The Poplar Standard : Voice of the oil city 1955-02-11

              Oil Discovery Opens New Productive Area
Annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner at Poplar Well Attended
The Poplar Chamber of Commerce annual dinner in the new American Legion hall Feb. 3. is pictured above. The right hand photograph show� a closeup view of the speakers' table, while the smaller picture shows a view of
the entire room.
Seated at the speakers' table from left to right are: Mayor J. M. Nass and Mrs. Nass: Mrs.. Allen Erickson; Rev. Allen C. Erickson; Howard Porter of Billings,   speaker   of   the   evening:
Glenn Bunnell and Mrs. Bunnell; and Harold Drange, Carter Oil Co. official of Billings.
Pictures of the banquet were taken specially for The Poplar Standard by Jack Leach, photographer for Link magazine.
New Well Raises Poplar's Stature As "The Oil City"
Authoritative sources report that he   California Company   No.   1
Grimm well locate.l about fifteen niles northwest of the Poplar field
became a producer over the weekend, flowing ai a rale o: i.:nc:een
barrels per hour.
The new well, along with the statement from the Murphy Corporation and the Shell Oil Co. on construction of a 450 mile pipeline from the Poplar field, has brought a wave of optimism which will in all probability be the   basis  for  another   building
Indian Cagers Set New High Scoring Mark Friday Night
The high fiying Poplar Indians, f second half to a mo
losers of only one game this season, continued their rampaging flight along basketball's vic-ory trail last week, with a record-breaking performance at Nashua Friday, wnere the Indians blas'.ed the Porcupines in u scorching 96 to 73 contest and at Malta Saturday, w ere they outclassed Malta 55 to 39 in a rough, slam-bam contest.
Wolf Point. co-h.)lders with Poplar of the Eastern B conference leadership, continued their mastery of conference foes also, handing Scobey a 62 to 57 setback and romping over Fairview 75 !o 39. Poplar and Wolf Point still own Identical conference records. 13 wins against 1 loss, as of Feb. 7.
Several new school records were set in the blistering scoring spree staged by Poplar and the near cellar-dwelling Nashua quintet, a team that had given little indication of possessing such scoring powers before this season.
Ti;e 96 points scored by Poplar in this tilt is a new all-time high single game scoring mark by a Poplar team, the old mark being 93 points. The old record of 93 was set by the 1951 State C Championship Poplar team, when sparked by their great center. Mike Granbois. who scored 48 points, as they toppled Medicine Lake 93 to 70 on the Armory floor in February of that year.   '    .....
The two to-als combined of 169 points is also a new record for points scored in any one Poplar game, and may be � State record. Previous record was 163 points scored in the Poplar 93 Medicine Lake 70 fray of 1951.
Considerable time was spent at the free throw line and free throws figured heavily In the big scores amassed by the two teams. A total of 83 free throws were attempted. 45 by Poplar, and 38 by Nashua. Poplar converted 32, another school record, of their 45 tries and Nashua 29 of their 38.
Scottie Buckles opened the fireworks with 2 free throws, giving Poolar a 2-0 lead, but Nashua grabbed an early 7 to 2 lead and battling determinededly. stayed close the entire first quarter. The score was knotted at 15, 17. 19 and 21 before 2 free tosses by Buckles and a basket by Eagleman moved Poplar into a 25-23 first quarter advantage.
Buckles. Renz and Eagleman did all the scoring in Poplar's 29 point second quarter, but it was the phenomenal shooting of Buckles and Rer.z that furnished the thrills. Bo'h swished 12 apiece the second frame, while Eagleman dropped 5 of 6 free throws, sending Poplar to a 54-39 intermission bulge. Buckles had 22 points and Renz 19 to their credit the first half, while DeSonia and Tehista were keeping Nashua going with 17 and 12, respectively.
The Indians slowed down slightly in the 'bird counting only 19 points, but Nashua picked up the slack and poured in 22 points, narrowing the margin to 73-57 at the third quarter stop.
Reserves pla; .d most of the last quarter for Poplar, acquiring 17 of 23 poin's while Nashua was finishing with 16. setting the final score at Poplar 96. Nashua 73
Seot'le Buckles and Bob Renz shovelled in 30 and 27. respectvely. provided the big push for Poplar. Chet Eagleman was a constant threat and contributed 17. Steel hit 7. Two of his driving lay-up snots were of high class calibre, bringing forth a warm response from the crowd. Baker made 6. Eb.-rling 3. Diserly. Hayne, and Pipe 2 each. Darrel Christian did not score, but saw only a few minutes of action in the first quarter, sitting out the rest of the game. Tehista. Nashua guard, and Norm DeSonia, center, were the sparkplugs for the losing team, notching 34 and 21 respectively.
The following night at Malta. Poplar overcome the roughhouse tactics of the Mustangs, and posted a 55 to 39 win.
Poplar rather puzzled and a little stymied by Malta the first half, held only a slim 21 to 19 lead at the half, but pulled away in the
fortable
margin. Quarter totals were Poplar 13. 21. 33. 55. Malta 6. 19. 32 and 39.
Poplar's scoring was led by Renz'a !."> points, closely followed by Buckles with 13. and D. Christian 12. Steele picked up 7. Baker 4. and Eagleman 4. Nelson. Mustang guard, dropped 14 for second place scoring honors.
Poplar's B team won handily both evenings also, walloping Nashua B's 77 to 44. and taking
Malta's B's 61 to 43.
All ten players broke into the scoring column in the Nashua tilt which saw Poplar leading at the quarters by 15-11. 30-21. 49-31, and 77-44. Boxer scored 23. B. Kirn 14. A. Culbertson 8, Zimmerman 8. H. Culbertson 8. Wakan 4, Hart 4. Sol-berg 3. E. Cuiber son 4. Brown 2. Boxer led scoring in the Malta game also, this time with 13. Kirn hit 14. Hart 11. A. Culbertson 4. and Brown 2.
Poplar entertains Fairview here tonight, and journeys to Scobey tomorrow night in their final conference test of the year. In previous meetings with these two clubs. Poplar decisioned Fairview 70 to 47. and Scobey 76 to 48 and 68 to 65.
Dean J. S. Pennepacker, dean of the college and professor of philosophy and religion at Rocky Mountain College, Billings, will speak at the Sunday morning service at the First Presbyterian church.
De.m Pennepacker's son. Dr. J. S. Pennepacker, Jr., is practicing medicine at Sidney,    j   .
WOMEN'S CLUB MAGIC SHOW SET FEB. 18
One of the major-raising efforts
CITY COUNCIL WILL OPEN STREET PAVING  BIDS
The Poplar City Council "will convene Friday evening. February 11. for the purpose of opening bids on the street paving project ap- !o{ the Poplar Women's club this proved by the citizens of Poplar I year is the magic show by Glendi la� fa""   ... , ,ne Mystic which will be presented
^i^^oSt^^rrerf-February ,8- at
expected that a large number o* .tne n'6n school gym. contractors will offer bids on the contract.   Bonds  to  finance   the street improvement project will be up for bids early in March.
FORMER POPLAR LADY DIES IN MISSOULA
Funeral services were held in Missoula last Monday morning for Mrs. Fred Reynolds, who died in a hospital there Thursday night from a lingering illness. Burial was in Seattle. Mr. Reynolds survives.
A requiem mass was held in Our Lady of Lourdes c lurch Tuesday morning for the former Poplar resident. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds left here two years ago to make their home in Missoula.
The show will consist of two parts. The first part of the performance will be made up of prestidigitation, featuring cards, handkerchiefs, ropes, vanishes, productions and many other seeming miricles.
The latter part of the program will be made up of mental magic, featuring Glendi's own invention, the thought photograph and the impossible prediction.
Included in the program will be ma".y tricks originally presented by some of the world's famous magicians. Glendi presents his program with plenty of humor and <ypes of tricks that will appeal to both young and old.
Eetween the acts there will be novelty musical numbers presented by a "Little German Band" directed bv Joe Eve and made   up   of
George Killenbeck had the misfortune to overturn his truck near Circle Tuesday morning while en-route to Billings. Mr. Killenbeck I members of his high school band, returned homewith several minor | Members of the women's club are bruises. making an advance sale of tickets.
LEGION CAGERS j BREAK EVEN 'IN FOUR GAMES
I The Poplar Legion basketball I team had a very active weekend i nlaying four games in a span of I 55 hours. Playing away from home j the Independent cagers won two I and lost two during that time. In a seven-team tournament at Opheim the Legionaires drew a bye and moved into thesemi-finals bracket where they were downed by the 779th Squadron Airbase team 88 to 65. The service team went on to meet the Peerless Pirates in the finals with the Peerless powerhouse winning the title 37 to 6B.
In the Saturday evening game for third place the locals were as hot as they were cold in the afternoon and downed Ophiem's town team 89 to 83. In this game Buckles hit 23 points. Casey made 17. Nordwick 16 and Hanson 14. In the first game Baracker was high for Poplar with 20 while Buckles and Hanson each made 12 and Murray 11.
After taking third in the Opheim tourney the Poplar club traveled to Sidney Sunday afternoon where th�y downed the Sidne,. .V.F.W quintet 78 to 67. The locals were ahead all the way in this battle with quarter scores of 23-19. 38-28, 56-42 and 78-67.
Hanson hit 20 for Poplar, Anderson rolled in 17. Buckles 13, Bar-acker 13 and Nordwick 10.
Monday evening the Legionnaires went to Nashua to meet the once-defeated town team there. The Nashua club set a torrid puce the slightly tired Legionnaires could not match, although it was not until the final quarter that Poplar was out of a threatening position. Nashua finally took the contest 117 to 96.
At Nashua the Poplar team was paced by Baracker at 35 points. Buckles made 25. and Nordwick and Hanson 16 each. Viste of Nashua made 27 points to lead the winners.
The Nashua tilt was the second high scoring spree in which Poplar has had a part this year. Earlier they lost a game to the Peerless Pirates 135 to 107.
The Poplar Standard
"Voice of The Oil City"
Vol. 46.    No. 17
Poplar. Roosevelt County. Montana. Friday. Februar> 11, 1955
Oil, Gas Commission Hearing Closes; Producers Agreed Oil Production Controls Needed
RESERVATION  ELECTION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18
The election at which members of the Fort Peck tribes will decide on the mineral rights restoration act will be held Friday of next week. Not only will they decide whether to restore the minerals to post '27 allottees, but they will decide how the money acquired under these rights will be distributed.
Polling places will be open in each of the six districts of the reservation for the benefit of those living on the reservation proper, lion-resident members of the tribes will vote by mall.
Fort Peck Indian Police Force
Police well-
The  Fort Peck   Indi are   rapidly   becoming equipped and efficient law enforcement organization.
The  department  is   equipped
which is shown in the photograph.
Officers on the force are shown from left to right: John Bushman,   stationed    at   Wolf
Point; Edward Scott, newest member of the force, stationed at Poplar; and Calvin Yellow-robe, chief of Indian Police and the veteran member of the farce.
�Staff Photo
CARAVAN PLANS DISPLAY FOR AREA FARMERS
With marketing and agricultural engineering exhibits designed to be of interest to both farmers and farm' women, the Montana Extension service Marketing Caravan will be on display nt Wolf Point on February 24. according to Bob Roush. Associate County Extension Agent.
This will be one of 24 places in the state which the Marketing Caravan is being shown, and the exhibits will be on display at the Camrud Motors Showroom from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The agricultural engineering exhibit in charge of Eric B. Wilson Extension Agricultural Engineer, is entitled "Waters for the Farm" and deals with water supply and sewage disposal systems. The exhibit shows how water may be treated for pollution, hardness, taste and odor. Two different types of disposal systems using septic tanks are shown in the model. One is a subsoil disposal system and the other is a surface disposal system.
In the marketing exhibits. Bruce Brooks, extension specialist, has concentrated on three displays. One of these deals with various cuts of beef, where they come from in the carcass and the method for cooking each cut. The second exhibit concerns grain contamination and suggests methods of preventing it. and the third display points up the desirable and undesirable bread wheat characteristics. Actual loaves of bread made from different qualities of bread wheat will be included in the exhibit
Of special interest to homemak-ers, Roush said, will be the exhibit on beef cuts and cookery. By means of pushing buttons on a control panel the visitor can illuminate the location of particular cuts on a large outline of beef carcass and the cuts themselves. By pushing another button the name of the cut of meat and the method of cooking it will be illuminated on the exhibit. The purpose of the exhibit is to emphasize where the cut of meat comes from on the carcass, what it looks like and how to cook it.
STEWART ROWE MOVES TO ROCKY BOY AGENCY
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Rowe left last week for the Rocky Boy Indian Agency near Havre. Mr. Rowe. who has been employed as a conservationist in the agency land department in Poplar, will have a similar position at Rocky Boy.
The new conservationist for Fort Peck is Thomas Adams who came to^Poplar from the Fort Belknap agency.
TOURNEY TICKETS SALE ENDS HERE TODAY
No more orders for tickets to the.Class B dvisional tourney will be taken at the Poplar high school after 4 o'clock today, Friday, Feb. 11. Supt. A. L. Cooper reported this week.
Tickets requested, but not paid for, will not be turned in to the office in Wolf Point, Mr. Cooper said.
The meeting of the Montana Oil and Gas Conservation Commission which started in Poplar December 8 was completed Tuesday evening after two days of hearings. The original hearing had been continued from December 8 to February 7. The purpose of the meeting was to consider adoption of field rules and spacing units, to determine whether the Poplar Unit area is in the public interest and necessary to recover the most oil or to prevent waste and to determine if waste exsits or is eminent.
The greater part of Monday was taken up with the cross-examination . of Robert Sweeney, reservoir engineer and chief witness for the Murphy Corporation. Mr. Sweeney's direct testimony and that of most Murphy witnesses had been presented at the December portion of the hearing.
Monday afternoon the various other dil companies began the presentation of their witnesses and this continued along with cross examination by Jack O'Connor, attorney, representing the Murphy interests. Ved Stockmar represent-ng the C. C. Thomas interests and P. M. Westfeldt were the chief attorneys for the independents.
The chief witnesses presented by the small oil firms were H. J. Gruy. petroleum consultant from Fort Worth. Texas, and R. W. Tesch. Jr.. also a petroleum consultant from Fort Worth.
The burden of the evidence presented by these men together with that of Ben Levert. geologist for Empire State Oil Co., was that the oil field was divided into several differen' oil pools or reservoirs and no' a single pool as pictured in evidence by Mr. Sweeney. They also contended, in evidence given the commission, that the various producing zones in the field were entirely separate and that each constituted an oil pool as described legally in Montana law. This was opposed to the Murphy witnesses, who presented evidence indicating the various producing structures were connected by vertical fractures.
Data for all of the evidence presented as regards wells in the East Poplar Unit was taken largely from figures and data supplied by Murphy at the first part of the hearing.
One other point of conflict in the testimony of the witnesses representing Murphy and those for the various independents was regarding well spacing. The Murphy geologists and petroleum engineers stated that it would be possible to drain the entire field from a comparatively few well located around the geometric center of the field, and that additional wells drilled were merely to chart field behavior, area and performance.
Opposing this belief were wit- , nesses for the independents who j brought testimony tending to prove that wells should be drilled on every 40 acres or a 40-acre spacing pattern to secure the greatest possible amount of oil with the least waste.
At the first hearing the Murphy recommendation for field control or controlled production on a prorated basis proved to be a bombshell. However, by the time the hearing was concluded Tuesday it was evident that all parties to the controversy were in favor of conservation practices in the field with controlled productiOT to be prorated production on some basis. The Murphy allotment plan was on a per acre ibasis.
Near the close of the hearing the varous small oil firms including Empire State Oil Co., Wagner-
Christianson C. C Thomas and the Ashland Oil and Refining Co.. made a joint recommendation to the com.-nissino that they set up the field on a 40-acre spacing pat-em wilh daily production to be limited to 150 barrels of oil per well per day. The Murphy re-cmomnedation had been to set the withdrawal rate at 15.000 barrels per day of fluid, including both oil and water.
With all evidence, recommendations and arguments having been presented, the commission will have 30-days in which to hand down a decision. The commission could either accept or reject either of the two proposals or it can combine the two recommendations in a manner computable with the evidence and set up their own field rules. The weighing of the evidence and issuing of the final order is up to the commission.
Following the hearing a spokesman for the Murphy Corporation, operators of the East Poplar Unit jwned jointly by Murphy. Phillips Petroleum Co.. Ca-ter Oil Co. and Placid Oil Co.. made th(. following statement to the press:
"Since the completion of the discovery well in the East Poplar field in the spring of 1952. development has been carried out to the extent that during 1954 more than one out of every five barrels of oil produced in the entire state of Montana came from the East Poplar Field."
The Murphy official continued that, "with coming of the pipe line and the opening of new eastern markets there will be greater need than ever for sound conservation in the field to insure the greatest ultimate recovery of oil. This sound conservation," he said, "will benefit producers, royalty owners, and the State of Montana, and will insure-a long era of prosperity for Poplar. Roosevelt county and the ntire northeastern section of the state.
boom  in the Poplar-Wolf Point
News of the Grimm well, although discussed Openly by knowing oil men in Bttenitnre nt the Montana Oil and (3 .s Conserva. tion Commission meeting in Poplar, has not yet been confirmed by company officials.
A drill stem test was made in �h� Madison formation between 6533 and 6553 feet Saturday night. The tool was open six hours and ten minutes and shut-in for 45 minutes. Gas rose to the surface in one hour and flowed oil in ont! hour and 45 minutes. The oil was said to be of 37 gravity flowing as reported above.
The veil it located about 26 miles northeast of Wolf Point In the center of NE SE 13-32N-49E and the discovery is expected to open a new area of production since several oil firms are interested in leases in the immediate vicinity.
The pipeline planned will be the northern terminus of a line capable of delivering oil to Chicago and Wood River. Illinois. The line will run south from the Poplar field to connect with lines now operating in eastern Wyoming, the pipeline at Guernsey, and the Western Pipe Line at Fort Laramie
Cost of the construction is expected to exceed $18 million with the work to begin as soon as the weather permits according to T. D. Langford of the Murphy Corporation at El Dorado. Arknasas. The pipeline will be owned by a new company owned jointly by Murphy and Shell Oil.
In the East Poplar field :his week the activity is centered about two wells. Empire State has mane a completion on its No. 7 Rahder. but they are still testing and initial production figures have not been released.
The Murphy No. 53. which is an offset to the Ashland No 1 Lozar located in SW SE 16-29N51E is down to 5825. They completed taking a Schlumberger log and are proparing to run pipe.
The Richfield No. 1 Modic in Daniels county near the Canadian line the company reached a total depth of 8915 and the well has been plugged and abandoned They had some slight oil shows in cores, but recovered only gassy sulphur water and salt water on drill stem tests. This adds another dry hole to the series that have been drilled in Daniels county without a strike to date. �   �
In eastern Roosevelt county the final decision on one wildcat has not been reported, although it has been expected any day for the past two weeks.
In the Phillips and George R. Brown No. 1 Harmon south of Bainville the latest test showed only a small percentage of oil. but they are sti'.l testing.
The Deep Rock No. 1 LcPago located on the state line northeast of Bainville was plugged and a-bandoned this week.
DAUGHTER OF POPLAR MAN DIES SUNDAY EVENING
Mrs. Ora Stedman. daughter of O. J. Combs of Poplar died in St. John's hospital, Helena Sunday evening. She was born Feb. 17. 1905 in Geary. Okla.. and was a graduate of the Mal'a hign school.
Besides her father, she is survived by two brothers. Leo Combs of Poplar and Jay Combs of Nashua and one sister. Mrs. L. J. Ernst. Mrs. Stedman visited Poplar on several occasions.
GAS AND OIL RESOURCES GROUP FORMED
Richard P Ryan of Billings, state chairman of the Montana Natural Gas and Oil Resources Committer, was in Poplar this week to organize a Poplar area committee. The Poplar area includes all of Roosevelt. Daniels and Sheridan counties.
Peder Moe was named Poplar area chairman. Other area offciers selected to date are: Howard Hel-mer. director of the si>eakers' bureau, and Glenn Bunnell, director of information.
The area committee will serve in spreading information on the recent action of the supreme cour giving the Federal Power Commission the power to fix the price of gas for the producer In the Bald. This power also takes away fion the states certain power in con frolhng their own nature! re sources and the trend is apt to lead to price fixing in other fields, the national committee feels.
Legion Auxiliary Plans Smorgasbord For Sunday
The Poplar American Legion Auxiliary met Mnoday evening at the Legion hall with 20 members present. Mrs. Allen Zimmerman presided.
The membership committee reported one member as being reinstated bringing the membership total to 60.
The Auxiliary decided to take charge of the Easter Seal sale for Crippled Children's home in Helena. The drive will start March 10 and Mrs. Ed Anderson was appointed chairman in charge.
Committees for the smorgasbord were appointed and the menu was submitted and approved. Included tvere roast turkey, roast beef, ham and all the trimmings.
The kitchen committee reported the new dishes had arrived and that new pots and pans were also purchased.   Additional work-table
space is being constructed and shelving will be constructed above the sinks in the kitchen. It is hoped to have all this work completed by Sunday.
The group decided to save bands from Folgers coffee to secure a new coffee urn for the kitchen. Bands are to be turned over to Mrs. Melvin Johnson.
Letters from the district president and department secretar> were read after which the program for the evening on Amercanism was presented by Mrs. Dick French. On the program were a reading by Mrs. Melvin Johnson, u vocal selection by Mrs. Ray Boulds.
At the March 7 meeting Mrs Ed Anderson will have the program on community service and hostesses will be Mrs. Gus Mc-Gowan and Mrs. Melvin Magnus-son.