Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-19

shaleS and the same horizon as the
clear Colorado shales comprise.
On DsyogIan Limestone
These sands rest on the Devonian
Limestone and occur in the same condi-
ton ~ the. sands Of the kootenai
formation which outcrop on the edge
of the Crotaceous in Manitoba, where
they consist Of homogeneous mass OF
tar cemented sands, varying from 140
to 22O feet in thickness. The shale
base OF the Peace river section and
AthAb4sca, In Alberta, are assigned to
the Colorado shales of north central
Montana, comprising approximately
LOO LOO 1, to a'soo feet of sh'le and sand
Afterrsdayoting the greater part Of
Lincoln. assistant geologist, and James
A. MacGowan, engineer, to determine
that the conditions for making, ac-
cumulating and retaining oil and gas
were present, three men were sent
out to get leases over a big area, be-
cause OF the flatness Of the field and
It'd large drawing surface. These
leases were taken on the understand
Ing that drilling would start in COM
paratively short time.
Lewis Turns It Down
r.. G. Lewis, California operator
Of "Doodlebug" fame in the Cat creek
field, was first interested. He sent a
representative, who, after a brief in
vestigatiop turned down the PROPOSE
ton. Next a group of Lewistown men
formed a private syndicate and pur-
chased enough leases, comprising 6,4OO
acres, to provide sufficient finances
for erection of rig and camp. Among
the members of this syndicate are
Judge Roy L. Ayres, John Ritch, Wal
ter Bright, J. W. Seiden, L. A. Smith.
A. L. and A. &. DAutrmont. w. B..
Rhoades Of Great Falls and J; L. As
bridge, United States marshal. This
deal followed Mr.. Campbell's expendi-
ture Of more than $4,000 Of his own
funds In 1920 mapping and surveying
the field.
I'VE have drilled the first well on
our own survey, and the first and what
believe is the only really complete
and thoroughly detailed examination
made Of this structure and we have
oil where we said we would get 1t,
Gordon Campbell said.
Drilling Troubles
Actual drilling was started on April
IL. 1921. and almost constant delays
hindered the work. Bigger casing was
first necessary to get through an old
lake bed. The bit was lost when the
tools jumped the pin, long fishing
job following. The jars went next.
leaving the entire string Of tools in
the bottom Of the hole. After getting
the proper fishing tools and bringing
everything out Of the hole, the tools
jumped another pin, while working in
gas sand. Three slipsockets were
broken In fishing and l 2 sets of jaws
were pulled off, delaying the work for
two weeks more.
The drilling was done for the great
81 sar pam and :; including n roy Roy Hurd, 3. 6.
Hurd, the late ICY Hurd, John Rhea,
Mat Lueck, w. H. Wagner and L.
Field Aids Cities
Shelby, Havre, Great Falls and Kelvin
a. we'll as several other small COM
lnunities in the northern part Of Mon
tana will be the first to feel the effect
Of the new field, according to members
Of commercial clubs and similar Or
CARNATIONS, who point out that Havre
and Great Falls are the nearest larger
cities, while Shelby and Kelvin have
already felt the demand for additional
accommodation since the well came
in Room is somewhat limited at ke-
vim. where J. l.. Rock. the genial pno-
prietor Of the Kelvin hotel, is making
every effort to provide for the needs
of visitors.
"While there are only six rigs in the
entire field now, I look for 60 by
spring with the flow Of oil in our first
well either increasing or continuing as
it is doing now," Gordon Campbell
said.
Warns Against "Mushrooms"
"Just as a timely warning, let me
say now that the public may expect the
formation Of many companies and
other organizations based BASED on on holdings Iass
and many Of them, I viii wager, will
be formed on not more than 90 acres.
I have been through oil booms in many
states and / dislike to see the same
old game repeated over and over
again. Just remember that there is
seldom enough production from 20
acres to warrant dividends"