Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-07-07

station below this (Calltornlal oy person
collecting oil from the sand; also from
spring. which was, perhaps, the most pro
ductive oil fountain in the United States
An old settler named Lemon resided 10 thl
neighborhoOd and owned the spring. HI
made quite business for years in gather
ing aud selling the oil. The average yield
1 understand, was above one hundred bar
rels per annum. I. was sold chiefly foI
medical purposes. Quite n trade has grown
up in the Western country OF bOttliug and
selling this "medicated OIL" The process
was simple, but ingenious. In boring for
salt, the search after saline wealth was
often disappointed by the accumulation OF
oil in his well. In more than one instance,
years ago, parties sinking wells have been
compelled to abandon the work in conse-
quence of oil and gas rising to the surface.
These are few local historical facts,
which may be important to know.
The oil region of Western Virginia en-
braces a very large area. Il stretches
through Wood, Richie, Writ and KauawhR
counties, where the oil treasure has been
found in great abundance. More complete
exploration will doubtless determine its
existence in Pleasants, Doddings, Harrison,
Gilmer and other adjoining counties. In-
deed, it will probably be found throughout
the bituminous coal measure OF the State,
but whether in sufficient quantity TO work
remains to be determined. The geological
indications are that il abounds within a
zone stretching athwart the three FIRST
named counties, have examined portions
of this territory, aud am satisfied the la
borRtories in which the great chemist has
distilled these priceless treasures, are deep
hidden beneath the hills and deep. valleys of
the region indicated.
The very spot whence write presents
the most remarkable geological feature
All around me are proofs OF violent up
heaval. Tue strata have been broken
asunder, and stand, 10 some places, on each
side, at an angle of about titty degrees
The uplift has perhaps been more yiruIent
here than at any other part of the eIten-
sivs dislocation. The general inclination
is at an angle of about forty degrees. The
course is nearly north and south, from the
Ohio to the Little Kanawha, 10 the neigh
borhood of the celebrated Burning Springs.
The anticlinal axis is we'll defined
My purpose, however, is not to give a
geological description OF the oil region in
this letter. l may do so again. The present
is more discursive-a general sketch of the
oil regiou-mOdus oPeTdndi at the works,
SC.
miles due north, are the wells of Wheel
ing company-fourte3n in active operation.
This company, which had commenced Ope-
ratiCns near Wheeling some five or six
years ago, in the dislIliatiOn of hydro car
bon oil from bituminOus shale, had their
attention directed hitherward by the dis.
covery of coal, which, it was believed,
would render greater per centage OF oil
than that which the company were working
near Triadelphia, Ohio county, Virginia -
About this period, the discovery o. oil was
made on the Allegheny, in Pennsylvania.
A sagaoious and Practical member oi the
firm AT once concluded that oil could be
obtained in the valley OF the Little Kama
wha by boring, as its existence in springs
had been known Tor years. Accordingly
he selected a site on small stream called
Oil Run, purchased an hundred or more
acres. and leased thousand more. Ope-
rations were speedily commenced, and oil
no soon crowned their efforts.
The experiment was success, and 9TH
er wells were speedily sunk. The fever"
as the greasy inspiration is POpularly call
ed, rapidly spread. Land went up and
wells went down with amazing haste. Au
dancieut aud pitch like smell" oyerspread
the country. Had the rebellion not then
broken out, who can tell but that the val
ley of the Kanawha may long ere tnIs lit
orally have overflowed with oil. Tue "fe.
yer" yielded under the excessive depletion
snfiicted by the sword. Spectators ske.
dAddled, guerrIllas swarmed around the
Burning Springs, aud, by way OF divertise-
ment applied the torch to the carburetei
hydrogen gas which escapes so freely at
all these springs, aud by ItS highly intiim-
mable character has given name TO the
celebrated Burning Springs Of Writ coun-
ty. Oil stock went down during the first
three years of the war, if the rebellion did
not, but guerrillas having tired OF their
work, ana the world needing light aud lu-
brication, operations 10 the oil region have
again been resumed, and the spirit of
boring has again become manifest.
IL may be proper here to remark that
the wells near this place have not been
materially interrupted during the war.
Those 10 Writ county have suffered the
most, the destruction having been general
aud iudiscriminaIe. A new impetus has
been given to the oil business by tine dis
coyery of oil in large quantities on Horse
Neck and Bull creek, about fifteen miles
from this point toward the Ohio river
Within few weeks q well has been sunk
which yielded, according 10 various esti-
mates, from three hundred to nine hun
dred barrels In twenty IOut hOursl LUIS
well has recently been sold at very high
figures; but at twice the price paid, and if
only yielding half the amount stated, must
be great speculation to the purchasing
party. Other successful bOrings have been
made during the present seusOu over a
wide, extensive area; but many valuable
LOCALITIES have, doubtless, not yet been
touched. This conjecture is correct, un-
less all geological ''sigus" fail. a great
field for enterprise and fortune is yet an
explored.
have already stated that the company
operating here have fourteen wells yield.
ing oil They are all in the valley OF Oil
ruu, and within a distance of one mile.
They are all worked by a siogle eontri-
vance, driven by single engine. The
arrangement is creditab.e TO the ingenuity
of Mr.. Hanlin, member and chief maua-
ger of the company The wells have q