The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-05-08
Boring for Oil in BrnXtom Register
ing ne-dnh Of thr Vo-
Iers UiafranChised.

BRAXToN c. II May 3, 1866
Editors Of the Register:
For the last six months or mnIe go
much has been said aud written all oyrI
the State Of West Virginia about oil, aud
50 much, too where no ull vn- or cN q
will be found, We have felt delicncy in
saving anything about our oil prospects
and wonld not even now mention il,
were il not for the fact that We think the
company deserve notice. at least for the
untiring energ, with which they have
prosecuted their work in this county
Last tail wealthy company liom New
York City purchased, al high price,
from Mr,-r- Thompson Lomgh, an tx
ten,lye tract uf unimpr1yed land on
Little Otter creek ~ this county. aud
Immediately commenced b0rny for oil
At two different points, which they have
kept up with increasing vig0r aud conr
aye and a. an enormous expense till ihc
present wllIlLy with the tuIlpN.ug I'
suits:
One ~eil 4UU feet deep and TO OIL
One well, 100 feet deep aud no OH
Salt water. ia abundance, found at 2aO
feet but not considered Of sufficient i'm
portauce 10 attract attention Such is
our oil experience ID this county mp to
the present time, but as the work still
goes Oh aud as the company have con
cluded TO sink their wells 900 feet, if
oil is not sooner reached, we may vet
have the pleasure of chroncling u How.
ing well, or some other name expressive
of al abundance Of petroleum or rock
oil on Little Otter, consequently we viii
reserve our private opinion for the pres.
ent. and not venture 10 prophesy till
we know.
The registrars for the different town
ships have about completed their work
which has been prosecuted with com
mendable energy All the qualified
voters and all that could cOnscientiously
do so, have complied with the requi.
sitions Of the law and been duly regis
tered About one-ffth Of the whole
population Of BraXtOn county will be
denied the right Of suffrage while the
registry law remains in force We have
40 tragical occurrences 10 relate this week
and with the exception Of a very fatal
disease, principally amOug children, and
styled brain fever, nothing has occurred
of sufficient Importance to attract atten-
ton in this vicinity The absence of
rain for a few days, (Which is quite a
I rarity } has given the water in Elk river
! time TO clear and made ii good fishing
again. aud By the way We will state,
| and without fear of successful contra
diction. that Elk river can surpass any
other water course on the inhabitable
earth or terraqueous globe, in the num-
ber, variety aad quality of its fnny in
habitants. The manner, too, Of catching
| them is different from the usual modes
practiced elsewhere, and consists in
spearing or "gigging" either in daytime
or at night. The water being too deep
for wading, the fishermen procure light
canoes and armed with a long spear or
gig they strike the fish at long range
aud with great de1terity, either in deep
or shallow wafer, running or standing.
The Sioux Indians first, believe, intro
duced this mode Of fishing, in rude
state. into the United States, or had 1t
when the whites came to the country
Experimental ingenuity has brought the
art to much higher state Of perfection
than il ever could have reached in the
hands alone Of the aborigines
Having reached the lower right hand
corner of our paper, and not having timt
to write another side, we will close fol
the present. Yours, &c, WEEKLY.