The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-10-04

its botcis are commodloue; the NJ Cturf
House is,a 6ne establishment, certainly
one of the very best iu the State; char
ges moderate, with excellent accomuo.
datiou. To the tourist We would say, dc
not miss staying day or two At Wheel
ing; you will be pleased vithits beau.
tiful scenery, it, unique, pretty 'uspeu.
sion bridge that spans the Ohio River
A ramble on the hills, and peep into
the numerous coal and iron mines, with
a 6ual stroll through its workshops, and
among the numerous steamers. that line
the Levce, will give you good insight
to what this city is, aud what several
others in West Virginia may some day
become. The foregoing cursory por.
traturc of West Virgipia's mineral re-
sources is too condensed for the reader
to justly appreciate them he will, how
ever, not fail to sec in them the primary
elements Of national wealth, aud that
their utilization is only in allegiance on
their development. Oil and oil making
are now the popular speoulations Of the
day, the eminent success that attended
the opening Of the petroleum wells at
Burning Springs, on the Little Kanawha
River, has caused quite rush Of invest
ors from all parts Of tho Eastern States.
Individual fortunes have been madc, and
many are in anticipation. All is activi.
ty, cageruess, and hustle around this
oleaginous region for many miles, and
land 10 tho vicinity Of successful
strike" rises to q most fabulous price.
We have known creek lands, which six
years ago would have been considered
dear at IS per acre, 6ud ready purcha-
scrs at $4,000. At the present -time
there cannot bc loss than 300 wells in
course of sinking in different parts Of
the country, and new companies are
forming almost every day. The yield Of
petroleum is not great from any single
we'll. Very few are flowing wells.
Pumping must be resorted to in 80
cases out of 100. Every one which is
successful thus gives little, for, like the
lean COWS on a winter dairy farm, tho
milking of many teats brings big
bucket full at last" so the pumpiugs
from numerous wells, when seut to mar.
ket, make a considerable bulk. These
operations arc no. confined to any spc::
cial locality; they extend from tho Mo:
uongah cls to the Kauawha Valley.
Even the mountain districts are not left
unpis,eed. We have; this past week
heard of several new strikes Gas the dis.
covery of oil is called when 6rst tapped
10 the bore3 they arc in widely differ.
ent directions, and if the reports arc
verified BY facts tho we'll boring business
will have = great expansion. Oil boring
is . purely speculative enterprise; it
profits may be very great, or ~iI. bu
Camel oil making is certainty; viii
proficient management, economy, gooc
coal, and ready transportation, remus'
erative profit may invariably BE- realized
Eastern capitalists know this, hence
there is an inquiry for good Came
lands all over the State, and We know o
no better or safer investment, for il il
certain such lands will never be less
vhile there is svory probability Of their
rapidly advancing in price. The bituu
iuous coal trade is about having new
start; several companies have beer
formed, aud Gome of>them got into oper
alton. This article, 10 connection viii
the manufacture Of iron, should, and ~
believe eventually will, constitute tb'
chief staple Of the State; why it has no
hitherto been made 80 must be attribute
BILE to those lamentable political condi
tions noticed at the commencement o.
this paper. The salt trade is not very
lively just now. The Southern trade
for the past four years has been almost
cut off the blockade, however, is now
raised, aud the restrictions that have %
long fsttered tho export trade will be
speedily removed then the old salt
manufacturers may oncc more pursue
the smooth and even tenor Of their
way" The timber trade is almost At q
stand, although the demand is enormous
this arises from want of capital, and the
absence Of lumbcrmen and others hith,
'erto engaged 10 this line Of busiu ness
the war demands have drawn largely on
this class Of hardy pioneers, but they
worked vigorously while they were away.
and struck deep at the roots Of that evil
tree (Which briugeth forth not good
fruit" Their task is now dene'; the
rife is being thrown aside, and oOco
moro giving place to that harb'use! OF
civilization, the AZ long may they WELD
it ia peace, and We hope never again
have to apply it TO any other demolition
than that Of the forest. We now come
to subject The most eugrossiog OF sll,
one on which the vitality OF the new
States progress in wealth chiefly de-
pends, and one in which both European D
and American capitalists are equally in.
,.rested-the West Virginia Central
Railroad. This important undertaking,
for which an Act has recently passed the