The Bozeman courier., 1927-11-25
1First Oil Excitement S' ;ns; $:% az:
II Go. Ad2esof

that it ever made a close approach to a
commercial gasser.
The Leota well held the attention of
Great Falls and all northern Montana
during the fall Of 1904 and much of
1905. Reports from the well were pub
lished at intervals Of a few days for some
time after the gas was discovered, the
news from the gas well commanding a
position along with the major events Of
the day.
In one issue a story on the well ap-
peared beside headline telling of new
record made by Dan Patch and another
describing the launching Of the Sun
river irrigation district. Alton B. Parker
and Theodore Roosevelt were opposing
candidates for the presidency. The
RussO-Japanese war was hurtling along
towards its climax and Jack Clifford,
scheduled to fight Kid Fredericks for the
lightweight supremacy of the state, was
running races daily with a horse. The
sports writer later noted with some dis
appointment that Clifford refused to "be
target for man who outweighed him
two pounds and the fight was called of.
Describes Huge "Oil Basin"
Several days after the gas discovery a
mass meeting was called and plans made
| by the claim holders for drilling the we'll
to 500 feet. At this meeting it was de-
cided to carry on operations through the
Leota company, although a Montana Oil
| company later was identified with the
well or the field. The Tribune's files saw
that after time it was thought that the
| gas was an "oil gas and that "it is oil
! that the driller is now going after" Es-
Inmates that it might be necessary to
drill as deep as $500 feet to reach the
''Oil basin" were made by then City En-
| gtneer Ellis, whose address at the mass
meeting was thus reported in part:
"City Engineer Ellis explained the
character of the geological formation OF
| VI nj
found, stating that from his investiga-
tionS he had become convinced that the
oil basin would be found at a depth OF
about $500 feet. He stated that the rock
in which the drill is now working is ar
oil shale, and that beneath this would
be found coal formation and beneath
this it would be necessary to drill
through a sandstone for a depth of 00C
feet, after which the oil basin would bC
reached. He stated that the whole coun.
try for a radius of 100 miles was an oi
basin which only needed development
Some of the points made by the en-
gineer correspond with present geology
relating to the field, but later develop
ments indicated that his advice concern
ing the necessary depth was not followed
His reference to region with a radius
Of 100 miles as an "Oil basin" CORE
sponds in a general way with the Sweet
grass arch as now mapped.
! Among the men who were identified
with the LeOta company and the ga
well, either as share owners or holder
Of claims, were: John A Hoffman, Tim
Othy e. Collins, D. L. Ellis. r. j. Fitz
gerald, Joe Herring, P. B. Gallagher, L
M Mcdonnell, Dwight Chaffee, Banna
tyne brothers, James Jewell, r. w. Berry
NJ H. Luther, Daniel Johnson, D. NJ
Wood, M. D. Duffield, Emil Starr Of Hell
ena, G. E. DuttOn Of Helena, J. W
Shields, Ben Feis, j. w. Miller, G. P Ny
gre, G. A. Hooper, F. S. Spofard, D. {
Dulin, Dan Johnson, NJ. L. Bridgemar
Nick Baatz, L. E. Kenkel H E. Jones,