The Camas Hot Springs Exchange

The right of way of the Great Northern main line, varying from 100 to 200 feet in width, and in some parts offset almost directly by some of the best producers in the field.

The government complaint asserts that the present right of way of the Great Northern was originally deeded to the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railway, pursuant to an act of congress of March 3, 1875, and subsequently transferred by that concern to the Great Northern.

At all times, the government's complaint asserts, only surface rights have been deeded, with all minerals retained by the government.

The present action is instituted, the complaint says, because the Great Northern "claims such mineral rights, and is about to and has threatened to use portions of its right of way for drilling."

The complaint asserts that insofar as all minerals which may underlie the right of way are concerned, title to them is still vested in the government. The Great Northern, the complaint further states, has been issued no oil and gas lease covering such mineral rights, nor has the road requested the issuance of such a lease.

The court is asked to issue a restraining order, preventing the Great Northern from drilling on its right of way, in the area involved in the complaint. This area is described as being all of the road's right of way in sections 7, 16, 17 and 18, township 33 n., range 5 w., and in sections 1, 2 and 12, township 33 n., range 6 w. The town of Cut Bank is in section 12, township 33 n., range 6 w.

If the government is sustained in its contention that it holds title to the mineral rights as alleged, an oil and gas lease covering the acreage involved will probably be auctioned to the highest bidder, oil men said. They pointed out that such a procedure is mandatory, since all of the acreage involved is within the limits of a proven oil field.