The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1952-06-19

people have about the petrol
cum industry. They are learning
that oil strikes no longer lead
to social and economic eXploS-
ion. Rather, they bring scare
fully controlled and orderly de-
velopment - a growth that be-
gins slowly and lasts a long
time.
This may have come as a
surprise to many in the Dako-
taS and Montana, which lie
over the great geologic structure
called the Williston Basin. For
these people have had little
direct experience with the oil
industry. Their impression of it
may stem from stories first told
years ago and made more lurid
through many feelings. Thus, it
would not be surprising If
many in this area WINGED when
they heard the news of oil
discoveries and viSualized a
grim new phase in the history
of their region: a wild SIAM
pede toward the first we'll, then
derricks sprouting around it as
thick as WesdS and, nearby, an
other vast, malignant growth
a nameleSs city of tents and
shacks whose dominant creed
was get rich and get out and
whose life was unprincipled and
unWaShed chaos.
But nothing like that has
happened in the Williston BaS-
in. And nothing like that will
happen. Every year it becomes
harder and more expensive to
find oil and get it out of the
ground. Only responsible, we'll
equipped companies can make
the attempt. The attempt is SO
big an investment that any
success must he handled with
care or it will be lost.
This care explains why the
discovery of oil is a blessing in
stead of a curse to the COM
munities near a new field. The
story Of Shell Oil Company's
operations leading to the first
successful well in the Montana
part of the Williston Basin is
a good example.
Oil biologists had known for
years that the underground
structures in the area were of
the sort that might contain oil.
Many had explored the, area.
and some companies had drill
ed wells, but without finding
any oil. About four years ago,
Shell scientists began a COM
pletely new study. After months
of work on maps and records
they built up a fresh and more
promising picture. Then field
parties explored the surface and
tested deep-buried rock forma-
tons. The picture began to look
still more promising. Finally,
after three years of difficult
and expensive search, they de-
cided to drill.
The first we'll struck oil, then
a second. More are being drill
ed. The area holds real prom
Use. But between the promise
and the fact of a successful
oil field lie years of hard,
painstaking effort.
How will this affect the COM
munities in the area of the oil
fields? Let us take as an ex-
ample a town we can call Oil
City, Midwest. There, in coun-
try not unlike that of Montana
and the Dakotas, the residents
have learned that the effect is
good. EE,
The most noticeable result, of
course, is growth - a uniform,
orderly development in every
phase of community life. It be-
gins with the census figures.
More people come in. Most of
the newcomers work for the oil
companies developing the new
field. They are production en-
gineers, biologists, transporta-
ton specialists, members Of Of
flee staffs, and SO on. They are
family men, we'll educated, US
ually longtime employees of
their firms. They have made
careers in the industry. And