Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-08-01
SOLDIERS OF GREAT DARING

a cessation of tanker deliveries whenever
Japan proceeds with its inevitable thrusts,
and emergency preparations resulted
from that first "scare." Then where win the
Pacific northwest get its gasoline and fuel
oil?
Ask Washington, d. c., that question and
the reply win be a polite knowing smile.
However, we believe that we know that
Montana win be called upon to perform the
herculean task Of saving that situation.
Now, if this emergency comes, what are
we going to use for oil?
Everyone knows that the production Of
northern Montana is slipping. It is dropping
off because there isn't enough drilling.
There isn't enough drilling because ma
jOrity of north Montana producers are sit
ting back with arms folded.
North Montana refiners have brought
this on themselves by starving the producers
and discOuraging them in times past" said
one operator with whom we talked. LET
them do little Of the sweating now"
That Is fine, to get revenge on refiners
but how about the more important matter
of the war? What If Montana is called upon
for oil to win the war with the Japs-tO
beat off Jap landing parties in British Co
AumDla ana AT OrayS harDOry
We know other operators who say they
win not drill or even step up their prOduc-
tiOn, saying: "Why should get myself into
higher income tax brackets and into fights
with the wage-hOur commissioner"
Stin another said: 'sThe struggle for pri-
critics isn't worth the results obtained. The
larger operators In Cut Bank have supplies
with which to so ahead. The small operator
who starts ont to equip well today Is out
Of luck"
Still another said that ne was selling as
much oil as he wishes to seIl-that he did
not want to drain his property at greater
rate
These would be logical excuses for mac
tivity II there were no war. But as we see
1t, there Is more reason for an operator to
stick his neck out" today than ever before.
He who takes risk In drilling well today
Is doing a patriotic service far beyond the
opportunity Of the average soldier. If we
wait for a government official TO bark out
commands for drilling, this Montana oil viii
certainly arrive on the scene TOO LITTLE
AND TOO LATE. If 1t were for Australia
or in Greenland we might say that at is
no skin off our noses" but here In the
Pacific northwest it is decidedly BLOOD
ON OUR HANDS.
Unless there Is some drilling and that
soon, Montana refiners are going to be short
Of Oh for their normal needs, unless the
Canadian market is shut off. Canada needs
oil to carry on this seIf-same war. Every
barrel of oil that goes to Canada is equal
In effect TO a bomb dropped on the Axis
We cannot refuse oil TO Canada SO long as
1t is needed-and IL we are correctly in
formed, Canada viii need oil I'm growing
quantities for the duration. It would be an
unpatri0tic act to cut off oil needed In
Canada.
We grant that this Is a problem for the
entire industry and not merely the Tragedy
pants" individuals who are not drilling. The
buyers Of oil have a 10-cent spread under
the price ceiling. If that dime win offset
increased costs Of smaller operators, it might
be well to restore the October price, rather
than allow production TO drop below refinery
with no reserve.
Day-by-day thinking has been the rule In
the Montana oil industry as 1t Is now the
rule in Washington, D. C. 1t may prove
costly rule If Il is not reversed.
we are looking to probable new territory
for the production necessary to keep the
refineries running and directing our buy
ing AHEAD OF THE DRILL Those Of our
members who wish to keep pace with this
program are invited to ask for our current
@AHEAD OF THE DRILL"