Montana oil and mining journal., 1942-03-28
WASHINGTON FRIEND
TELLS THE STORY OF
pain IN NORTHWEST

k111N I'm 4NOA& H w I'D Il
In Washington, d. C., we have friend
whose name we do not know who has long
been sending us valuable sfnside infOrma-
tiOn" on the Washington attitude toward oil
and gas development in Montana His infOr-
nation has been good, we have found and
time has proven the accuracy Of much Of
the advance information he has provided.
He writes only occasionally and we were
interested in his response TO our articles on
war and the Pacific Northwest" dealing
with the problem of supplying motor fuel
to Washington and in turn to Alaska when
Japan turns her attention to an offensive
war against the United States. The pOssi-
bility that Japan seeks To draw the fighting
forces Of Uncle Sam into far-Off Australia,
only TO strike swiftly at the AIeutian islands,
thereby upsetting American plans of attack
on Tokyo makes imperative the necessary
steps to begin to prepare for the emergency
that everyone believes win come. Yet wash
ingtOn apparently does not think Of 1t In
terms other than Of rationing the dwindling
supplies which are reaching Puget Sound
even without submarines shooting at tankers.
Our Washington correspondent lays the
trouble to powerful interests which have dis
counted the possibility of Montana helping
in the emergency. Here are excerpts from
the latest letter. We do not endorse the
text of the letter. 1t is quoted as merely one
Washington mans viewpoint:
"The tragic appeal for help In the Journal
of Feb 21 on page 4, is the most appealing
article that have read for some time.
personally think it rather pitiful that a
state with ali that Montana has to offer,
is so tied down hand and foot by the major
interests. For some time / have wanted to
tell you something that have known since
Christmas and which / believe tells the story
behind the picture.
Last December when everybody was piling
into Washington for war contracts, after
the Pearl HarbOr tragedy, a representative
of one Of the largest holding companies was
here getting contracts signed. was told he
did we'll He was asked what about Montana.
Said he, They don't have an adequate sup
ply; in fact, they have only a few puddIes
of IOw-grade oil. We don't need anything
that they may have. WE can furnish all
that is needed for the Pacific Northwest
He made this statement before group of
people and 1 wondered at the time who was
looking after the interests of Montana
"Tt has been suggested to me that your
governor should secure a conference with
INC DEhAAS u uSAc61eAOH VI ECpAO~
sentative men with him and credentials
to number Of proven oil and gas fields and
their possibilities and ask for an immediate
loan for the development of Montana's fields
due to the war emergency that adequate
protection OF the Pacific Northwest is vital
to the protection Of orr country and Mon
tana has the right to demand the same con-
sideratiOn as other states.
snw int
putting oil that is being shipped hundreds
of miles, on the doorstep of Montana. In
view of the short period in which to accom-
plish this seasons program, should think
the quicker you get started, the better. 1t
IOORs like aIl-out for Montana to beat the
@big boys" as well as the Japs 1 can't help
but wonder if the major interests are as
interested in the defense of the Pacific
Northwest as they are in the contracts they
have obtained.
'eThis have heard, against Montana, that
in 20 years, more or less, her production is
still In the lower brackets as compared with
some of the major fields that have been
producing for the same length of time and
| am wondering If this is the reason that
RFC and other financial setups feel that
your fields are small fry. / personally do
not know: only quoting what has been sug-
yested to me. do recall however, an open
letter in the Journal last fall asking the
major companies to come into Montana and
help TO develop her fields. can understand
now why they were anxious to keep you out
If the picture.
"The information that have volunteered
IS to the contracts for the majors and also
he criticism of MOntana's fields as to pro-
iuctiOn, grade etc. is absolutely true and
have every reason to believe that 1t is
he sentiment of the big interests. It is your
privilege to take it or leave it, my motive in
writing you is In the interests of Montana.
L looks as though you will have to lift the
ky to get somewhere.
'The enclosed article is from our local
newspaper. 1t helps to put Wyoming on the
ist of oil producing states. Looks as though
)'NTahOney is all-Out for production. After
H. being able to put up good fight is a
Ood fault and take off my hat to you"