The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-06
OUR NEW OIL FIELDS.
DlsoovERlEs IN wooD COUNTY
At the saltwater Greek pI..rIet-rls p.luy D,y.
OftAs Great OIL Ixeltsnsut Bsturaias-A
Territory Of sfsat RleAasm struel-Cap.
italists FiOskInE to the Scene.

PHILADELPHIA, July ga correspond
ent Of the Pres writing from Parkesburg,
W. Va, says: This city is just in the
midst Of an oil excitement which promises
to almost eclipse the palmy days Of Oil
City, Warren and Titusville, Pa. The
great petroleum wealth Of West Virginia is
just now opening mp and yielding large
profits to few plucky, experienced oil
men who came here from the oil fields Of
the Keystone State and from Philadelphia
About the closing Of the summer Of 1868,
this promising oil field, which lies nine
miles east Of here, on the Saltwater Creek
and Its tributaries, was thought to be rich
in oil, from the surface indications then
discovered, and several business men Of
this city began operations and succeeded
in getting what the oil man would call
good shows" Subsequent developments
proved that their money was well invested,
as several paying wells were struck. About
this time, and before thorough investiga.
ten had been made Of the Saltwater die.
rict, similar excitement broke out in
what is known as the Volcano district,
twenty miles east Of Parkersburg, on the
White Oak River, and 80 big were the pros.
poets that the saltwater district was aban.
ioned and the oil men in q body aocked
there.
AtBurning Springs, in Writ county, the
latter part OF the same year, great wells
were struck, aud between the excitement
and paying leases that were being worked
in the last two placesi the former sank into
obscurity. From that time until helores.
ent day the production diminished until
the fields were entirely deserted, and the
oilproduction OF West Virginia was thought
to have been entirely exhausted However,
about three years ago alight grade OF oil
was struck in the Volcano district, and was
worked on small scale by a few men with
out much capital. These men finally
abandoned their leases, becoming disesrsted
with the slight production and the. rjor
quality Of the oil. .ful. ~.
71. THE EXCITEMENT TO-DAY. s
About the middle Of February W. F.
Messimer, who had extensive practice and
experience Of the workings in the Pennsyl-
vania ield,, came here and effected lease
on Rock Ran, in the Stillwell district, and
Immediately began operations. AT the
shallow depth OF sixty-five feet he struck
tive-barrel well Of q degree oil. Encour-
aged by his first venture, Mr.. Messimer
Immediately set another drill to work,
about twenty yards from the first well, and
at depth OF 100 feet he struck bonanza
In the shape OF 30O.barrel well OF 27t de-
gree oil, worth IS per barrel. This occur
red about the beginning OF March, and II
wasa this time that the attention OF capi-
tai was directed 10 the development Of the
West Virginia oil territory. G. B. Taven-
nerthen leased tract Of land from Haines
Brothers and drilled well, striding a 400
barrel spouter OF SO 4-l0 degree oil.
This set the community wild with ex-
citenient and the speculators and capital.
lists began to flock into Parkersburg, until
the scene brings back the memorable days
OF Oil City when It was in the zenith OF ia
prosperity. This well has diminished
abeut one half in its production, but the
excellent quality and steady flow will make
lis owner an oil king, and Mr.. Messimer
will also share q like blessing. The quality
OF oil from these wells proves TO be even
superior 10 that found in the Franklin dis.
trict in Pennsylvania, as demonstrated by
"cold test" made yesterday by the West
Virginia Transportation Company Of the
oil produced by the Taveuner we'll. A
specimen OF the oil was exposed all day to
test which registered five degrees below,
and the oil is as limpid as water.
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