The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-01-04
Tho Kapawha Valley as ON Oh
.. 49, Region a., ,@s

! holders OF the h2naWna aoo tTlout@liea'
Allow me to say, however, that / am
not geologist, aud am only novice ln
the oil busiocss-but having commenced
among the FIRST in this Valley, to inves'
,igate this subject, and having travelled
pretty much over the whole of this oil
region, I have gained some practical
knowledge Of the subject, which may be
interesting to your readers, and the
publication Of which may promote the
Interests Of somo Of you subscribers who
own land in favorable locations.
In a former article I referred to the
fact that evidence Of the existence Of
oil in the Valley has been abundant for
many years.
Twill call your attention in this article
49, r~:.'. .'-.'y -, 49, ;--I e'---o
the facts and particular indications as
correctly as may be from memory, as
they have been given me, and shown
themselves, in my tours Of investigation,
not having taken "notes" of them at the
time.
The existence Of oil in this section was
first ascertained by boring for salt water
many years ago, but there scems to be
20 one able to determine what quantity
might have been obtained if oil instead
of salt had been the object Of the search.
The pungent treasure was then regarded
as Nuisance, and the wells were tubed
to get the oil out as soon as possible
Meu who bored those wells cannot now
say whether they would have yielded
one, two, Eve, ten, twenty or one hun.
dred barrels per day, had they been
turned into oil wells. Through some
places the oil and gas would blow for a
considerable time, and in other instances
it had to be pumped to bring it to the
surface. 1892.
But salt men, generally, do not pro-
TESS to have much faith in tho existence
of any large quantity Of oil here, and it
is supposed by some that they have had
the best opportunity Of judging Of the
matter. At the same time l DO not
think that their judgment is correct BY
any means, or in accordance with the
collected evidence on that subject, but
rather contrary to it.
But let US examine some Of what may
be esteemed good Indications of the
existence of Petroleum in this vicinity.
| On Paint Creek, some % miles above
here, on the Kanuwha, an attempt was
made some years ago to bore for salt
water, about one fourth of a mile from
its mouth, which proved total failure
on account Of the Aow of gas and oil.
which intcslsrcd SO much with their
operations that the proprietors abau.
doned the we'll. This we'll is on the
land Of Mr.. FELIX G. HANsFoRO. AT
several other points on the Kannwha,
similar experiments have been made
with like results. This was the case on
the land included in the HANsFoRD
estate, also near Mr.. McCoNlnAI's, ten
miles above Charleston, and at several
other points above Maiden.
On the Burning Springs farm, belong
ing 10 the ToMpKlN's estate, there is a
salt we'll where salt is manufactured in
part BY the use Of the gas which comes
from the well for fuel. This property is
about mile below Camp Piatt.
I do not know that the gas is always
the product Of Petroleum presume it
is not, but I have always understood
that its presence is regarded by oil men
us a good Indication Of the existence Of
oil near by. g.,
On Elk river, above tho mouth of
/ Cooper's Greek, some seven miles from
this place, we'll was bored for salt water,
which 70 we'd gas and oil some time !;
also one near the mouth Of Davis Greek q,
on the land Of Jos. Chiffon, which
flowed oil very abundantly, and also be-
low the mouth Of Two aud three quarter
mile Creek, on the land of SAMUEL
HrDsoN, and at various other places 10
the Valley.
The only we'll where any experiment
has ever been made to come anywhere
near testing the quantity Of oil which
might have been obtained, was IN what
is called /" the Licks," near Maldeo, aud
.;~ villa. from Charleston, ...