The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-01-20
OIL PROSPECT In SD.
BIOLOGISTS DECLARE CoNDi.
TIoNS FAVORABLE IN WEST.
ERN PART

pSSoht uoVelOpmenkS In Montana
have led to considerable conjecture
a. to the possibilities OF the finding
or oil In paying quantities in Western
South Dakota. 1t is expected that
numerous companies will begin pros
psctins in that section in the early
spring as the result OF announce
msnts OF geeologists who have care
fully examined the geological forma.
lions. All the biologists who have
studied the situation agree on the
general theory that the oil fields of
Montana external from the northwest
to the southeast corner OF the state
and therefore enter into South Dakota
at Its northwest corner and extend
to the vicinity OF Pierre. Many emin-
eat biologists have visited the south
Dakota territory within the past two
years, and all agre that the general
surface indications are ~ prominent
here as either In the Montana or Wy
oming fislds. Fossils. shells and all
kinds Of prehistoric formations are
present, particularly within q radius
OF thirty miles of Dupree, Indicating
that this was at n time an area or
. large bay OF the ocean. Recent ex.
plorations indicate that such condi
tions as are necessary to form con.
tainers for oil exist. Until recently
all Eeologe sts examining the South
Dakota territory have agreed that oil
would be found at from $500 to g.
500 feet, making rather expensive drill
ling. but the recent examinations
north and south Of Dupree show ex-
posurss Of older formations. which in
dicate that oil may be found IN this
territory at from 1900 to 1900 feet
1.-THE Montana wells are from 1850
to $500 feet.) 1t IL said that no less
\ than fifty companies in Mitchell, Alb
erdeen, Sioux Falls. Pierre and Cham
berlain, In South Dakota; Great Falls,
Miles City, Baker and Lewiston, In
Montana: Denver and Pueblo, In Col
orado; Newcastle and Casper, In wy
omins; as well a. Minneapolis, Chi
cage and other eastern points have
been securing oil leases In western
South Dakota during the past three
months, and many Of them will drill
on their holdings as soon as the
weather will permit.
Ex-servioe men have received $537,.
200 aid in getting started on farms
In the state the past year through
the state land settlement board. OF
this. the land settlement fund has
been called upon for 1851, 500 and the
balance has been secured through the
rural credits oar department, which
works with the land settlement board
IN assisting to get the ex-service men
located upon farms, when they wish
such assistance. Loans have been
made by the board In 3. out of the
"a counties OF the state, as the appli-
can't Is not in any way limited as to
the character or location OF the land
he desires, the only limitation being
as to the mount Of aid which can be
given by the state in taking up the
purchase and development Of land
anywhere within the state he may de-
sire to begin operations. Since the
beginning of the operation OF the land
settlement board $50 ex-service men
have applied for such aid. OF these
116 have been closed and a number
Of others are pending. ready to lie
closed when the necessary formal.
tiles are completed.
South Dakota Don will be manufac-
turing the greater part OF the feed
used by live stock breeders for their
stock as well as large quantities of
rolled oats for human consumption.
Within the next three OF four
four rolled oats mills, operated coop
e~ratively, the stock Of which viii be
owned by the consumers, will be erect
ed within the state. At It's twenty
second annual session in Mitchell the
South Dakota Improved Live Stock
Breeders association will select the
site for the first OF these mills. Six
cities, including Mitchell, Huron, Sioux
Falls, Aberdeen, Watertown and
Bookings, will. make bids for the first
Of these plants. A stock company,
capitalized at $50, 900, already has
been organized for the first mill. 1t
is the plan of the stockmen to erect
these mills at such places that the
growers and breeders themselves will
be the most benefited.
A comparison OF the hail insurance
laws of South Dakota and Mort Da.
kota is made In a recent insurance
publication. The South Dakota fund
cleared up all 1919 losses by the first
OF the present year, and has cleared up
all claims for 1920 losses except in
cases where there were errors as to
land descriptions. and disputes as to
who is entitled to payment for losses
OF the present year with funds or
hand to clear these up as soon as the
proper claimant has proven his right,
or the proper descriptions are shown.
In North Dakota over s 1000, 900 of
the 1919 losses are yet unpaid.
Representatives of an oil company
have decided to make an examination
OF the supposed oil fields In the vicin-
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