Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-03-26
BULLETIN NO. p
BUY GASOLINE MADE FROM MONTANA CRUDE
BY L. R. HANNAH Secretary.

I drilled a number of wildcat wells
and finally found the pay sands at
Winnett and the Kevin-Sunburst
field, opening up a new industry
that has produced many millions of
dollars in new wealth, added great
ly to the income of the state. given
employment to thousands of people
and made prosperous communities Of
several counties that were on the
brink of disaster.
For a time, the speaker pointed
out, the matter of selling the crude
oil produced in these Montana fields
was not a serious problem. Several
large refineries were built near the
fields, and Canadian markets took
considerable portion of the output.
The drilling program continued, new
fields were opened up and the pro-
dueing areas of the established
fields were gradually extended
Then came a time when the Canad-
ian market was lost through the
opening of oil fields north of the
border, and the big refineries found
difficulty in finding a market for
sufficient gasoline to keep their
plants in operation to anywhere
near capacity.
With the market for crude oil
curtailed, drilling expansion slack |
ened and finally practically ceased,
men were thrown out of employ |
ment, income both to the state and |
the individual investors fell off, |
unemployment increased, and the
whole industry was thrown into a
decidedly unfavorable economic
This situation was brought about
because of inability to sell |
a sufficient amount of the products
of the Montana refineries to take
care of the output of the wells in
the fields
And while this situation was de-
veloping that crippled one Of the
states most important new indus
tries, approximately one-half the
gasoline being used by Montana mo-
torists was being imported into the
state from outside sources.
If Montana gasoline users would
insist on products manufactured
only from Montana crude oil, the
entire output of the Montana oil
wells would find a ready market,
he expansion program would be
'esumed, and employment furnished
% thousands OF additional workers
o say nothing of the additional
'evenue that would be, derived by
he state government through roy
Ilty payments, taxes, etc, and
prosperous condition restored to the
oil industry.
Many details OF the program were r
Explained by the speaker, with the
esuit that every person present 7
tas impressed with not only the i
Importance but the necessity OF do |
nR their part in the movement to
lelp Montana by using Montana 7
made gasoline.
The speaker mentioned the fact I
hat the program of using Montana 4
made products includes not only |
asoline and other oil products. but
D every other commodity produced
D the state, including the develop
tent of the sugar beet industry, in
hitch Pondera county also has a /.
ital stake
The fact that most Of the outside
IL companies doing business in
Iontana are now selling gasoline
lade from Montana crude oil was 4,
result OF the campaign by Mon =
anans to use only products OF their
wn state, was pointed out. OF !
ne nationally advertised products .
lat are being sold In. the state, !
lost Of them are manufactured in =
Iontana refineries from Montana 4
rude oil, made to special specifi- :
atoms, the speaker stated. Through
cooperative arrangement. stations =
andling so-calied outside products 4
tcontinued on Page FOUR