The Glenwood post., 1923-10-18


and were behind in production to about
the same extent during the three fol-
lowing years.
In 1922, our domestic production
amounted to 550,000,OOO barrels and
our estimated consumption was 5S2,-
100000 barrels, still indicating short
age in production. During the current
year. however, we are evidently in po-
sition to produce much larger quanti-
ties than are needed for our own use.
But we are undoubtedly draining the
natural reservoir of this important
product, and with increasing demands,
it may be only Il comparatively short
time until we will be compelled to turn
elsewhere in order to meet our re-
quirements.
While it is possible that new and
large producing oil fields may be dis,
covered, it is more than probable that,
within the next decade, we shall have
to rely upon the refining of oil from
the shales, in order to supply the in
creased demands for oil.
The question of needed resurveys of
oil shale lands is one which has had
my particular attention during the
past year believe it to be of prime
Importance. Many costly disputes
would come before the courts and the
government departments because of de-
fective surveys involving homesteads,
mineral entries and oil leases.
Certainly, everything possible should
be done at this time to avoid future
conflicts among claimants. A dollar
expended on resurveys now may save
thousands later.
Ny research into the matter, with
special reference to oil shale lands in
western Colorado and eastern Utah,
developed startling condition. This
territory was plated many years ago
under the old contract system, subse-
quently abandoned. Many of the sur
veys were decidedly defective or tho
monuments obliterated by time, so that
claimants cannot comply with the legal
F, requirement that all land entries be
made to conform to the subdivisions
of the public land surveys. The work
was done over forty years ago. Where
corners have been found on the out
skirts, they were so out of relative
position as to make it impossible to re-
store any of the intervening lost cor.
ners to their proper places.
In other words, "patchwork" would
not do. The resurvey of single
township, or even small number of
townships, would not accomplish the
desired result Such work can ordina-
rily be done, upon the request of ac-
tual settlers, out of the general appro-
priation made by congress for the pur-
pose. But more than this was needed
in the case of the valuable oil shale
lands in question; and it was apparent
that specific mention of the matter
should be included in the interior de-
partment approximation bill for the
current fiscal year.
The senate increased the amount of
the general appropriation for resurveys
throughout the country in the sum of
| $49, ,600 and, with the assistance of
Senator Nicholson and other western
| legislators, | then succeeded in putting
through an amendment to the effect
that, out of this general fund, $4,000
might be used for the survey and re-
survey of public lands considered val
liable for oil and oil shale. The bill,
including this item, was signed by the
late President Harding on January "a,
1928, and the work is now under way.
In this connection, Secretary Work and
other interior department officials
have shown every disposition to be
helpful.
Possibly / have overemphasized the
Importance of this phase of the work,
but l do not think so. This is what
the commissioner of the general land
office says:
"To attempt to place any reliance in
the making of oil developments upon
surveys shown by competent evidence
to be grossly erroneous fraudulent. or
obliterated will only result in confu-
sion, disorder and discouragement A
resurvey is the only solution. as defi-
mite boundaries must necessarily attend
developments of a valuable and per-
manent character.'
Aside from the value of the work
itself, there is another feature. Small
as the amount in question may appear
to be, it constitutes substantial recog-
milton by the congress of an industry
which is still in the experimental stage.
The national legislature has evinced a
real desire to be helpful, and / believe
that the feeling of security which will
result from n dependable resurvey Of
An