Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-08
ADDITIONAL OIL
MEANS REFINING
in NORTH AREA
Falls, Shelby and Lethbridge
Are Likely Sites for
Development.

Only additional production. sufficient
to guarantee sufficient crude, are need
ed before there will be additional re-
f~ineries for northern Montana, proba-
ably to be located at Great Falls or
Shelby and perhaps at both places.
Lethbridge, Alta, will probably also be
in the running and may be the next city
to have q refinery.
AT least two large Independent COM
panies with Mid-Continent and south
ern affiliations have let it be known
that they will build refiaeries as soon
as their production warrants such ac-
ton. They are both essentially pro-
ductiOn companies and will not take
any step until their own production
guarantees a safe supply of crude. A
third large independent production
company is considered by oil men as a
probable entry in the field when pro-
duction warrants it.
The first, two are the Texas com
pany, represented here by the Texas
Production company, and the Gladys
Belle Oil and Refining company. Oil
men look to the Gluf company, repre-
sented here by the Gypsy, one Of the
large land and leaseholders Of the
northern field, to be another entry in
the refining industry when it is assured
of its own production.
Many Plans Talked
In addition to these companies, there
are several refinery plans talked among
oil men. A group of Lethbridge men
met with Sunburst business men sew
eral days ago with the idea Of combin-
ing for support for a refinery at Leth-
bridge. The proposition was placed
before the Sunburst men as a necessary
measure for the oil town to take to
hold its advantages in the field and to
guarantee a flow Of business from tie
field. The Lethbridge men pointed out
that the southern trend of the field
and the better railway connections of
Shelby will lead development ID that
direction and may even mean that the
main pipeline will be switched to the
south, if measures are not taken to
turn the tide of the flow of crude to
the north and Canada.
Interest Of Lethbridge in the devel-
opment of a refinery was keen even
early in the summer and that city, with
growing production III the Keyin-Sun-
burst field and a price of 20 cents a
barrel posted, is expected to be a sure
bet for a refinery. Construction work
has been begun on the Imperial refinery
at Calgary. with u force of more than
300 men on the job and this is expected
to aid in forwarding plans for Il refinery
for the southern Alberta city.
Another factor that oil men look
upon as important in the development
Of refineries, especially as regards
turning these plans toward Great Falls.
is a lower freight rate on crude. The
rate is now Al cents a hundred pounds
from Sunburst to Great Falls. Fig
uring on the basis of comparative mile
age, a price between II and 20 cents
a hundred is expected to be made by
the Great Northern. The rate between
Winnett and Lewistown is II cents
a hundred pounds.
Demand Here for Fuel Oil
An advantage that Great Falls will
offer refineBies here will be that there
will be a large demand for fuel oil.
Not only has there been a demand al
ready made for fuel oil for heating
homes, but the commercial demand will
easily absorb a considerable produce
ton, it is said. Officials of the Aneri-
can Refining company report that the
demand for fuel oil even at this time,
with the market not prepared as it
will be later. is more than the plant
will be able TO supply at once.
Great Falls. with two railway sys-
tens, also. makes a strong bid because
of the better distributing facilities.
Spokane has been mentioned by oil
men as n possible refinery site. but it
is not probable that this will come
within the immediate future.