Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-25
THE NEW GAS WELL.
The Biggest strike Yet Visit of the
PiiishurR DELEGATION.

Pittsburg Delegation.
Yesterday evening Mayor Lyon, Council
man Free, Oil Inspector Ramsey, c. L..
Strauh, General Pearson and a few others
OF Plttsburg, came up from Moundsyille,
where they have been inspecting the new
gas well. A REGISTER reporter pounced
upon Mayor Lyon and had a talk with him
concerning the unexpected find. The com.
pany, which is private one, expected to find
oil and got gas. At depth OF 1859 feet
the natural yapor was struck, coming up
in a great, but as yet unknown force. He
believes a greater volume can be reached
by going a little further, and if the tools
can be gotten down they will continue Dor
ing. An attempt was made yesterday to
determine the pressure but as the guage
ran rapidly TO 100, the pipe burst with tire.
mendOus force and blew the plug through
an inch plank and hundred feet into the
air.
Mayor Lyon said no conclusion had been
reached as to the use or disposition to be
mined by future circumstances. The TEL
graph OF laSt evening says:
Last night Mayor Lyon, Councilman
Free, Oil Inspector Ramsey and e. l.
Straub left for visit to the gas well which
their company struck on Saturday after
noon, near BenwOOd, W. Va. The com.
pany consists. besides those mentioned, of
Mayors Clerk Mitchell, Gen. Pearson aud
CleJk of the Courts Rowland. The tract
under lease is 1000 acres in extent, and the
we'll is within three miles of Benwood and
about eight miles from Wheeling The
drillers succeeded in the latter part of last
week IN getting gas in such volume as rem
dered necessary the conveying OF il
away from the work. This was accom-.
pliShed on Saturday afternoon aud
the drill put in motion. After penetrating
the sandstone two feet the men were driven
away by a rush of gas. Pieces of sandstone
were forced from its depths. and the escap.
ing full could be heard at the distance OF
a mile. An attempt was made TO stop the
flow by plugging the casing, but the heavy
weights placed on the plug were hurled
into the air. The news of the strike was
the topic of conversation in Wheeling. \
gentleman whose sound, practical Judge
ment gives weight TO his opinion, said that
the flow of gas was amply sufficient to
light ten cities OF the size of Wheeling
The WheelingiteS are anxious 10 know
whether the well will be sold to the Ben
wood and Wheeling iron mills. As the
company has large tract the probabilities
are that the drill will be kept going aud
the gas be sold 10 the mills, the city, aud
for household consumption.
At the Mayors Office this morning Clerk
Mitchell said he could not say positively
as 10 the policy the company would pursue
until the return of the visiting quartette
who are expected back tonight. The stock
is all owned in Pittsburgh, and the lucky
possessors are in gay humor over the pros.
pect. twas iusinusted at Municipal II all,
by non stockholders of course, that Gener-
81 Pearson should influence the company
TO buy Brigantine Beach, with the view of
issuing free passes, only good when
countersigDed by Clerk MITCHELL" TO
those who sympsthize with the STOCKHOLM
ers in their gaseous sight to capitalistic
realms