, 1921-11-03
SALT CREEK field
IS THREATENED
"HARDWINTER" Davis ASKS Sl26. 900
and SEEKS TO COMPEL MIDWEST TO
ABANDON PRESENT FORM OF OPER-
ATOMS in RICH AEREA-.DEFEHD.
Ant CLAIMS VICTORY FOR THE
OPPONENT MEANS DISASTER.

CHEYENNE. Wyo., Nov. g.
tSpeciaD-Casper, the oil center Of
the west. will go back to the COW
town 1t was before the oil boom
CAME along.
It's refinerfes, among the largest
and most complctely-equipped in the
world. will be closed down. and the
industry upon which present mag
nificent city was built will be de-
stroyed.
The United States will lose mil
lions OF dollars in oil royalties.
Wyoming also will lose millions and
its schools and its roads will be de-
prived of a large part Of their reve-
nue.
II the $4,000 suit brought by the
Sussex Land and Livestock company
against the Midwest Refining com
pany results in a decision for the
plaintiff.
Such. at least. was among the al
legations made by the Midwest when
the trial OF the suit began Tuesday
morning OF this week before Judge
T. Blake Kennedy.
On the other hand
The Midwest Refining company
will, II 1t carries on its present mode
of operation in the Salt Creek field
by far the greatest field in the inter-
mountain region-utterly ruin vast
areas OF livestock grazing land in the
north central Wyoming, cause huge
herds of cattle and sheep to sicken
and die. and transform rich feeding
grounds into sickening tracts Of oil
smeared desert desOlation.
Such, at least, was among the al
legations of the Sussex Land & Live
stock company.
"Hardwinter" Davis. president OF
the Sussex. is suing for $4,000 In
damages and a permanent injunc-
ton restraining the Midwest from
continuing Its operations In Salt
Creek. "Hardwinter" Is known
. throughout the state. He was once a
wealthy cattleman. He Is not so
wealthy now. He says the Midwest
helped to bring about a loss Of many
thousands OF dollars.
Judge Kennedy was sworn In
Monday. Tuesday he entered upon
a case so enormous In scope. so tar.
reaching in its consequences, that II
Is difficult for the layman to GRASP
Its many angles, complexities and
ramifications. The taking OF testi-
nnony and the hearing OF arguments
will last at least q week, and prob
ably more. The development OF the
oil industry and its effect on other
industries will be traced back to the
time Of the discovery Of petroleum
and the progress Of the case will be
watched by every stockman. every
oil man and thousands of common
citizens throughout the west: The
stockmen and the oil men VIII ciasn
for the first time since the latter IN
vsded Wyoming. and numerous cues
lions. involving the rights OF POLE
industries a. opposed to each other
viii be raised for the first time.
Cheyenne IL teeming with lawyer
and with .sses and Interested spec
tators. Some Of the leading lega
tights OF the west are battling 10
the rights and aileEed rights Of thei
clients. Here for the Midwest ar
John D. Clark Of Denver, vice pres
ident and general counsel for tina
!. concern, together with Judge A. c
Campbell Of Cheyenne end Fredericl
%. Anderson. Representing the BUS
ri Company are George L. Nye
John H. Fry and H. q. Popham, a.
Of Denvor.
For more than . month unite'
States Marshal Hugh L. Patton M
been subpoeninS Witnesses. He ma