The Little River news., 1920-09-15
WE'LL MtKE 0iE SURVEY
 OF STATE s00N
Former State Geologi>t Dy, Branler, Will Return to Arkansas and
 Make an Oil Survey.


 Little Rock Sept. 14,-One of the most important announcements made since the discovery of oil in. Arkansas. is that Dr. John C, Branner of .Califor- nia, former state geologist of Arkan- sas, will make thorough survey of the state for the purpose of determin- ing it's possibilities for the develop ment of oil and gas.
 In a communication addressed to 1 Commissioner of Agriculture, Jim C.. Ferguson, June IT. 1920, specifying ten subjects demanding attention in the development of the states resour- ces, Dr. Branner places that of a re- port on petroleum and natural gas as second il the list. He was appointed state geolOgist of Arkansas by Cover nor Hughe thirty-tWo year ago, and during the next six years made sur veys at an expense to the state of $100,- 000 producing eighteen volumes of re- ports which have been conservatively estimated worth millions of dollars to | the state.
 The prospect of again securing the distinguished services of Dr. Branner is due in large in atlaege part to the enterprise of Governor .%Charles H.. Brough who called upon him in San Francisco during the. recent national Democratic convention. It had long been the ardent hope of all citizens of Arkansas that some means might be found whereby Dr. Branner could be induced to return and complete the survey which he was compelled to ab- andon in 1882 on account of the failure of the legislature to appropriate funds to defray the. expenses of the work, Dr. Branner assured Gov, Brough that he is much interested in the State of Arkansas and it's possibilities, and .intimated that he would be willing te forego several attractive offers which he now has under consideration, some of thel1F being from foreign govern ments, and consider a reasonable offer to make an oil, gas and mineral sur vey of Arkansas.
 Upon his return to Little Rock, Gov einor Brough conferred with Fulk & Riffel, prominent oil operators of Little Rock, and urged them to enter into negotiations with pr. Branner. As a result of correspondence covering sev- eral weeks, they received telegram last week making ST ecific propOsi- tion. Necessarily, pr. Branner's ser vices come high and Fulk and Riffel have set themselves the ta?k of raising 'adequate funds, by cnIisting the CO., operation of individuals and corpor- atiOns who are interested in the de- velOpment of Arkansas oil and min- eral resources. They expect to have little difficulty in perfecing arrange ments. Dr. Branner intimates that his services will be available within two weeks, so that it seems possible he c,n en.er upon the survey within the very near future.
 Long Expected Oil Boom.
 There is a promise therefore, that the long expected oil boom in Arkan- sas will not be much further delayed. It is the consensus of opinion of eX- lperts that somewhere in Arkansas there is an abundance of oil and it is universally recognized. that Dr. Bran- ner is the man best qualified to locate lit. It is said that every important mineral development in the state has confirmed his early reports, including the world famed bauxite fields near Little Rock which furnishes 60 per cent of the aluminium products of the world, Dr, Branner also pointed out the possibilities of the diamond fields of southwest Arkansas which a $10,- 100000 company is now engaged in developing.
 Biologists inform us that all of Louisiana and that part of Arkansas south of the Arkansas river and the mountains, has the same general stru- cture as the great American coastal plain of which it forms a part and in which some of the worlds greatest oil fields have been developed. The geo. logic conditions have been pronounced by all experts to be Favorable for oil and gas wherever structural condi- tions exist to catch and hold these pro- ducts.