Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-03-21
The Oii-WcIis Of virpinfa---Ex-
a'Ha traOrdinavy Yields. e.l

- n
f'"e n' 'traOrdinavy Yields. .r' rol
The recent discoveries foil in West.
ern Virginia have already exceeded in ex-
tent those made in Pennsylvania. From
an article in late number Of the Parkers-
burgh News, noticing the various discov.
cries made in Kenhawa Valley, we make
the following extracts: -..I...
Some time during last inner, Messrs
j. @. and j. V. Rathbone each commenc.
ed boring on their contiguous farms
We have heretofore noted the yield of
one OF these wells, but for the informa.
tion Of our many new subscribers, again
insert the facts in reference to it.. The
well belonging to Mr. J. G. Rathbone
gave promise to great yield while in pro-
cess Of boring. Upon putting in the
pump, and getting fairly to work. it was
found to yield from t,oo hundred and f,ty
to three hundred barrels Of oil in ttoenty-
four hours. A.... e.. -. I- t....' =.
This immense product, far surpassing
that of any other well in existence, was
soon nosed sbroad by a notice in these
columns, which was copied in other pa
pers, and attracted to the spot numbers
from distance. Leases were shortly in
demand, which steadily and rapidly in
creased, notwithstanding the correspond
ing increase in terms until now perfect
oil mania RACES, and oil privileges cannot
be "signed. sealed and delivered" fast
enough to satisfy those desiring them.
Of these latter enterprises but few have
progressed to completion, though hun
dreds, perhaps, are now boring or prepar-
ing to do SO. Up to the date of writing
this article, we have information of but
three wells which are yet tubcd or pump
ing, though the oil is pouring or spouting
from them in immense quantities
One of these wells, owned by Messrs.
G. ID. & j. N. Camden, j. j. Jr. d. j. NJ.
jackson, and b. w. Byrne, "struck oiP'
two or three weeks since, at which time
there issued from it an immense body Of
pure oil, which was thrown in compact
mass forty or fifty feet high fora time
beyond all control. There have been
gathered from this 'oil spout" during the
past two weeks, about seventeen hundred
barrels Of oil, besides large amount
which was wasted, and notwithstand-
ing it had been stopped up great
portion of the time. The depth of this
we'll is one hundred and thirty-nine feet.
The well af Messrs Weir & Darnell,
which is one hundred and fifteen feet deep
and from which the oil is thrown in a
similar manner to the one spoken of ofabove
also yields, when allowed to flow, about
a barrel per minute. On the first day of
its opening about four or five hundred
barrels of oil were secured, since which
time in consequence of the scarcity of
barrels, it has been kept closed most of
the time. Boa
Messrs. Lewellyn & Wilson also have
well from which the. yield is perfectly
tremendous. A hole eight or ten feet
deep was dug in the ground around the
mouth of the well, and into it the oil was
allowed to flow from the conductor, which
it did without spouting, and in quiet,
orderly way. Boards were placed over
this pit and as many barrels as could con.
veniently be made room for set on them
Fifteen hands were then employed, some
in taking out and replacing bungs, Others
in replacing and removing barrels. while
five men were busiE engaged in dipping
up the pure fluid in buckets and pouring
it through large box tunnels into the
barrels. In this way four hundred bar
rels acere filled in t4n hours. During this
period the well was stopped up hslf the
time, in consequence of the inability of
the hands to secure the oil as fast as it
flowed, and even when running large
iron plunger two inches in diameter was
kept in the well. Had this been taken
out, the yield of oil from this single well
must have been iull a hundred barrels an
hour. ri,H. .It .'F ..ssa.E ID p
Incredible as these. statements must
appear. they are nothing but facts. 9th
er wells will probably be finished and
pumping in few days. '.rr .g % .t