The Washington herald., 1921-09-29

ventufous minded treasure hunters
with the deeds of Jack London's
northern heroes hrihg their imagi-
nations and the hope of quick re-
turns in their hearts, had better
stay away from the new scene of
romance and riches in the Arctic,
the problematical oil fields in the
Mackenzie River basin.
The wealth may be there in null
tiple millions but it is not for
the impetuous seeker with more
daring than money and more am
bitiOn than patience.
Discovery Well in the Arctic
fields, lies l.500 miles north of Ed
monton. Alberta. The trip in is by
river boat or scow and there are
difficult portages to be made; dan
gerous rapids to be shot. Also, get
ting in Is only a feature Of the
business.
Drilling Rig Essential.
rig for drilling weighs in all
about sixty tons. and the rig musS
cannot be drilled. A man may
getting a drilling outfit into the
hICNiC anu NhCh thal SoihC
small but vitality necessary part of
the equipment has been forgotten
or lost somewhere en- route and
face the necessity of waiting a
year for that part before he can
begin operations. 1t takes money
a nd time. and it's a long shot even
then.
1t is estimated by people who
Il. hn mi fal .
least six years of drilling to deter
in the country in quantities SUM-
cient to legitimize the expendi-
ture necessary to get it out.
Held BY Big Companies.
True. a man who gets in may
stake a claim, but finding a buyer
is something else again. Only the
big companies are in the market
for claims. and as 700 miles of ter
ritory has already been staked,
they are in a position to pick and
choose. Also they are in a position
to pay what they choose rather
than what the individual claim
owner may ask
About 400 men were in the terri
tory this year and the tales they
bring back are not such as to start
a stampede of impoverished dare
devils. In the first place the i'm
poverished daredevils can get in
to the country because the mounted
police won't let them. Before a man
can make the start he is examined
as to his physical fitness to with
stand the journey. He has to show
approximating the con-
dition attained by Jack Dempsey
on the second of July last, or he
can't even start.
More Sellers Than Buyers.
Then his equipment is examined.
II he lacks any of the essentials
for a long stay in the territory on
his own, he is turned back. II he
is allowed to pass, conquers the
distances, the perils of big lakes
Ind swift rapids, endures the plague
Of mosquitoes and of the bull dog
flies that bring blood when they
bite, and stakes good claim,
why, then he has the choice of en-
tering or selling. Men with claims
TO sell are too many and those
who care to buy are few. There
are few and they are in no hurry.
They can afford to wait. No mat
ter how well the field turns out,
and there is a possibility that 1t
will prove to be the greatest de-
posit of oil in the known world
Il will be years before there can
be any commercial production.
A pipe line 1900 miles long
from the Arctic Circle to
the Peace Rive1 or a line over the
Rockies to the Yukon for tank
steamer outlet to the Pacific Ocean |
ire two of the means suggested to |
get the oil-if 1t is found in pay |
ng quantities-to the markets of |
he world.
1t would take upwards of $780, |
100000 to finance either PROPOSE |
hon. and. as has been said. 1t will |