, 1921-09-14


Tho dinner. which was arranged
ra-tiy in behalf OF the visitors. was a
complete i~uucccsS in every particular.
Attracted by the importance OF the
meeting and the opportunity of hear
ing h chiefs Of an important branch
OF government functionins in tho oil
folds OF n state. a crowd which
taxed to capacity h accommodations
prepared 10 accommodate tho diners
gathered last right. 1t was n most
auspicious start TO the long program
OF forum %unchcons which have been
arranged for tho winter months.
To r. S. Ellison fell the duty OF cx-
planning in brief the object or TIC
visit OF the mines party He told the
visitors that the dinner had been ar
ranged in their honor for the sole
purpose OF showing them that Casper
was glad To- meet with them and to
cooperate with them in solving the
problems which have arisen on both
sides.
Mr.. Ellison then introduced ex-Gov.
r. b. Brooks. who presided as chair
man OF the meeting.
Mr.. Brooks responded by citing his
torical information about Wyoming
oil fields divuiging facts which were
new even TO many Casper people who
arc most Intimately acquainted with
the oil game Of his state.
"oil was known to exist in what is
now wyoming he said. Tong before
Drake discovered his famous well In
Pennsylvania. In tho earlier days.
Indians used the oil which bubbled
from h ground in nan places for
medicine and other purposes. The
- -a------ - - L.. -
the oil for axle crease and for other
purposes.
Fifteen years ago the FIRST refinery
for the manufacture OF lubricating oil.
axle grease and other minor products
was started herc. The oil from the
Shannon field was hauled to Casper
by tank wagons and brought an aver
aEc return OF between Sc and IS a
barrel.
TT may be new TO. some OF you
that tho first oil lease that was ever
issued in the state of Wyoming was
Issued during the time that I was gov
ernor. On application of the old
Bitzhugh interests for section 1910
20, what is. now the most famous pro-
ducing section of tho west. n confer
cnce was called for tho purpose of
working out, lease which woul be
equitable to all concerned.
After considerable opposition on
various sides l obtained a point on
which I had insisted and the lease in
question WARS issued for a. period OF
five years only. Other details OF the
lease Included a price of so cents n.
barrel for the oil produced, a 1919
per cent royalty 10 the state and other
conditions that also exist today.
The development followed until ii
eliminated in the federal leasing law
which governs, the operations today. /
eve frankly thought much OF h
bill. but 1t is the law and controversy
in Salt Greek has been settled.
Under the leasing law the United
States government is made the ma.
1ority partner in all operations which
are conducted in the Salt Creek and
other fields of Wyoming. n for this
reason we are glad to have here the
chief OF a government bureau hat
has charge OF important regulatory
work of the governments majority In
terest.
'For the first time in the history
of the country the Standard Oil com
pany. has n complcte monopoly on n
of the greatest oil fields of the coun-
try. The Standard controls produc-
ton. pipelines. manufacturing n
marketing facilities Of h Salt Creek
field. 1t is now UP to them to show
that this control is a good thing. that
If is for the best interests of all and
they must make good.
F"1t is a well known fac t-At the
Standard owns 30 per cent of the
stock of the Midwest Refining com
pAny either by outright purchase or
Control. The Standard is taking over
this fine plant here and is putting its
/. own men in control. And I know and
hope that this MONOPOLY will be OK