Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-10

4fEslNNFH asH4lhAE HtErst
President Blum ana the others It haa
been my pleasure to know. I there
fore express full confidence in the
management behind this enterprise
and believe they want to give every
man his due share OF any profits that
may accrue;
Seven years ago when"I came here,
IL any n would have had the as:
surance to have said Minot would
producing oil field, he would have
been considered a At subject for resi-
dence at jamestown. Today a SINH
lar statement would be met in many
quarters with the reply, II believe 1t
is not only possible but within the
range of reasonable probabilities"
and no aspersions would be cast ~on
his sanity.
The management has always been
open and above board and no ex-
travagant claims have been made TO
induce people to depart with their
money by promising enormous re-
turns, but the facts have been clearly
stated, and we have all been assured
it is a chance we are taking. That
nature is tickle. and while they be-
lieved there is oil in the earth in this
section. no guarantee has been given
that the we'll now being bored will
strike it. Yet. we all believe the
signs are sufficiently strong to make
it appear reasonable that we will
find oil in at least considerable guam
titles. and if this is done, there is no
doubt in my mind that other wells
will be sunk and that some of them
will be profitable producers.
This state needs development more
thar anything else-there are bound
less ~undeveloped yet to
come to light. I cast my mite into
the Des Laos Western Oil Co., for two
reasons-that l. might realize good
results from the investment. and that
I might be one of the pioneers in the
development of the latent sources that
the discovery of oil will bring. l
wanted to have a part in
Natures secrets, and felt it was my
duty to cast my lot with this body of
pioneers in the development of this
section. At the time 1 Joined the
pioneer force l could not afford it.
n did not take the sound advice
not to plunge unless I could afford 1t,
but the appeal was too strong and my
desire to have a part in its posslblll-
ties too great to resist. and 1 haVe
never regretted the step taken more
than two years ago.
IdNS OCSII lhAOllllCu NhoI IN
deeper the we'll is sunk the stronger
the indications. and if oil is found in
paying quantities 1 will not venture
Ito even make a. wild guess at growth
in numbers of people that will be
seen coming in from all sections and
the wealth that will accrue.
In conclusion, 1 would say, let us
stand behind the guns-the present
management. and give them our
every support, and show them the
continued confidence we have in the
past, n they in turn will respond
by the m fair and honorable deal
ing they nave exhibited in h past.
I trust that when the next stock
holders meeting is called, it will be
after the reservoir has been tapped
and our time will be taken up in fig
uring the size Of our dividends and
how much Uncle Sam will exact as
income tax
Officers and Stockholders Speak.
AT the conclusion Of Mr.. Longs re-
marks, members of the company and
several stockholders spoke. H. S.
Johnson. secretary inc general man
ager, referred to the financial end OF
the proposition and wildly pictured
the many obstacles that had been en-
countered in bringing the financial
affairs up to the present flattering
condition. He depicted the early
struggles in the dark days of the
company's affairs when the financial
conditions were at a low ebb and the
support Of the public. which in many
instances had little faith in the prop
o%sition, was quite lukewarm. 1t re-