Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-02-03
Notes From WASH ingtOn, Pa.

Not much over a month ago the oil field
in Washington county wa. considered good
but not extraordinary, and for time ex-
citement was kept at moderate pressure,
but of late it has greatly increased and now
Washington and surrounding country is be-
lieved to be an uncommon oil field. The
cause for the increase in the boom was the
striking of oil at a well named the Smith,
tina; now yields about tour hundred barrels
per day. which is about three hundred more
.han the Gordon we'll the next strongest in
the county. Oh spectators arc in town
from all important oil districts in this state,
and other states. The hotels have been
filed with these men and the subject of oil
is freely discussed. Many ..rigs" are hir-
cd by which the oil field is visited by the
Spectators.
Among the many visitors to the oil field
there have been several millionaires. one
man worth million, who was here is nam
ed McKeon, about fifteen years ago he
worked as an everyday laborer, he became
stockholder in oil interests and through
that means became rich.
So great was the excitement caused by
the striking of the four hundred bIrrel
Smith well that in less than one week no
less than sl6G,000 was expend ed by oil
men in leasing property in the neighboring
country. about the town. One farm of one
hundred and forty-eight acres was sold for
s56 goo, another farm OF six hundred acres
was leased for $50 900.
There is talk of building another hotel in
town for the accommodation of men working
in the oil field.
In this county, the color Of the sand in
which oil is found is white, in some other
places 1t is discovered in red and brown
sand. In some places il is course, in other
places fine. Oil discov cred in the coarse
sand holds out better than when found in
fine sand.
Lumber wagons may be seen passing
through the town in great numbers on the
way TO and from the vicinity Of the Smith
well, where in the spring great many new
wells will be started.
II is reported that hundreds of people in
iend coming to this place to live next
spring and many new houses will be built.
The demand at the present time cannot
be supplied House rent and town prop
erty, and farm land, Is advancing in
price.
An oil man here said. that he had made
$50 600 and then lost it all. partly by drill
ing ard getting no OIL. Much money will be
made here but when dry holes are the result
it results in heavy losses.
DIR. Loyal Young has in his possession a
Hebrew dictionary that is two hundred and
foriy-six years OLD.
Thursday the 2sth of January, the day
for prayer tor colleges and young men. In
the morning, exercises were held in the Col
lege chapel. Speeches were delivered by
some and prayer by others, as follows: DR..
j. C. Moffat, Prof. Henry Woods, Rev Bar
nett, Rev. Msgill, Rev. Loyal Young and
others. At o'clock p. NJ, and at o'cloc X
P. NJ, meetings were held by the Y. NJ. c.
Association in their room in College build
ing. At O'Clock p. NJ, a preacher from
Pittsbug preached TO the young men of
College in the First Presbyterian church.
No recitations were gone through with by
an OF the classes.
J anuary 2S, 1856. J. +. D.