The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-12-10

reason Of development. this policy
would be disastrous.
1T has been suggested that the
Northern Pacific has been holding
their land because they desire either to
develop the oil land themselves, ~ q
railroad corporation, or through some
subsidiary company. The Sentinel
would &c pleased to see the Northern
Pacific organize an honest to Cod de-
velopment. and not sit back and wait
for somebody else to pour the money
into its treasury.
THE Northern Pacific is in a differ
ent position from the Great Northern
and the Milwaukee. James j. Hill. the
pioneer and master railroad mind Of
America, built the Great Northern
through a wilderness without any gov
ernment aid, and. as we recall, was
the only railroad manager in Montana
which in the panic Of '93 did not go
into the hands Of the receiver. The
Milwaukee built in later years, and Of
course, reaped portion Of the benefit
OF the development brought into Mon
tana by the pioneer railroads. The
Northern Pacific ia not in the position,
then, of other railroads, because they
materially assisted in the building of
the line across this country The Sen
tinel takes the view that the Northern
Pacific Railway company. having ac-
cepted the terms of the grant with
the object of promoting the public in
terest and welfare have no right
either to refuse TO develop the oil re-
sources held by them. or adopt the
policy of refusing to permit others to
do SO.
ut has been suggested that perhaps
MIR. Elliott, chairman of the board of
trustees. Is personally responsible fo~
the fail ure OF the adoption of IA policy
In relation to their oil lands. This the
Sentinel not not believe. for the rea-
son that men of the calibre Of Howard
Elliott, who have succeeded so wonder>
fully from the time he first worked for
the burlington down along the Mis-
sisslppi to the present time. can not be
guilty OF policy of neglect upon a
matter OF such vital Importance to his
company as we'll as to the people Of
this great commc nwealth.
Since 1910 when the government gee
ologist made his report, not one COM
Qetent geologist has ever made an ad-
verse report on the Baker anticllne.
The past FIVE years, since natural gas
was brought in on the Dad Monroe
place. a score Of prominent geoloyis,s,
including the Northern Pacifc's own
empioye, have examined this field. In
that same period Of time, and within
the last week. the writer has discussed
with men at the head of oil companies.
nf vii l,;c
Without exception, each and all have
stated that the Northern tactic has de-
clined to give leases to them, and that
the area obtainable for leasing pur-
poses other than the Northern Pacific
lands are too limited in area to justify
the expenditure of money necessary.
Ihe Sent'nei is aware that applications
nave been made by companies which
are willing to take from the Northern
Pacific leases for drilling. presenting
as favorable terms as are given any
where in the northwestern oil fields
All OF these companies have been eva
siNelS denied leases upon the pretext
that Il definite policy has not been de-
termined upon. The Northern Pacific
Railway company can not plead that
they are ignorant Of the conditions or
that their land department has net
had applications made for leases upon
land in this particular territory. 4
We do not know who is to blame
tor the failure to definea policy. We
have been told by employees Ct the
Northern Pacific that 1t Is the chair
man OF the board of trustees but know
ing how prone the einploye is to shift
the responsibility, we have hesitated to
accept the explanation offered. BE the
blame where it may, it neither miti-
gates or EXCUSES the failure or neglect
to define policy.
The railroads Of Montana have been
treated well by the people. and but
little adverse legislation has ever been
introduced in the legislatuer, and none
ever passed that has injured them.
with such record the people cf Mon
tana have right..to ask that the
Northern Pacific shall not be the in
strument of withholding settlement and
development by it's policy of delay il.
defining its attitude regarding it's oil
lands.
For this reason the Sentinel has
seen fit to takes up this subject with
the hope that the Northern Pacific
management. including it's chairman of
Its board of trustees, will definitely
outline policy, calculated to aid in
the development Of natural resources
OF the country. The people are entitled
to this much at the hand of the Ncrth-
ern Pacific, which has been the recfpi-
ent OF gift OF land of practically
$4,000 square miles. comprising more
territory than some Of the states.
"The only question which the, peo-
pie desire settled is whether or net
the Northern Pacific proposes to carry
out the purposes Of the land grant in
promoting the public interest and
welfare and pursue q policy in keep
Ing with the spirit and intent Of the
act of 1864. In brief. does the Ncrth-
ern Pacific Railway company propose
to pursue policy Of watchful waiting
until someone else develops the land
surrounding them or win they keep
faith with the people ct this great
commonwealth and aid In the deyelon.