The Kevin courier. [volume], August 23, 1922, Image 1

About The Kevin courier. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1922

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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Covering Operations and Developments of Kevin-Sunburst Field Fully Each Week and Briefly All Oil News of Montana
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oil! The Kevin Courier ®ws
KEVIN, Toole County, Mont., Wednesday, August 23, 1922
$2.50 per Year
Volume 1, Number 17
Frantz People Are
Preparing to Drill
Information That Governor Franz and Associates Have 3,000
Acres In Northern Fields And Are Making An Inspection Tour
This Week of Local Field, Is Given Public.
Following the news given some
time ago by The Courier that Gover
nor Franz, who first brought in an oil
well in the Cat Creek field, and or
ganizer of the company which bears
his name that has been so instrumen
tal in the development of that field,
comes the information that he and
associates under the name of the Mon
tana-Sweet Grass Oil & Gas company
have secured some 3,000 acres in
northern Montana and are this week
making a personal inspection of the
field to locate the site of the first well
to be put down by them with a rig
said to be in transit. The location of
the acreage the company holds is not
given. The following item regarding
this company's activities appeared in
the Great Falls Tribune:
A tour of inspection of the northern
Montana oil fields will be made in the
next few days by George T. Hansen
of Salt Lake City, president of the
Montana Sweetgrass Oil & Gas com
pany, and Governor Frantz of the
according to an
same company,
Kevin Business Men
Prepare For Rush
The continual proving out as oil
land of the acreage in almost all di
rections of Kevin has prompted the
live business men of the town to get
together and prepare for the rush
which is sure to follow as soon as the
outside world can be convinced, as are
already the big oil companies, of the
great future this field and its towns
have.
Realizing that the town will
one of these days suddenly emerge
from a village and the headquarters
of one oil concern into a bustling oil
«enter for hundreds of operators and
thousands of workers, a commercial
club has been organized to be ready
to give intelligent direction and as
sistance to the growth of the town
and encouragement to those who want
an opportunity in a business way or
to those looking for an investment in
the land now going for a song which
will be priceless in so short a time.
The organization meeting of the
Kevin Commercial Clb was held last
Wednesday, August 16, most of the
business men of the city attending. In
the absence of M. C. Green, who was
elected as temporary chairman at the
previous meeting, J. S. Gordon, the
proprietor of the White Cash store,
was named to act as chairman.
The committee of three consisting
■of Albert Goeddertz Jr., Angus Gaines
Brugs
Last week the drillers succeeded in
cleaning out the hole, which was a
difficult task, there being a set of
tools lost in the hole since four years
ago. The hole is said to have a depth
of 2,000 feet.
The Dry Forks Oil company is an
organization composed mainly of local
people. The well was first started in
1914. Since that time several oil com
panies have been interested in its
and Bruce Thompson, who were nam
ed to meet with the county commis
sioners in regard to roads leading in
to Kevin, reported that work would be
started immediately on the road lead
ing into Kevin west from the Shelby
Sweet Grass highway.
The following permanent officers
Were elected: Gordon Campbell, presi
dent; R. C. Lehman, vice president;
M. C. Green, secretary and J. S. Gor
don, treasurer. A committee of three
were appointed to be called the ways
and means committee, consisting of
Angus Gaines, William Seabrook and
Frank Stevens.
The next meeting will be held Fri
day, September 1, at 4 p. m. in Goed
dertz hall, and everyone interested in
the welfare of Kevin is urged to at
tend.
i U:.
Dry Fork Resumes Work
Conrad, Aug. 18.—Resumption of
drilling operations in the well of the
Dry Porks Oil company, three miles
north of Conrad, has aroused the oil
interest in this community.
Brothers, a contracting firm of Lewis
town, is in charge of the operations in
accordance with a contract entered in
to with the oil company several weeks
ago.
development.
nouncement made by B. O. Jones, sec
retary-treasurer, who has left for
Butte to meet Hansen.
Hansen will spend a few days in
Butte, looking over mining properties
owned there by him and will then be
joined in Great Falls by Governor
Frantz, the first vice president. L.
Lilly of the Montana Sweetgrass, now
inspecting acreage under option in
Cat Creek, will return to accompany
the officials to the northern fields,
where they will inspect the acreage
held, amounting to some 3,000 acres.
Company officials announced that
the standard rig to open development
operations is now en route and the
visit of Hansen and Frantz is inter
preted to mean that development
plans will be laid during their visit.
The return of Frantz and Hansen
in the development of the Montana
Sweetgrass company recalls Frantz as
the discoverer of the Cat Creek field
with his original company. Hansen
has also played a part in the state in
the mining game. He developed the
Walker mine, one of Montana's fa
mous copper producers, later sold to
the International Smelting company.
He still retains mining interests in
Montana.
Go East For Finance
Bruce P. Radigan and E. F. Cobb
of Lewistown, two operators who have
been identified with developments in
the Montana fields since the discoveiy
of oil in the state, left Thursday night
for Watertown, N. Y., on a business
trip. Since the interests of ilie two
men extend through Cat Creek, Ke
vin-Sunburst and many others of the
state, it was understood that their
eastern trip is in connection with
financing operations that will be of
importance in development of some of
these holdings.
Eulberg Makes Deal
on Land Near Kevin
A deal which may portend addi
tional development for acreage near
Kevin was consummated recently, ac
cording to Toole county records at
Shelby, whereby Adam J. Eulberg, a
Lewistown and Cat Creek oil operator,
transferred 58 per cent of all oil and
gas in the east half of the southwest
quarter, and west half of the south
east quarter of section 8-34-2 west;
and 82 V 2 per cent in the east half of
the southwest quarter of section 9-34
2 west, to Richards, Horteinstein &
contain a drilling agreement, but The
Courier is unable to secure additional
particulars at this time, and the prin
cipals could not be seen. Mr. Eulberg
secured this acreage, with other stuff,
early this spring, and in addition has
spent much time at Kevin in connec
tion with a water supply line he and
his associates are planning whereby
water for drilling and for Kevin was
to be piped from the big springs
above the Rim.
Greeks Form Company
An oil company with holdings in
six different fields to be known as
Hercules Oil and Gas company, has
been formed in Great Falls, capital
ized at $150,000, with shares at a par
value of $1 each. .
The company will seek to have only
Greek stockholders. The officials of
the company are: M. E. Howe, pres
ident; Alex P. Geranios, first vice
president; James Ritales, second vice
president; Hugh M. Jones, secretary
treasurer. Fred S. Francis is a mem
her of the board of directors.
Mr. Howe is a Great Falls restau
rant man, Mr. Geranios is a partner
in the Great Falls grocery company,
Mr. Ritales and Mr. Francis are land
owners of the Teton Ridge and Genou
sections. Mr. Jones is a railroad man
and is interested in the Great North
em Mutual Oil company,
cording to Mr. Jones,
comprise approximately 3,000 acres,
according to Mr. Jones. He stated that
a drilling site had not been selected,
but that they hoped to be able to start
operations within 90 days,
The company has holdings in the
Fowler, Kevin, Genou, Bowdoin, Te
ton Ridge and Crown Butte fields, ac
Their leases
Asks Three Quarters
of a Million in Cash
Billings.—Alleging breach of con
tract, the Wyoming Exploration com
pany has brought suit in district
court here against J..K. Prigmore and
Gus Peterson of Seattle, asking for
$799,000 damages.
The plaintiff company sets forth
that on June 27, 1921, it entered into
an agreement with defendants, where
by it was to transfer to them for a
consideration of $50,000, all its hold
ings, such as drills, boilers, derricks,
auto truck, and oil leases in Natrona
county, Wyoming. This includes 240
or possibly 280 acres in the Salt
Creek dome, according to the com
plaint.
According to the contract attached
to the complaint, the defendants
agreed also to form a new company
under the laws of Wyoming, to be
capitalized at $1,500,000, retaining
$751,000 worth of the capital stock
and giving the Wyoming Exploration
company $749,000 worth of the stock.
This agreement, according to the copy
introduced in the pleadings was sign
ed by Prigmore and Peterson as part
ies of the second part. W. B. Duy,
president, and C. L. Holden and C. F.
Dayle signed for the Wyoming Ex
ploration company.
In their suit the plaintiffs claim
that the defendants did not pay them
the $50,000, nor any sum, and that
they neglected and refused to organ
ize the new company and make the
distribution of stock as agreed.
In view of the premises alleged, the
plaintiff company claims it was dam
aged to the extent of $799,000 and,
asks judgment for this amount.
Cloudburst Washes
Out Kevin Tracks
Tracks of the Great Northern rail
way between Aloe and Shelby were
washed out Monday night by the
near-cloudburst which fell in that
section andrjhe Kevin passenger trau;
was several hours late Tuesday as a
consequence. Heavy rain fell in some
places and some hail, resulting in
slight crop damage, was reported in
a few parts of the county. No great
amount of injury, however, was done.
Farther east, near Harlem, a terrific
storm was experienced, doing a great
amount of damage not only to crops
but to buildings, livestock and other
property. A rancher's wife north of
that town is reported to have been
killed by lightning.
The total of second sand territory
now proved by the seven gushers in
Cat Creek from that formation is
nearly eight miles and a large part
of it is territory that was formerly
disproved so far as the first sand is
concerned.
Development Activities
KEVIN-SUNBURST FIELD
Producing
Gordon Campbell-Kevin Syndicate
No. 1, NE NE 16-35-3W.
Ohio-Hannon No. 1, SE SW 26-36
2 west.
Ohio-Davey No. 2, NW NE 3-35-2
west.
Ohio-Boyce No. 1, SW SW 23
36-2 west.
Ohio-Swayze No. 1, section 34-36-2
west.
Ohio-Sinden No. 1, SW NW 1-35-2
west.
Ohio-Barr No. 1, NW NW 2-35-2
west.
Ohio-Davey No. 1, SE SE 34-S6-2
west.
California Co., NE SW 26-35-2 west
A. E. Louis Corporation, NE SE
14-35-3W.
Drilling
Rainbow No. 1 NW SE 9-35-3W.
Coe No. 1, SW NW, 4-36-2 west.
Gladys Belle, NE NE 19-37-4 east.
Homestake No. 1, NE NW 3-35-2W.
Three-In-One Oil Syndicate No. 1,
SW SW 8-35-1W.
Troy-Sweet Grass Oil company No.
1, NE NW 28-34-1W.
Sunburst Oil & Gas company No. 2,
NE SE 5-35-2W.
Gladys-Belle-Fulton No. 1, NE NE
1-34-2W.
Gladys-Belle-Three-In-One No. 2,
NE SE 18-35-2W.
Gordon Campbell-Kevin Syndicate
No. 2, Lincoln, SW SW 10-35-3W.
Ohio-Reibe No. 1, NW NE 3-35
Gasoline Stock Was
Decreased in July
New York, August 19.—Gasoline
stocks held at United States refin
eries at the end of July decreased for
the third consecutive month, accord
ing to the weekly summary of the
American Petroleum institute. The
decrease during July was 441,930 bar
rels, covering approximately 66.7 per
cent of the refinery operating capa
city. There was an indicated increase
of domestic crude oil, kerosene and
fuel oil. Totaling 495,627 barrels and
a decrease of Mexican crude oil of 1,
054,213 barrels, making a net de
crease of all liquid stocks held at re
fineries of 558,588 barrels.
Pipe line and tank farm gross
domestic crude oil stocks in the Uni
ted States increased 7,210,000 barrels
in July, according to the institute of
which 4,775,000 barrels were east of
the rockies and 2,435,000 barrels in
California.
The daily average gross crude oil
production of the United States in
creased 5,505 barrels for the week
ending August 12, totalling 1,504,150
barrels as compared with 1,499,100
barrels for the preceding week ac
cording to the summary of the insti
tute*
No changes were reported in crude
oil prices for the major districts. Ac
cording to figures collected by the in
stitute, the imports of petroleum
(crude and refined oils) at the princi
pal United States ports for the week
ending August 12, totaled 2,258,812
barels, compared with 2,191,000 bar
rels for the week ending August 5.
Government Permits
Are Given Extension
Extension of time on drilling re
quirements on government oil and gas
permits to December 3 of this year,
has been made in the cases of Charles
N.. Kimball, W. J. Neuenschwander,
J. W. Cushing, Walter S. Sudgen and
Daniel A. MacGowan, according to
notices received by W. E. Bennett,
register and disbursing agent of the
Great Falls land office.
An oil and gas permit has been is
sued to J. R. Payne of Great Falls on
1,655 acres in sections 29, 30, 31 and
32-22-7 west, and section 25-22-8w.
Lucky Oil Files Articles
Articles of incorporation were filed
in Great Falls by the Lucky Oil com
pany, to have headquarters in Great
Falls, with an authorized capital of
$250,000. The organizers, also direct
ors for the first three months, are R.
J. Owens, H. C. Atkins, Maurice Han
sen, Edward Marshall and O. B. Kotz
all of Great Falls.
2W.
Ohio-Claire Stevenson No. 1,
NW 3-35-2 west.
NE
Apex No. 1 SW SE 3-35-3W.
Sweet Grass Oil company, 27-33-lw.
Rice No. 1, NW NW 8-35-2W.
Black Magic Oil company, SW SE
16-35-3-W.
G. C. K. Syndicate well No. 2 SW
SW 35-36-3W.
Sunburst Oil & Gas-Suhr, NE SW
10-34-2W.
California Co., SE SE 13-34-2W.
J. K. D. Shaffer, 33-36-2W,
Location
O'Neil & Catlett, NE 15-35-3W.
Rainbow No. 2, NW NW 15-35-3W.
Sweet Grass Oil and Land No. 1,
SW SW 6-35-1W.
Producers Oil & Gas, SE SE, 4
36-2W.
Potlatch No. 1, SE SW 27-34-1W.
Big West No. 1,NW NW 6-34-1W.
Potlatch No. 2, NW SW 28-34-1W.
Mid-Northern, NW NE 9-35-2 west.
G. C. K. Syndicate well No. 3, NE
SW, 26-35-3W.
Bitter Creek Oil Co., SW SE 16-36
2 west.
Burkes and Clark, 31-36-lw.
Shüt Down
Holding and Royalty, SE NE 21
35-3W.
Aloe Oil Syndicate No. 1, SE NW
6-34-2-W.
Orchard No. 1, SE SE 9-35-3W.
T. S. Hogan, SW NW 22-35-2 west.
California company No. 1, SE SE
10-35-3W. Shut down, 500.
I
California Well in Section
26-35-2W. East of Kevin
Lengthens Producing Area
What Many Oil Men Say Is Biggest Producer Yet Brought In
Proves Ground Five Miles Southeast of Ohio No. 1 and Makes
Certain Value of Land in Township Just to East of Kevin.
The bringing in of oil in the Cali
fornia company's well on section 26
35-2 west, known as the Homestake
No. 2, last Wednesday, is the biggest
single piece of news The Courier has
had to give its readers since we
chronicled the successful completion
of the Sunburst Gas & Oil company's
first producer. The new well is said
to have more oil under pressure than
any well in the field and later reports
are that the water is being handled
and many predict that it is only a
pocket, the nature of the water itself,
one authority tells The Courier, being
such as to indicate it does not come
from a large body. Men who have
made the survey of the eastern part
of the field were not surprised to
hear of oil in this location and say it
only confirms their theory and that a
still larger flow of oil is quite certain
to be found under ground not far dis
tant from the California.
Shelby, Aug. \17.—That the Cali
fornia-Homcstake well, 26-35-2 west,
which came in yesterday will make a
producer there is not the slightest
doubt among oil men here, the amount
of production to be guaged later when
the well shall have been drilled into
the sands. Parties from Shelby visited
the well this morning
finding it
oil
bubbling out from the cap as though
driven by gas, and indicated that the
casing was filed to the top with oil;
that it was coming out as stated was
witnessed by several reputable citi
zens. Douglas Park, president of the
Sweet Grass bank, was present late
Wednesday afternoon when bailing
was going on at the California, and
pronounced the oil as high grade oil,
and not of the dark kind carried in
Four New Cat Creek
Wells Are Completed
Lewistown, August 19.—Four fine
wells completed from the second sand
within 24 hours of each other was the
record made in Cat Creek up to last
evening. The first of these to be brot
in was the "56" Petroleum's second
well from the second sand. This is in
section 11 and it is now pumping over
700 barrels.
The Catlett-Midnorthcrn No. 5 com
pleted last evening is in the SW J ,4
of the NW14 of section 13, it is con
sidered good for at least 700 barrels
on the pump.
The Green-Midnorthem No. 12 was
the last to be brought in and was
drilled two feet into the sand last
night, having an estimated production
then on the pump, of 700 barrels. It
was fully completed this morning.
The Green-Midnorthern No. 13 is in
the NW14 of the NE M of section 14
and offsets the "56" to the southeast.
It will pump 700 barrels if not more.
This record of four wells
hours, all from the second sand, with
a total pumping production of at least
2,800 barrels will greatly stimulate
development work in the field.
in 24
Thinks Well of Kevin Field
Bruce P. Radigan, who was promi
nent in the oil game in this section
up to last fall when he went to Mexia
and other Texas fields, returning to
Montana recently, came over from
Great Falls yesterday on business and
will return to that city today. Mr.
Radigan has considerable interests in
the Kevin field and has a good chance
to come out well in that district. He
thinks Kevin is going to be all that
was expected of it, ultimately, and
says the success at the Ohio's Hannon
well has proved very encouraging. But
whether he makes it there or some
where else, Bruce is sure to win out
or later.—
in the oil game,
Lewistown Democrat.
sooner
Lost Tools are Found
Conrad, Aug. 18.—The set '•'f tools
lost four years ago in the Dry Forks
well, now owned by a company of local
men, has been recovered and drilling
has again been resumed. All eyes are
now centered on this well for opera
tors say prospects are encouraging.
People in this community arc watch
ing the well with interest.
the Hannon well,
the rig and in a few minutes the oil
had risen to 600 feet. Later, it is
stated that it was found that 800 feet
According to the statement of the
California people the well came in
when the drill had penetrated the
sand less than two feet, and drilling
w-- stopped because of trouble with
of water was under 400 feet of oil.
The water is black sulphur water, and
not salt water, and where it came
from presents a problem, the major
ity of opinion being that the well is
on the edge of the big pool, and even
more important than at first consid
ered. For the oil operators the devel
opments are awaited with unusual in
terest, as they may prove key to the
big oil pool for which all the wells are
drilling. No announcement is made by
the California as to when drilling is
to be resumed, but presumably so
soon as certain repairs can be made
on the rig. At noon today it is capped
and the oil is bubbling out . under
neath the cap through force.
Carter Co. Enters
Kremlin Oil Field
The Carter Oil company has enter
ed the Kremlin field, through closing
of a deal, involving $50,000 cash, with
the Kremlin Peti'olcum. The deal in
cludes property in the Kevin-Sun
burst field, and the Carter will im
mediately set up a standard rig on
the southwest quarter of section 10
32-12 south, 15 miles west of Havre,
where a pit is already dug and other
preparations made for drilling. This
location is about two and a half miles
south of the present Kremlin No. 1
well. The No. 1 well is being drilled
with a diamond drill.
Under the terms of the deal just
completed the Kremlin company
checkerboards 8,000 acres on the lower
part of the Kremlin structure, the
Carter acreage being 4,000 acres.
The Kevin-Sunburst acreage taken
by the Carter in the deal is described
as 160 acres in section 10-35-2 west, a
mile south of the Sunburst No. 1 well.
It is near the drilling activities of the
Midnorthern on the Dawson-Merkle
tract in section 9-35-2 west. The
Kremlin retains a S'/j per cent royal
ty in the quarter section. The acre
age was taken by the Kremlin from
the Homestake Exploration company
in trade for Kremlin leases. The
Homestake obtained it as a part of
acreage in a deal with the Kalispcll
Kevin syndicate on a sliding scale
royalty basis.
Open Offices In Shelby
Shelby, Aug. 19.—The Dakota-Mon
tana Oil company has opened offices
here and will engage in a general
brokerage business. The company has
recently moved its offices from Tol
ley, N. Dak., to here. According to A.
L. Früh and M. E. Porter, president
and secretary-treasurer respectively
of the company, plans are now being
considered to develop the company's
holdings in the Sweet Grass arch.
Within 30 days, they said, a well will
be spudded in on acreage in 34-35-2
west.
.Church News
The meeting held in the school
house last Thursday night was a real
success. Every seat was taken and all
went home in a happier and more
cheerful mood, willing and ready to
do all in their power for the uplift
and good of the community. How can
a home stand except it be founded on
the rock of God ? How can a city live
except God be its ruler? Let us make
our community and homes the place
where God dwells and rules, and thus
have clean homes and a clean town.
Everybody welcome to our services
which will be held every two weeks.
All visitors especially welcomed.
Ernest Kistler, Paster.
The B. O. Jones company of Den
ver, brokers, will open a branch of
fice at once in Great Falls for the
purpose of directing the financing of
the Montana-Sweet Grass Oil and Gas
company. The latter company will al
so have offices in the same building.