Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-01-10
1,O,IMU:NiCATED.
Volcano, Wood Co., w. Va.
Dec. 25th, 1879.

Dec. 25th, 1879.
Editor of Register-After an absence
Of some three years, Imagine the great
pleasure occasioned by meeting with an
old friend such was my case short
time ago, by picking up copy of the
Register. i need not tell you that l
devoured its contents with a keen relish
and wished for the good old times we
have had, it was more than letter from
home giving me all thel news Am
delighted to See that your railroad is
after all its many hardships is success
and that Shepherdstown is really rail
road town; no one is deserving more
credit than yourself.
Volcano is strictly an oil town, a
place not known before the discovery OF
oil. 1t is in Wood county, 20 miles
Northeast of Parkersourg and is reached
by the B. & o. r. r., which runs with
in four miles at point called Laurel
Junction, from thence by the Laurel
Fork railroad which runs to Volcano
connecting with the B. & 0. R. r. The
Laurel Fork is an oil road, miles in
length, terminus Volcano ard Laurel
Junction. Great quantities of heavy oil
or lubricating oil are shipped daily
over this road, the light oil or illumina-
ting oil is pumped through in pipes to
Parkersburg. Times have been fear
fully tight and hard owing to the low
price of oil, and last summer when at
the height OF our crisis fire burnt up
tn. business part of Volcano. 1t was a
terrible confagration but Phoenix like
she is rising from her ashes, and will
soon be a much better town than ever.
Your humble wisher was here through
the crisis and fire, and was sufferer
with the rest {; my office and nearly all
its paraphernaIia destroyed. The fire
was of short duration, all the buildings
were wood and being saturated with oil
soon burned, in an hour and half the
town was in ashes, hotter fire | never
saw.
Parkersburg,the county seat of Wood
county, is fourishing business town,
and its business relation with Volcano
is important. have had occasion TO
frequently visit it and become acqualnt-
ed. There are several large wholesale
establishments doing heavy trade.
There are but two papers published, the
Journai and Sentinel, and / have just
learned that the Uaiking Beam, a pa
per that used to be at Volcano will be
started, devoted exclusively to the oil
interest. This paper was burnt out root
and branch during the fire at Volcano.
The Bar is an able and large one, much
litigation, in fact one continuous term
OF court. The political complexion of
Wood county is democratic and partic-
ularly Volcano. There is considerable
speculation and talk about the next can
dida,es and especially the Gubernatorial
nominee; as far as / can ascertain the
Hon. Jacob Jackson Of Parkersburg is
the most popular one spoken of; having
had the pleasure of his acquaintance |
can truthtally say so far as my limited
Judgment is worth, he is most eminent
ly worthy and we'll qualified. He is a
lawyer Of large practice and ripe expe-
rience, clear headed, cool and practical,
honest, out-spoken in his political senti-
ments, belongs to no ring or clique, can
not be controlled by any combination
and would make us a Governor that
would rank with any in the country a
West Virginian by birth, thoroughly
acquainted with all The interests and
resources of the State.
The Grant boom does not take well,
many republicans are suspicious that 1t
is democratic dodge, time will tell. 1t
my letter should prove interesting will
give you another soon.
WHITE OAK.