The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-01-11
The Kanawha Valley;as al
Oil Region.
Written for the West Virginia Journal
~ capt. J. c.. wEIEELElt.
ARTICLE II.

week on inns SupJcc', "0o b.,
discovery made near this place several
years ago, by JAMES NJ. LAlnLE1' Esq"
while boring a well for fresh w''er 10
supply n Touring mill engine on inc
estate of Hon. G. W. SUMMERS, about
one mile from Charleston, adjoining the
turnpike below Elk river.
On penetrating with the auSer to the
dentb Of ubout one hundred and five feet,
oil WAS brought up at every stroke Of
the sand pump, to such an extent that
the search for water was abandoned !;
and j, was determined 10 haul tho water
for the use of the engine, fro" Tw0-"''e
creek, nearly mile distant Mr. SUR
oEoS, of this place, was the boFer on
,hut occasion, and has made affidavit to
the above fact, in relation to the oil.
have also heard numerous citizens OF
this place relate laughable affair con-
nccted with the discovery Of oil and gas
in the upper end Of this town. Several
years ago, M old gentleman, noted as
we'll for his profanity as for energy and
determination in the prosecution Of his
business, commenced boring for salt
water; and he swore, BY every thing
good and bad, that he would bore
through TO the internal regions, if he
did not find it sooner. 1t seems that he
had not had much experience with gas
or oil, for when the heavy anger waS
thrown high in the Dir, and strong
volume of gas and oil followed, which
became ignited and threw up vast
column of fame, burning up sheds and
other buildings, and scorchius the trees
in the vicinity, lie was as much terrified
as though he had actually performed his
threat He maintained very serious
department for some time afterwards,
and did not seem anxious TO make any
further experiments with the we'll.
l might gil two columns more Of your
paper with evidence of the discovery Of
oil in the Kanawha Valley, many years
ago but DO not deem it necessary to
add any thing further on that subject at
present. s... ~-...
Summing it all up, it appears conclu'
sive, that oil has for long time been
known to exist along the Kanawha river,
from Paint creek, about twenty mile,
above here, to the mouth Of Pocatalico
river, twenty miles below, and, perhaps,
above and below those points; and also
on Elk river.
RECENTLY DISCOVERED OIL INDICATIONS.
In 1860 and 81, just before the
breaking out Of the present rebellion,
the attention Of oil men was attracted TO
this Valley. A great many leases were
taken, and considerable preparation was
made for boring. What those men dis.
covered at that time in their e1plora.
lions, / have not the means Of knowing
much about; but l learn that the indica.
tons were sufficient to create consider.
able excitement, which spread, within
my personal knowledge, to the valleys
Of the Guyundotte, Twelve. pole, and Big
Sandy rivers, where what was supposed
TO be the best oil territory was pretty
much all leased up; but the Inauguration
Of the war caused the Yankee oil men to
skedaddle from the Valley, where they
wero looked upon with suspicion by
secessionists, who were having things
pretty much their own way at that time
In my travels recently, I have heard
some old secessionists Of the Valley (for
there are some here yet who ore properly
called such, and who in their hearts are
proud Of being such, notwithstanding
they assume to be loyal in order to save
their property or to secure the release of
a brother or son from prison, express
the belief that these men were abolition
spies, disguised as oil:;hunters; and l