The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-10-06

trap for the accumulation of oil and
gas.
'Thus when the geologist has huff
icient data to work on he can arrive
at very safe conclusions. He is there
fore in a position to state very def
nitely that certain field is not
worth prospecting and thus prevent
the useless expenditure of money.
son the other hand he can recon-
mend the developing of a certain
field for the reason that his findings
are in conformity with the principles
that underlie the finding of these sub
stances in other fields.
"He can tell whether the character
of the strata is right and whether
there is the proper structural ten
.dency but that oil has actually ac-
cumulated in a certain structure he
knows no more than the farmer who
owns the land. Only the drill can de-
ter1nine the presence of oil. The ge-
ologist's report therefore ranges from
the absolutely unfavorable to the
very favorable and worthy of pros
pecting. Only the drill can deter
mine the certainty Of the finding of
these substances.
"I am led to understand that the
local parties interested in prospect
ing this field are prepared to begin
activity at an early date. This is as
it should be. If there is anything
there, let's have it, is good slogan
and let's have it nowv
eff you will bear with me ] shall
issue warning to the land owner.
Within a few days after this is pub
ished there will be land scalpers and
oil and gas and coal spectators in
this field as there have been in every
other field where anything like a
favorable report has been made. They
will tell you great things-as for in
stance, that they know there are
minerals underneath your land and
that they have friends in oil and gas
and coal companies ready to come to
your land and develop it in thirty and
sixty DAYS. According to them, all
your part is to lease the land to
them. well, I have seen a lot of this
and have yet to see the land scalper
and the oil Spectator develop any,
thing. He leaves behind him trail
of regret and blasted hopes. He does
not develop. There are lots OF very
smooth tongued oil spectators but
few Of them can produce the creden-
tials that they mean business.
"It costs anywhere from $4,000 TO
500 900 to drill well to any depth
and few of those who will come into
YOUR midst can back up their smooth
statement with cold cash.
"Montana was full of such fellows
a few wears ago. Today thew are
well nigh weeded out. Only the oil
companies that mean business sur
vive 49,
"Another thing. Let there be no
false hopes. / have said that Oil and
gas are found on structures just as
coal is found in veins. Such struc-
ture and veins are certain definite
entities-they have length, breadth
and depth. To be off structure is to
be nowhere. In the famous Cat
Creek field in Montana dry wells have
been drilled within 220 feet of great
producing wells. One might as well
he 1000 miles off structure as to be
so feet off. Those companies who
have disregarded geological advice
as to- drilling sites. even after the
structure was found to contain OIL.
are today heavy losers in the oil
business.
"The fact. therefore, that oil should
be found on Smiths land is no reason
why oil should be found on Browns
land adjoining unless both tracts are
on the same structure. Let there be
no mistake about this and there will
be no false hopes to be shattered.
envy advice to the land owner is
to keep on blowing his fields. If min
erals are found on his land it is pust
so much velvet for him without any
effort or expense on his part. He
receives normally 2 LIZ per cent of all
the minerals. Personally / would
not trade so little as 2 IL percent
free of expense to me on a new field
for the remaining 81 IL percent
where I have to stand all expense
and take chances on production.
seThe business men of Sank Centre
and vicinity are certainly wide awake
live wires who are anxious for the de-
veiopment of their own home re-
sources. IF they receive the coopera-
ton of the land owners who are in
position to know them and their sim
certify Of purpose there will be de-
velopment in these parts at an early
date. To my mind their purpose is
very laudable indeed. The findings.
of natural gas or coal, and there is
much reason to expect that these will
be found, would satisfy the CRYING
needsof the state Of Minnesota. Since