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

could completely destroy half of these wells,
production. Of. the. other half. could. be
doubled"
Mr.. Tyler replied: mot only do I consider
Mr.. BeSsemyer's statement to be misleading
but grossly mistaken assurance and highly
dangerous to the future security of our
Northwest In time Of danger, If it is to be
accepted as a fact or depended upon: it
being conducive to suddenly finding ourselves
in the midst of our greatest national emer-
gency without the adequate and essential
oil supplies when and where most needed.
"OIL today in this modern age and modern
warfare, is the key to success or survival.
1t is as essential for defense and offense
as Is powder for the guns and food for the
conbatants, but it is most imperative that
the supply be adequate and available when
and where needed, and not Just in a CEN
tralized oil production section of California
or elsewhere.
Mr. Bessemyer speaks Of these 10000
wells as being on the Pacific coast, yet we
must take issue with the statement and
point out that we always believed that Ore
gon, Washington, British Columbia and
Alaska comprise q good share of the Pacific
coast, and that the region of California In
which the stated 10000 oil wells exist, is a
relatively small part of southern California,
in relation to the Pacific coast In other
words, we must consider the Pacific coast
line as reaching at least from Lower Cali
fornia to the Arctic circle, as regards defense
area that we must consider essentially our
problem in case of conflict.
Then we must admit the greater share
of this region is known to be the most yul-
nerable section OF any part of our defenses;
this is apparently recognized by our defense
authorities, as evidenced by the recent in
tensiVe efforts being made to equip and for
tify the area and construct additional air
bases therein.
"The areas Of the Columbia Basin, the
Puget Sound and Alaskan territory are COM
pHetely isolated from Oil production and yet
contain some of the most important navy
yards, ship building yards, air bases, air.
plane factories and military posts in the
entire country, and no oil production within
3 thousand miles.
However granting for arguments sake
only, that there can be ample oil produced
rom the wells of California (where the only
oil wells are on the Pacific COAST to take
ARE Of the Pacific coast needs, we still
would like to have Mr. Bessemyer or any
convince those of us familiar with the North
vest, just how they can guarantee delivery
# such oil to the many strategic points Of
necessity for defense Of this coast, in an
Our limited transportation facilities in
he Northwest MOST DEFINITELY ARE
JOT TO BE DEPENDED UPON IN CASE
IF AN EMERGENCY OR AN OUTBREAK
IF HOSTUITIESl Storage facilities to the
'est of our knowledge have not been in
reased in the region as yet, over our peace
me needs; though the writer months ago,
ceiling this emergency was inevitable sug-
ested through the press that the abandoned
ailway tunnels in the Cascades, Of miles In
sngth, be considered as possible under
round storage for gasoline and oils to meet
n emergency
IF our naval forces were engaged In op-
rations in Atlantic waters it is certain that
o oil tankers, freighters or merchant ma
ne vessels would be safe from submarines
r marauders to ply Pacific coast waters.
"An other regions of the United States
ave much greater transportation facilities
ian the Northwest and virtually all other
arts of the country, excepting the south
astern and northwestern parts are crisis
'oSsed with oil pipelines or underground
'teries carrying this precious Ife-blood to
sfense and industry.
"Tn short, ample or surplus oil elsewhere
any part of the United States is no pro-
ction or guarantee that this most isolated
orthwest will have the necessary supplies
hen most needed.
"Only immediate and extensive develop
ent of the oil possibilities of the North
est and additional and adequate storage
thin it can give the measure of protection
at is vitality necessary. Production of oil
len and where needed, is far more essen
II to defense in this coming emergency
an is storage; any oil in natures reservoir,