil
fields have been exported and their value
demonstrated
known as the Kintla Lake oil district, is
from seven to- ten miles In width and
| something over twenty-five miles in
| length 1t is bounded on the north and
east by the high and precipitous noun
| tains Of the main range of the Rockies,
and on the west and south by the equally
heavy Whitefish range, a spur Of the
Rockies. ..
In the ranges bordering the northern
part of the valley are the great Crow 8
| Nest coal fields, that have been opened
and added to the fuel producing commu-
mites during the past two or three years.
These coal measures extend around to the
westward portion Of the field and are EN-
braced in some of the lands over which
the contest is now being waged.
The southern part Of the oil field ex-
! tends into the North Fork coal fields,
which, while they are not producing,
| owing to the absence Of transporta ton IA
cilities, have been sufficiently developed
| to demonstrate the existence of a great
| coal measure that extends over miles OF
| country. ... % .
The surface Of the valley is slightly un-
dulating, the formation being undisturbed
and is cut from northwest to southeast by
the north fork Of the Flathead river, with
small tributaries coming in from either
side. 1t Is covered with timber, except
where broken by small parks.
There is good wagon road from Bolton
Mont, on the Great Northern railroad
the distance from the latter point to the
center of the oil field being about thirty
five miles. This road has been constructed
| L 4.
eral interests owning land in the district
! The Canadian Pacific has just completed
a survey of a railway line from the neigh
| borhood Of the Crows Nest On the main
line south thru the oil fields to Columbia
Falls, Mont, finding a path thru the MAR
range along Elk river and securing g
grade that runs below 2 per cent.
The altitude of the valley above the rail.
way to the south, and the topography o.
the intervening country, makes the con
veyance of oil from the wells to the rail
way by pipe line feasible and economical