Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-02-28

tapped by wells, is subject to withdrawal
as needed and far more secure than man-
made storage.
Certainly the writer has in recent months
(before April, 194I) resorted to extremes ia
trying to impress government departments
and officials with the seriousness of the lack
OF dependable oil supplies in the Northwest
to meet an emergency; he has pleaded for
government aid to assist efforts in the regioa
to develop oil as a vital matter Of defense
security. but in every case has been told
from many sources that to the best of their
information there is ample surplus of oil
in the country. therefore, no provision to
authorize assistance for development Of this
critical material
Even DR.. Robert E. Wilson, consultaut
on petroleum, production division, office OF
Production Management in his statement
before the Cole committee Of the house Of
representatives, March q, last d94D, says:
No branch of the industry is in better shape
to meet emergency demands than Is the
producing end, but to remain In this healthy
condition, obviously requires the continue
ton Of exploration, validating and reason
able drilling activities If this be true then
why does it not apply to the Northwest?
1T is my belief these officials have but
one source of information on the subject.
and that is the large or major oil companies,
and as result of accordingly being mis-
informed we face grave danger of entering
a conflict with this Northwest criminally
neglected as to its vital oil needs, on account
OF our government officials placing too much
confidence in assurances that are not re-
liable.
DR. Wilson in his report to the Cole COM
mittee stated: The southeastern section 8
the ONLY part of the country which does
not now have the benefit Of pipeline trans
pOrtation.' Just why Dr. Wilson should not
be better informed, If he is to be accepted
as an authority and consultant on these
vital matters, is unknown to the writer, but
suffice to say that there is not one oil pipe
line on the Pacific coast from practically
Bakersfield In the central part Of the south
ern halt Of California to the Arctic circle
Doubtless, the various government agen-
cies are actuated by the type of information
and statements herein criticized, for it Is
known the Reconstruction Finance Corp. b
empowered to make loans to assist In de-
velopment of any critical or strategic ma
terials (such as oil In the Northwest should
be-, but apparently this vital necessity, is
not to be clasSed as critical or strategic In
the Northwest, presumably because the large
oil companies have created a wrong Inn
preston.
Nevertheless, common sense, economic
needs, but more particularly does national
defense, national security and national emer-
gency demand that highly important or
critical and strategic material be available
when and where needed. Therefore, why
should not oil in the Northwest be clasSed
a.
R. F. c. thereby be made available as loans
o assist in the legitimate efforts at develop
nent of oil in any fundamentally important
est in the region2
Considering the seriousness Of this matter
o all concerned, may I urge that every
mother and father Of the boys we are send
ng to the colors to help protect our land.
nd to all civic and defense organizations,
hat they bear down on this situation with
mphatic demands that our officials and
representatives at Washington do something
cry definite and immediate about it,"
TYLER A. ROGERS,
Wenatchee, Washington.
Dated April Is, 1941"
Such was the voice crying in the wilder
eSs" 10 months ago. 1t will take the am
lification of tens of thousands to make It -
card.
We appeal especially to royalty owners
wing in the states of Washington and Ore
on to take this matter up with their con-
ressional representatives. They can be es-
ecially effective.
Do members of the industry who read this
link 1t important enough for us to go to
lie expense of reproducing this article and
lat of Feb. 81, 1912, In pamphlet form to-
ether with our publication containing maps.
II distribution among congressman and :
,vernmental agencies?
If So please so notify us by letter or post
nd or merely complete the coupon below: