The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1922-10-12
Gordon Campbell and
Some History
Campbell Disc0Uers and De-
Uelobs Largest Single OIL
Area in AmeYicu

Away back amidst the mist of the years, that now
venerable OPERATOR Ira Segur, ramped the wastes of
southern Alberta quest Of Gil structure Not unlike
the general of oil men, he possessed Of great
hope for this is the peculiar characteristic of all oil men,
and he like all of them felt that his that would
end in fruition. Stalking fortune himself. he then
able interest the amented Charles Hays then general
manager of the Grand Trunk and who later lost his life
in the sinking of the Titanic. With the financial aid af
forded by the Grand Trunk interests with that of his
Segur and E. P Howard assumed to drill an oil we'll along
the Canadian border of Sweet Grass After two
of grng labor and after Segur and Howard had exhaust
ed their private fortunes they compelled abandon
the field Segur and Howard however, lost faith in
the structure and the advanced age of 70
they back the old job, and the derrcks of
Segur and Howard will shortly be decorating the land
scape of Southern Alberta.
Likewise during this trying period came into the
the Montana-Canadian company, which compa-
controlled both sides of the line They too,
put down we'll with like results and forced to alb
andon their work At this sncture the Anaconda COM
pany took much of the Montana CT this com
pany and assumed do development work to the extent
Of S25OooO. This they did, putting down two wells in
which they got good showing of gas and the third
in which they had little showing Of OIL The estimate
at the time on this oil production barrel day.
This was all the Anaconda company did, and upon the
recommendation their then mnereogis they like the
former operators condemned and abandonded the field
This the exit Of all operations in the Sweet Grass
Arch there being until the advent Of Gordon Camp
be who not only possessed the geological to see
but who had the perseverance to stick.
Likewise Campbell trod the barren wastes Of Toole
county, mapping its and gathering other data
Confident that this oil bearing he set to work
under difficulties to secure funds to drill it out Money
flowed him quite rapidly but not rapid enough to keep
pace with his operations He like all men, possessed OF
big idea and who doing big work. seen trouble and
Encouragement There many critical periods. but
Campbell had walking by his side fearless and courag-
wife, who flung her personal fortune in with that OF
her husband and sitting the quiet of her home the
suits as we now view them be the of great
deal pride satisfaction her. she too views the
results Of the exploration in which she able to help,
and know that she could send husband out into the
world to win great commercial victory For there
one moment the development period, that had she not
helped this history might have remained for the future
years to tell and to the credit of some other
There seems to be an nsideous propaganda funct.
ionng constantly from certain quarters to njure the
Campbell interests and seems proceed the theory
'that if you sling mud at man long enough. that
of it might stick" But Campbell, like all doing big
things, pursues the Of his He feels that
if one does not want to meet difficulties and hardship
they had better stay out of business But should Camp
bell do more, what he has already accomplished is
enough glory for any For his name stands
impershabe in the annals of Montana oil history
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