Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-12-09

many of us have had our eyes so close
10 the things around us that we cannot
see the dawn breaking in the distant
skies We didn't really know that the
Montana oil industry is on the verge of
its most important development utiliz-
ing the modern tools of geophysical ex-
ploration; drilling with modern low-cost
methods and production with aeidization
and other scientific processes for secur-
ing greater recovery of oil from each
and every acre of oil land Only people
from the outside can fully realize these
factors.
Most of us engaged in the Montana
oil industry have never seen a seis-
mograph crew at work; have never seen
a modern portable light rotary in action;
have never seen a big well flowing oil
from the Devonian or other formations
below the big lime" in any other state.
and know nothing about modern scien-
tific production methods except from
reading about them. Until we grasp the
significance of these things. as have those
oil men of other states 1t is difficult to
visualize the future of Montana oil de-
velopment. Until we can visualize the flu
ture of Montana oil development 1t is diff
ficult for us to capitalize the possibilities.
1t makes it impossible for us to under
bLdlQ TIC SldLcmSUL Oh OUT NtSllOTb luAb
at takes only horse sense to see pres
emit in Montana far greater possibilities
than in any other undaveloped oil
state After all these years of being
constantly on the defensive in arguing
FOR our oil possibilities, 1t is a great
relief to welcome the vanguard of this
new generation" We pass our pleased
bewilderment along to those of our
members who have been struggling over
the discouraging years, trying to build
up fortune through royalty investment,
wondering when the day of maturity of
these investments will arrive.
Only this week we had a letter from
member who has bought a number OF
small royalties in recent years. He has
an investment of over five hundred dol
lars, which represents most of his saw
ings since he was cracked down by the
depression, in 1882.
''My income from royalties is only
$50 per month, he writes, "but that
new well will help a lot (He owns roy
atty on the Gauss). II am going to keep
on buying royalties until l can get my
income up to 800 per month and then
I am going to sit back and wait for De-
vonian drilling to make me Tich-if /
am ever going to get rich"
Although intended in factious ref
erence to deep test possibility, our friend
has adopted an attitude that is certain of
success, If we can believe anything of this
future outlook If he buys royalties on
the basis of relative meagre production
from horizons ABOVE the lime. he. will
enjoy an income that will provide ''pin
money and when deep production comes,
the truly large wells-such as have made
the greatest fortunes in the Midcon-
tinent and elsewhere-wilI provide the
speculative return.
This week we are closing royalty pur-
chase on a tract of ground that has one
producing we'll, a well drilling and pro-
iuction on every side. The discouraged
owner sold it to raise money to pay
taxes on other property, at a price so
ow that a yield of 500 barrels per acre
will pay the buyer a profit. He is one
Of the many Montanans who can see
nothing beyond the present production,
with restricted market, from ONE wen
IN an ENTIRE FARM. He has no thought
IF the possibilities Of the other wells to
be drilled, let alone the long-distance pos
Iibility of deep sand production. Like
others of US, he tries to be smart
by keeping his ear to the ground un-
mindful that he cannot see around him.
we have only few requests for our
coming new publication: Royalties and
Faxes We urge that all members
hould have this publication and give it
,areful study. 1t contains some good
lews OF great Importance.