Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1921-06-16

er. Mentioned Oil Seepa9es ''o
Years Aso--Te Open In June.
The ewes Of the world are rapidly
being focused upon the sub-arctic re-
>r:on Of northern Canada along tilc
hanks of the Mackenzie river at point
some fourteen hundred miles from
railroad, from which stretches What
now appears may develop into one OF
III. richest petroleum fields In the
world. The first news of the immense
possibilities became known to the
world at large in October, 1921, wheh
q discharged employee Of the Imperial
OH company related at Edmonton, Al
berta, how the company had brought
In gusher averaging about l,oDo OAR
rels day.
Edmonton is the city nearest to the
strike, a distance of 1900 miles, hui
where the recording office for The
northwest territories still Is. The news
Of the new field spread rapidly unt,i
by March men in all parts vi tha world
had begun preparing 10 rush 10 the
suh-arctic region as soon as navigation
opens.
The irony Of the present excitement
is that the knowledge that the Mac
nenzie river region is rich In oil pos
sibilities Is not at all a new thihg.
Alexander Mackenzie the celebrated
explorer, made much mention OF the
oil seepages along the Mackenzie $50
years ago, and Sir John Franklin also
mentions how the oil eXudcd from the
earth in great quantities. The exist
rnce of oil was also known to many
men in recent days, but the immense
distance of the field from rail head
and the tremendous difficulties of nhVi-
CATION and the shOrtress of the season
discouraged any individual or small
company from going into this PARKWAY
field, lying only $40 miles from the
arctic circle.
Imperial Oil Company in Field.
But the Canadian government ge"lo.
lists had not overlooked the region.
aud one other concern, unhampered by
any lack of means, and to which few
wears of waiting did not matter, went
into the Mackenzie river region num-
Der of years ago, and for the last five
at least, as far az can be known, has
kept number OF Inen at work pros
pecting for oil. This concern was II"
less than the Imperial OH company OF
Canada, said by many to be n suhSi-
diary Of the Standard OIL company in
the United States. With the demand
for petroleum, and particularly its by
product. gasoline. continually growing
10 such enormous proportions and to
threaten to exceed the supply, II was
but natural such large company
should eagerly seek Il new field.
So immensely important did the Do
minion government OF Canada cOnSld-
er the new field that on January -.
1921, all previous petroleum and nat
ura gas regulations We're suspended
by an order In council. Following this
on February II, new regulations were
made known which read: "lf oil Is dis
covered the lessee will be allowed 10
take out twenty-One-year lease for an
area OF one square mile, the remaining
thrrr-quarters going to the govern
ment." That is, though the man dis
coved oil on 1850 acres, which he Is al
lowed TO stake under his permit, three
quarters remain Crown reserve.
Location Of the Strike.
For those unfamiliar with the great
northwest of Canada a good map of
she region should be studied while read
ing the following lines regarding routes
into the new field. The oil strike
j. III latitude 81 north and longi-
tude 128 wesi. In this vicinity
begins the oil field. The most d.
rect summer route Is covered by
rail, steamer and land portage. The
new railroad into the northland runs
some three hundred miles, to near Fort
McMurray. over this, much of which
is still skeleton track, light auto runs
on rails IL can travel faster than Il
train could with safety. Fort McAIur
gay traffic into the great north goes
Gown the Athabusca river, across Lake
Athabusca and down Slave river to
Fitzgerald, where Is 16,mile iapd
portage to Fort Smith, on the Macken
Zie, which portage Is now traversed by
modern caterpillar tractors and big lOr-
Iies.
From Fort Smith, the Slave river,
Slave lake and Mackenzie river offer
easy transportation to the Arctic sea.
An alternate route can be taken from
Peace River Crossing, travelling via the
Peace river to Fitzgerald. Upon both
these routes steamers Of very light
draft, gas boats and fiat scow boats
carry all supplies and machinery that
4oes into the north. The Athabasca
FLYER opens about May /, the Macken
lie about May %, but Slave lake can
p"t be depended upon until July ]. For
nearly three centuries these great wa
trrways have been Travelled by white
men, first the vOyageurs in their canoes
ANA Yorke boats, then the later river
men In their fat-bottOmed scows.
Not since the Klondke rush in 1898
and 1899, when Edmonton. Alberta,
was one point of entrance to the gold
fields. has excitement reigned 80 high.
All herths on steamers have fbeen
booked for the first trip In the spring.
From all parts Of the world queries
are pouring into the northern metrOp-
oils. The Hudson's Bay company. the
historic trading company Of the land,
received so many queries 1t had to set
aside a special staff to attend to the
work. Many firms are working on large