The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-14
VOLCANO ERUPTI0NS
ABOUT THE CENTER OF THE STATE.
A Tswn That Hs, Been DIsruptsd By the Standard
CsnpAsy-Ths Sew strike at stillusll
noeai Notes from PArksrsburs-Ia.
crease In valus Of Heal Estate.

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crease In VAlus Of Heal Estate.
Special Correspondence OflE IHtaliaaor.
Volcano, June 10.-Residents Of Volcano
remind me Of what l read in my schoed
days in the history I dogeared with greater
persistence than studied, Of the ancient
Aztscs who were always looking toward
the east for the coming Of Montesuma.
People here are not looking for u Monte.
yuma, Of course, hut It is asserted that the
first thing resident Of the place does in
the morning Is to visit the ticket Office and
await the incoming Of the train over the
eastern hill, hoping 1t will bring news Of
a rise in oil. Even tho babies, am told,
sleep with their little faces to the east, and
smile hopefully in their sleep whom they
hear, as in dream, the whistle Of the
engine, and I don't blame them, for efSfy-
thing here Is 80 dead and dull that the
sound made by a miserable discouraged
little tree frog 1 caught on small tree in
the yard, was music.
Three churches are here In which sin.
ncrs are pointed to the narrow way. One,
skepticRl man said that the poor sinner
never got beyond being "pointed the way"
here, for the moment he looks up he sees a
client derrick, and Immediately falls 10
cursing the Standard Oil Company. They
all do.
THE TOWN OF VOLCANO.
Volcano centers around deep narrow
valley from which radiate four "hollows."
Altogether there are 500 people scattered
aboutin these hollows, within radins OF
three miles No two houses are on the
same level. Here house leans up against
the side OF hill presenting three stories
to the beholder from the front while
behind the roof is on level with the
ground. There dwelling stands on stilts,
and seems ready to fall at the first puff Of
wind. But It don't Nothing ever falls in
Volcano, but oil and derricks. When
eighteen years ago oil was first discovered
here there was u mad rush from all parts
OF the country. The town doomed like a
western mining camp. An oil exchange
was established. A number OF Eastern
pCpHlt NhLuV AZ hhN u oNOlC w Auo ubuoCn
went up. They are here 10 day and they
look stif and out OF place amid the general
drearineSs Of the place. An enterprisiug
Ep. culator built an opera house, and
tirst class companies only, were booked.
The fallen fortunes oil the town has not
yet reached all parts Of the theatrical
world, and even yet occasionally good
party drifts in, but 1t only takes one
look at the receipts In the box Office to
make II then understand what they should
have known. "Foge's Ferry" Duprez &
Benedict, All Burnett, Geo. Adams
Humpty Dumpty and one or two other
equal grade shows were here the past
season and WISHED they were not From
the hotel veranda eau count ninety.one
deIricks, about one sixth the number in
this oil district. OF the 800 or GOO perhaps
twenty are being constantly pumped. Any
well that will yield from one 10 two barrels
Of oil per day Ia considered worth pump.
ing. About sixty moro ara pumped oc.
caslonally. Seven grades oil Oil are pro.
duced here, and they are distinguished by
the first seven letters Of the alphabet.
PRODUCTION OF OIL.
These oils range from slight" to "heavy,"
and must be kept apart and graded with
the strictest exactncss. They must be
tanked, shipped and carried through all
the various proCessedwith a minute atten.
ton TO every detail that requires q thorough
knowledge Of the business. paid visit
TO the Oit Inspectors Office, and examiu-
ed with much interest the various articles
in testing oil. The process ia simple, yet
tKu fpI,, Ttf.n L., ,.tl, Al
view OF obtaining the specific gravity Of
the oil. The tested goods Is bottled, labeled
and placed on one OF row Of shelves until
the oil OF which it is a sample Is sold.
Among the samples was one taken from
the recently developed Stillwcll region. 1t
shows specific gravity Of 2G6 10, and 10
perfect lubriCator, selling at S. 90 per bar.
rel, but worth, when oil Is Il good price,
$40 0O The oil produced by this well Is
ready for use At once without any manipu.
lation. The Standard Oil Company inter.
ieres with its sale, howvser, by putting upon
the market a lubricator made from the set.
things OF oil, which is said to be an inferior
article in every respect, but which many
people buy, especially the Southern trade,
because Of its clIvApnCss. In the North II
will not stand the cold OF winter, becoming
hard, aud often like tar. There il
considerable excitement owe the find
at SIillwell, and its eject upon Volcano
is one Of the live questions Of the hour. That
il will ruin this place Is the opinion ot
many, and Others think that it will be
benefit to the place. Those who 20 believe,
argue thus: Nearly all the oil produced at
Volcano il heavy; the strike at Stillwt!l,
eight miles distant, will serve TO create Nm
interest in this fine lubriCator which s
ready for instant uRe, creating market
for il, ConsC quently raising the price, and
Volcano will boom. But over aud above
s!l this hopeful view, which is strengthen.
ed by the fact that these two regions are
about the only ones in the county, il the
terrible uncertainty that overhangs the
town, and the openly announced intention
Ot the people 10 leave tho place, Many
have gone, more are going. With the
failnra ri the nil here tho town wnuld Iado
in night, and only long gRuHt derriCkR,
deserted houses and piles Of piping re.
main.
some five years ago destructive fire
swept the town and in all probability
burned the phWniG, Rs it has 80 lar failed
to rise. Two OF three stores carry what
seems to be- an unnecessarily large stock OF
goohf; indeed the merchants say their
stocks Aru running thUm. lint they have
them and must gut rid Of them ~ best they
can. Money IL very SCARCE. There IL leaS
Ol il here than for years, and oil il used
instead. II not oil, then what il essen
TALLY the came, oil certificates. These Ger
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