Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-24
IN E
eial to The Tribune,

Miles City. Dec. 23.-With the re-
ported presence Of surveying parties
operating in the territory south OF
Miles City, and the presence IN the city
of Mr.. Williams, representing Governor
Haskell of Oklahoma, together with
Mr.. DeNeff, here on an inspection trip
from New York, more light is being
thrown upon the proposed movement
TO construct Il railroad from Miles City
south to touch the Salt Greek. oil fields
in Wyoming. The visitors here are
ing to the railroad project, but admit
they are here Il look over the field.
1t has just been made public that q
delegation Of Miles City business men
consisting of George M. Miles. C. w.
Butler, bankers; Karl Johnson, mer-
chant, and Charles Il. Brown, lumber
man. went cast during the latter part
Of November to confer with the
Haskell interests. to convert, if pos
sible, the idea of building a pipe line
to the north to follow the water grade
of the Powder river to that of a rail
road proposition.
AS a result of these efforts engineer
ing parties have been in the field be-.
tween this city and the Salt Greek area
IN Wyoming for the past 10 days and
w WINS SaA TX iAS IN VIII u
river route have been available and it
appears that several routes are pos
sible, one being by the way of the
Tongue river and another by way of
Pumpkin creek apd Powder river. 1t
is reported that engineers are still at
work securing data on the probable
routes, but it is likely that from an
engineering standpoint there will not
be a great deal to choose between sew
eral lines.
Oil Should Move North
1t is pointed out further that Gov
ernor Haskell who is chairman Of the
board of directors of the Middle States
oil company with assets in excess of
$SO,000,O0O, also chairman of the
board Of directors Of the Louisiana and
Northern railway, and his associates,
have decided that a considerable part
of the Salt Creek oil should be moved
northward. They arrived at this con
clusion after considerable study. Salt
creek is a tributary to Powder river.
OIL could be transported northWard by
pipe line virtually on a water grade.
Furthermore. it is stated. Salt Greek
oil is now moving south and southeast
and is brought directly into competi-
ton with the Continent fields. 1t
is apparent. therefore, that a north
ward movement would bring it into d
large consuming territory much more
economically thar petroleum products
are now supplied in that vast area.
Considerable pressure is said to
have been brought upon the Haskell
interests to build a railroad instead of
a pipe line, and it appears likely that
if they secure the concessions which
no doubt will be asked from the
people of Miles City and from the
people which the railroad will serve
along the route, the argument for a
railroad will prevail.
Refinery Is Likely
Other facts brought out show that
wells already drilled to completion in
the Salt Greek field are purported to
be capable of producing in excess of
100000 barrels Of oil daily. Transporta-
ton facilities at the present time are
capable of handling approximately
G0,000 barrels daily. In addition to
this, the Teapot dome, which is really
an extension of the Salt Greek field.
is now# being developed and immense
wells are being brought in. The Salt
Greek is considered as a long life field
and one of the greatest oil reservoirs
in the world. Oil men state that future
production in that structure will ex-
ceed that winch Is beng produced at
The present time.
1t is certain that the building of
such a road with the Salt Creek as The
objective would result in great devel-
opment in the country between Miles
City and that point. Miles City would
Immediately profit and the completion
of the project would very likely lead
TO the establishment of a large refinery
at this point.
A careful analysis Of the entire
county. including a thorough study of
the rate structure, location Of present
refineries. etc, is being made, and if
the result of this analysis is favor
able. this city will. without reasonable
doubt, be the location of a large re-
finar,, ,rithin- n cbont tina