Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-21
MINERALS OF SOUTHEASTERN OHIO.
Hooking Valley, Athens County PetrO-
Ieum, Salt. Iron and Coal.

The Hooking Valley lies on the western
border of the great Alplschian mineral
basin, which extends from Northern Penn
sylvsnia seven hundred and twenty miles
to Central Alabama, and comprises an
area of about 100, 00J square miles. II Is
from this basin, the richest perhaps In the
the world, that Pennsylvania virginia,
Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama
draw their immense supplies Of coal, iron,
salt and petroleum. While throughout
this extent these four staple minerals are
found in variable quantities, and not un-
frequently grouped together, it is rare
that any one locality produces them all IN
large quantities, yet in the Hooking " al
ley, yea, within radius of twenty miles
from the county seat of Athens county
are to be fousd inexhaustiDle stores OF coal,
salt, iron and oil
OF these petroleum Is the last discovered,
or, might, perhaps, better say, the last
appreciated and hence the least developed.
It hss for many years been known to ex-
ist in limited quantities in many localities
of the Valley, particular y in the vicinity
| of Athens. It shows itself on the surface
in springs and stream, as we'll as IN the
numerous borings for salt in the latter
case often, in former years, seriously inter
feriag with salt operations. Until recent
ly, however, no effort has been made to de-
velop the territory. But now Shsrps
and Federal Greek are already famous
with oil men for their "rivers of oil," and
their vicinity Is being Thoroughly bored,
| and the most exaggerated results are anti
| cipated. There is is one shallow we'll
| pumping near Athens, while engines are
| already on the ground, or on the way, for
sinking others as soon as possible OH men
/ from New York, PhilAdelphia and the
Pennsylvsnia oil regions, and, indeed, at
least two companies from Cincinnati are
now prospecting in this country, taking
leases and buying territory, one OF which
has an engine already on the spot, and will
soon Iun one of the most promising sites
IN the valley. Those best qualified to
Judge speak most promisiDgly OF the pros
peets for oil in Athens county. A few
weeks will tell; but In the meantime the
chances are rapidly diminishing for opera
tions at low figures. Thousands of acres
are under lease and many farms are being
bought in fee simple, solely with view tc
the oil product shall perhaps speah
more fully of the oil at another time.
The iron interest, next after the OIL Ii
most in need Of development. Requiring
the largest capital, and most dependant OF
rail or river outlets to market, the rich orr
beds of Athens and adjoining counties arr
as yet comparatively undisturbed. Sine,
the building of the N. & o. Railroad, how
ever, mum Der of furnaces have sprung VI
along its line and are now said to be pay
ing princely profits to their owners. Ye
this interest is but in Its infancy
: The railroad itself has only Just begul
to be efectu ally operated, while fnsn
cial revulsions at large, the sinl
ing of hundreds of thousands of private
means in the railroad and in the war, hsvt
all combined to prevent its growth. 1t
now, however; in fair way for SPEEDY
development. Large tracts Of land al
8 changing hands and companies are al
ready fol med for mining and smelling s
5 soon as the war shall close and labor ca
0 be obtained. In the meantime immens
fields OF ore are awaiting purchase, wheI
1 coal, iron, stone and wood lie side by sid
o or heaped each upo7 the other to temp
the enterprising capitalist.
GEoLoeIsT.
ATHENs Ohio. Nov. Il.