Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-02-14

With winter sealing virtually every
oil field in the state, ii has become
open season on proposals for explora-
ton in the spring and summer. In
cluded in the propositions advanced
recently was n gas line from the Kelvin
Sunburst field to the iron ranges of
Minnesota. Whether this project
takes shape or not, it is no bigger pro-
gram than has been intimated by OPP
orators interested in the northern gas
fields.
For several weeks operators have beer
wont to assemble in hotel Hobbies ano
more secret places and out of these hud-
dies come reports of gigantic gas pro-
lects. The basis for these schemes is
believed TO be the estimate of engineers
that there is more than IL $50 ,000. 000, DOC
cubic feet Of gas in the north field. And
there are other gas fields in Montana.
Build Hills Line.
The proposed gas line TO Minnesota
was ushered into the foreground after
the Montana Dakota Gas company
which recently completed a gas line from
the Baker field to the Black hills of
South Dakota. obtained a right of way
for construction Of q line from the Baker
district through Bismarck, N. d, to Far
go. This company has also announced
plans for a line from Chester to Glas-
gov. This has caused observers to view
the company program as a chain that
eventually will extend to the Twin cities.
1t has been pointed out that when the
Chester Glasgow line is built, only short
lines would be required to connec the
line with the gas producirg areas OF the
Kelvin Sunburst field. In Iact, all of the
Sweet Grass hills structures would be
-, d. l. ft~- < n I ~ rhanfar I1.A anu
link would connect the Glasgow termin-
us with Baker, a distance Of about 100s
miles. With this link completed, con
struction of 200 miles of line to the
Minnesota iron ranges would be neces-
sary.
Big outlet in East.
Some claim that the Minnesota pro
ject is borne u by the fact that the
lines so far constructed have cost more
than can be hoped to be justified In the
immediate future on the basis of returns
from the cities served. This, it is said,
may be an indication Of the huge outlet
expected in Minnesota.
Montana gas already is said to have
been of material aid in reducing smelt-
ing costs in the Black hills, making pos
sible the utilization of low value ore. 1t
is predicted that a similar result would
De OpJdllltQ III the MllllleSOld litldSs
where much Of the ore is shipped to
eastern coal fields for smelling. Due to
the large amount of gas such a project
would require, the Baker field would not
be large enough, hence the rumors Of a
hookup with the north field.
Until this latest rumor developed, the
~favorite project was a line from the
Turner valley fields in southern Alberta
to Great Falls, Helena, Butte and n
conda. While there is a large supply or
gas in Alberta, 1T is understood that an
international franchise could only be Sc
cured on a one year basis. Many believe
that unless a long time contract could
be secured, few companies would be will
ing to undertake such a project.
Forecast Development.
Regardless of the rumors now afloat,
possibilities have gone on record as fore
casting rapid development within the
next year. Thus far, Great Falls con
tinues to get ar ample supply of gas
from the north field. Shelby also is
getting gas at an unusually low rate
due to a war that has brought a 20
cent basic rate by the Great Northern
Utilities company In competition with
the Citizens Gas company. While the
state railroad commission has ordered
the Great Northern Utilities TO increase
the rate to 50 cents, the same as Is
charged by the Citizens company, the
former concern has its re-
fusal to do SO,