Oil in The Mouse River Valley ?? –

in 1900, many local residents believed there was oil in the Mouse River Valley near Minot. Nobody was sure about how much was actually there. One report stated: “There are several places in the county where crude oil oozes out of the ground in considerable quantities.” Another stated: “ In a coulee about 4 miles from town (Gasman Coulee) where the oil just rises to the surface. There are also several springs that are semi oil and water. One spring gives out so much crude oil that the water is unfit for drinking.”