Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-06-24
GIANT GAS eEYsER.
SteubenyiIIe Wild Over a Tremsn.
dous Strike
0fkatural Gas Yesterday by the Jefferson
Mill---The Well Said to be the
Largest 10 the Valley,

Word was received here yesterday that
Steubenville was in the widest state of ex-
element over big gas strike at the Jeffer-
son mill. The papers of that enterprising
little place are very much worked up over
it and give the following account, under
large headlines:
THE BIG STRIKE.
Steubenville is no longer behind her
neighbors in possessing frstclass gas
well. For nearly four months the drillers
have been at work on the property of the
Jefferson Iron Works on the south side of
Wells run, and about daylight this morn
ing the drill struck the hard honey combed
sand rock in which the gas is found, if at
all 1t was reached at a depth of 1910
feet, and was scarcely more than pene-
trated when the gas came driving up with
great force, stopping the drilling and bring
ing with it a shower of water and debris
which scattered in every direction. The
drill was at once drawn up to make an in
spection of the phenomenon. The gas
came pouring out with roar like the es-
CAPT pg steam Of locomotive which could
be heard distance of several blocks. A
lamp in the derrick was knocked down and
extinguiShed fortunately before the gas
reached it ..........
The report spread rapidly through the
city, and hundreds of people visited the well
during the morning. The gas has very
slight petroleum odor, and is evidently of
superior quality. 1t came through 81
inch orifce which is Il larger than that of
the Dalzell we'll at Wellsburg, of course
giving a grea,er supply at the same pres
sure. The pressure has not yet been tested,
but is supposed to be 200 lbs. to the square
inch
After some delay, in which there was
noticeable increase of pressure drilling was
resumed in order to secure still further
flow if possible, but after working an hour
or two it was concluded to abandon further
work. Pipes are being arranged and if
they can be got in readiness the gas will be
ignited from the side of the derrick tonight.
Gas was struck in well No. at depth
of ,230 feet, and that well furnishes a sui
Gcient supply to operate two annealing
furnaces and still leave considerable sur
plus. The present well is not less than
twenty-five times as great, and will probably
furnish enough fuel to supply the entire
rolling mill,
THE EFFECT OF THE STRIKE
cannot be otherwise than very favorable,
not only for the corporation whose enter
prise has led it to persevere until success
has been reached, but if it is boom to the
whole business community. The fact has
now been fully demonstrated that natural
gas exists in paying quantities at Steuben-
vile, and that fine flow is likely to be
struck here as in any other locality. With
The exception Of Pittsburg, gas wells here
are in better position to be more gener
ally put to profitable use than any place
where they have yet been sunk.
Our iron, glass and pottery interests
can Immediately consume the products of
all wells likely to be drilled, to say moth
ing of the hundreds Of private consumers.
waiting to introduce gas into their houses.
1t adds one more to the many advantages
already possessed by this city for manu-
facturers With our transportation facili-
ties, the location of nearly the whole city
above high water mark, the healthful
character of the neighborhood, our schools,
churches and other advantages there is now
with natural gas and cheap coal no other
roint possessing such inducements for
manufactures or pleasant homes. An era
ofincreased prosperity is certainly at hand
TURTLE SOUP LUNCH at Frank Healys
;aloOn ODnOsitp PoStoffice