Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-03-01

About thirtyfvs years ago q salt well
was drilled on the farm of Josiah Dillon, on
Captina Greek, and at the depth Of about
200 feet an opening was struck which burst
ed out and flowed quantity Of oil, estima-
ted by old settlers at great number OF
barrels. On one or two occasions it caught
fire on the water and burned for twenty four
hours at time. The we'll was abandoned'
il is said, in consequence Of the proprietors
not being able to tube out the oil and gas
the force Of the pressure being so strong
that the tubing introduced was Immediately
collapsed.
Oil has been collected at different points
along the Creek for more than forty years.
On the farm now owned BY Dr.. Armstrong,
John Brown collected and bottled oil and
used it for medical purposes, more than
thirty years ago.
In 1861 a we'll was sunk to the depth Of
200 feet on the farm Of VIM. Armstrong,
with 6ns show Of oil in it.
In 1865 company sunk = we'll about one
hundred yards from tho former, on the land
of DR.. Armstrong, and at q depth OF 200
feet struck vein of oil aud gas from which
was dipped about ten gallons per day with
the sand pump, until several barrels had
been collected. The company not having
any pump, did not test it, but continued
boring until, at depth of 800 feet, they
struck a soft rock which mixed up into
mud, and, in pumping it out, the upper
cre;ice was stopped thereby. When their
pump arrived they could not succeed in
opening it again. From this first erevice a
stream Of gas flowed with the oil, which
would constantly support large ha'ne at
the ton of the conductor untilit was stopped
BY tho mul It is the opinion OF all oil
men Who arc acquainted with ths facts, that
had this first vein been tested With the
puu,b when hrst struck, it would have yield
ed ten to fifteen barrels per day.
The company continued boring, and at
the depth Of $40 feet, struck another vein
of oil, ani also another at 420 feet. This
was tested with the pump and yielded about
one barrel of oil per day. The lower veins
did not, however, present one half the show
that the first one did at the depth of 22t
feet. After testing the we'll, the company,
In consequence of the death of two of thei'
members, ceased further operations, auc
thts is the extent of the development as yet
The Cap,iaa Petroleum Company owl
the Issschold on one thousand acres OF land
royalty one4eisht, embracing the farms o
DR.. Armstrong and VIM. Armstrong;
which are the two wells already partly SUM
and the farms Of NJ Hendershot aud Il. A
Mooney, adjoining the old salt well.
These lands are stocked at q capital
Sl5OOOO Shares $50 each. Seventy tiv
thousand dollars worth of the shares are sc
apart for working capital. of which sufii
- .ciient number are to be sold Say $4,000
to raise funds for operating and developin
the territory the remaining will continue
the treasury until ell is struck in payin
quantities, when they can Immediately b
sold at premium and the proceeds divide
among the stockholders.
II the Company get one twenty barr
we'll, that itself will pay about one per cen
per month on the entire capital stock. The'
il room on the lands Of the company #
moro than one thousand wells, and of cour
If successful 10 procuring good wells Il
shares will became immensely valuable.
The Company proposes 70 open books +
subscriptions to its capital stock in fe
weeks. The notice may be found in o.
advertising columns.