Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-17
- Ou1o CouNrY or II

B~ ONO COUNTY On ITEMs.--We
should not be surprised, if 10 short time,
Ohio county should become the scene OF
very extensive oil operations. For some
time back strange people have been haunt
ing the valley of Wheeling creek east OF
the city, in search of indications of grease
and nearly all the land, has been or is
about to be, leased by meu practiced in
the oil business. a Mr.. Elliot, who repre-.
sents wealthy eastern oil company, has
leased five farms along the valley of
Wheeling creek above Mrs. Cruger's, en-
bracing a thousand acres, upon condition
that the company commences operations
In three weeks from the time the lease was
executed. Upon Que of these farms, that of
Sherrard Clemens, a coal vein has lately
been discovered and it is the intention of
Mr.. Elliotts company to commence opera
tions near this vein, the machinery having
already been prepared for the purpose.
We understand that company, repre-
senting some eight thousand dollars, is
about to commence boring upon what is
known as as the CASTOR property, above
Roney's Point, with fair prospects of sue.
cess. A company composed of gentlemen
resident in this city, are about to renew
their efforts to find oil at place on the
road this side of Trisdelphia, which has
already acquired some local note from the
constant burning of gas. A derrick was
erected upon the spot some years ago and
we'll sunk to the depth of two hundred
feet. The company abandoned the well
when our national troubles came upon US
but the intention now is to set the auger
in motion again.
1t is said that oil is rarely found where
there is an entire absence of coal and salt.
AT the foo. of ravine on the National
road, nearly opposite the residence of
Lewis Luusford, there are said to be indi.
cations of oil and salt. In the early settle
ment of this county it was a very popular
deer lick and many stately buck and
gentle doe has been made to bite the dust
here by the uuerriug aim of the hunters
I rife. Of late years the cattle have resort
ed to the spot to lick the salt and the
ground has excited not little attention
from oil spectators. The Wheeling creek
country has been pretty we'll prospected
generally with not unfavorable results, and
as we said before, we should not be sur
priSed to hear of extensive operations be.
ing commenced before great while.
An old tradition has been revived thai
the location of concealed treasure, veins Of
metallic ore, and of mineral and Other
springs, could be discovered by means of q
rod bent in the form of V, and the belle
in the virtue of these diving rods, as they
were called, was not confined to the illit,
crate, but participated in by many educated
persons. In the mineral spring regions o.
Western Virginia it is said the experiment
has been repeatedly tried and with success
The method of preparing the rod is as fol-
lows: hazel twig, forkiug naturally into
two equal slender branches, is cut, and the
leaves are stripped of. The stump of the
twig is trimmed SO as to preserve the
length of three or four inches, and the
branches length of about twelve inches
This is the diving rod, which is to be held
the end of branch in each hand, in such
a manner that the stump of the twig shall
project straight forward. The opera tor
places his arms by his sides, bends the Ell
bows so as toadvance the foresrms and the
hands with the knuckles downwards. The
end of each branch is retained between tn,
thumb aud the root of the forefnger, which
are outward, and the inner sides of thu
hands are brought to within few inches
of each other, the palms at the same TIM
being turned outward. In this posture th
adept walks over the field of intended ex
ploration with the expectation that tn
hazel fork will move spontaneously in hi
hands in spite of the greatest Vigor o
grasp, the stump pointing downwsrds as h
passes over vein of metal OF undergrouu,
spring of water, and moving with create
force as the deposits are more abundant
By this means it is stated that some of tn
largest flowing wells of oil in Pennsylvani
aud West Virginia have been discovered
The theory of those who attempt to give
scientific solution of the phenomena il
that they depend upon some law of mag
netism, while the sceptics say that til
successful experiments only show mer
coincidence of circumstances.
s8NKE rebel prisoners recently cap