Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1943-01-02

the great gushers Of 1925. The royalty owner.
on the Anderson, the Byrne, the Putnam
Game, the Stannard- State, the Emmons per-
NIT and other famous producing properties
did not have large share in the 1912 roy
atty earnings. Their properties are now down
to small stripper production. If they have
not continued to buy royalties, their income
is very small.
AS stated, it was a "new crop" that shared
the 1912 fortunes. The lions share of profit
went, of course, to members of the BlacEfeet
Indian tribe. The development of the new
tribal pool in South Cut Bank produced an
enormous profit through the reserved roy
atty. The .BIackfeet Indians are likely to
become the worlds richest tribe through
their royalty earnings Like the individual
landowner, the Blackfeet tribe leases its lands
to drillers with a contract providing that
the operator shall pay to the tribe a sum
equal to the selling price of One-eighth of ali
oil and gas produced. That is 121 barrels
out of every 100 barrels or 1910 of the gross.
Thus the Blackfeet Indians received lbs bar
rels out of every 1000 barrels of oil taken
from the sensational new Tribal pool during
the past year. Thus it is that the members
Of the Tribe enjoy this year what a group of
royalty investors enjoyed in 1926 from the
royalty earnings of the farms in the Fulton
Rice pool
In the year 1926 when the world was
marveling at the great Fulton Rice pool
(which has produced more than SI2, 600
worth of oil, the area of the Tribal pool in
South Cut Bank was considered the poorest
prospect for oil in the whole State of Mon
tana. The Blackfeet Indians could not have
sold their rights for any sum whatever Had
it been possible for the Indians to have Of
fered their royalty for sale for cash, there
is none who would have made bid because
in 1925 there were few who believed that
there was a remote possibility Of oil any
where near the ''Marias river syncIine," which
is just south of the Tribal pool Had it been
possible to sell, it is probable that the In.
dians would gladly have converted their oil
rights into cash, because those we're hungry"
days for the tribesmen. However, Il is not
possible for them to sell their rights, and
so they retained the royalties which brought
them fortune during 1912.
Each year brings a new "crOp" of royalty
owners who achieve wealth. That is because
it is necessary to constantly find new oil
pools in presently proven fields. This year
it was the new Tribal pool. Next year it will
be some new district. Some area now con-
sidered sheep pasture"-just as was the
East Sunburst district before il was drilled
will next year provide the bulk of the 1913
fortune that is to be paid to royalty owners.
The 1913 fortunes won't go TO the persons
who buy royalties in 1913 but likely to those
Who have been buying royalties THIS year
md in years past. Just as the 1912 success
vent largely TO those who bought royalties
'etween 1885 and 1910, so win the 1943 sue
ess go to those who have ANTICIPATED
IeveIpment
Royalties become worth a fortune only with
DEVELOPMENT. The Lander royalty on
ONE Of the richest producing ground in
1Ontana was of little or no value until 1886