Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-06-11
Fitch Field Discovered Along
Banks of Mackenzie River.
AIRPLkNE WILL Be USED
Tremendous Distances and Short Sum-
mer Season to Be Cut by Inventions
Imperial Oil Company Worked
Quietly for Years Before Secret
Came out-Mackenzie, the ExpIor-
err, Mentioned Oil Seepaoes 1870
Years Apo-To Open In June.

The eyes of the world are rapidly
being focused upon the sub-arctic re-
gion Of northern Canada along the
banks uf the Mackenzie river at point
some fourteen hundred miles from IA
railroad, from which stretches what
now appears may develop into one OF
the richest petroleum fields In the
world. The first news of the immense
possibilities became known TO the
world III large IN October 1920. when
a discharged employee Of the Imperial
Oil company related az Edmonton Al
begta. how the company had brought
in gu>her averaging about 1880 bar
reS Il day
Edmonton is the city nearest TO the
strike. a distance of 1900 miles. but
where the recording office for the
northwest territories still Is. The news
of the new field spread rapidly until
10y March men In all parts of the world
had begun preparing To rush To the
Sub-arctlc region aS soon as navigation
opens.
The irony ~ the present excitement
i that the knowledge that the Mae
kcnZie river region is rich In oil pos
SihiltieS is not at all new thing
Alexander Mackenzie. the celebrated
explorer. made much mention of the
oil Seepages along the Mackenzie 40
years ago. and Sir John Franklin also
mentions how the oil eXuded from the
earth In great quantities. The exist
cncc of oil was also known TO many
men In recent days, but the immense
distance uf the field from rail head
and the tremendous difficulties of navi-
CATION and the ShOrtueSS of the season
discouraged any individual or small
company from going into this PARKWAY
field. lying only 100 miles from the
arctic circle.
imperial Oil Company in Field.
But the Canadian government gcolo-
gi>ts had not overlooked the region,
and nne other concern. unhamprrrd by
amy lack Of means. and TO which few.
wears Of waiting dld not matter. went
into the Mackenzie river region Il mum
Der Of Years ago, and for the last five
At least rs far rs can hc known, has
kept - number of men NJ work pros
pcctius for oil. This concern WAS no
less than The Imperial Oii company Of
Canada. said 10y many Ia he SuhSi-
darl Of the Standard OH company in
the uitrd states Win IL" demand
for petroleum. and particularly is hy-
product gasoline continually growing
To such cuor'uuu> proportions, ana To
threaten to cNcc,fI The supply. it was
Int natural such large company
should eagerly Sccl; n new field
So immensely important did the Do
muinu government of Canada con>id-
rr the new field that on .Ianuary -.
1871. all previous petroleum and nat
ural gas regulations were suspended
by an order in council Following this
on February l., new regulations were
made known which read: IF oil Is dis
covered the lessee will he allowed TO
take out Il twenty one year lease for an
area of one square mile, the remaining
thrrc-quarters going 10 the govcrn-
mcut." That is though the man dis
covcd oil on 1850 acres. which ac i nj
lowed "a stalk" under his permit, three
quarters remain Crown reserve.
Location Of the Strike.
For those unfamiliar with the great
northwest of Canada II good map of
the region should bee studied while read
ing the following lines regarding routes
into the new field. The oil strike
i IN latitude 90 north ana longi-
iuIa 100 vast In This VieipftV