The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-08-24
MORE OIL STRIKES.
The Smith & Eakia Well Good Pro.
Queer but the Miller Well
q Gasser.

The oil development In this couD-
ty has not progressed to any great
extent more than has been reported;
but there has been a material aug
mentation in the past week in the
work that makes the development
fixed certainty over the specula-
tive tests that had heretofore held
the people in state of half doubt.
The development had proceeded
to only such stage until last week
as to leave not only operators but
everybody else in state of semi-be-
lief in the permanency of the output.
Since that time the Smith d Aiken
we'll, which was regarded as the
turner" of the field, has showed
such indications of an enormous
yield that operators no los yer linger
on the brink of uncertainty, bat are
now stalking their capital and opin-
ion on the prospect of the richest
sort of development. Since the adj
vent of the Smith Il Aiken, which
brings forth various estimates re-
garding capacity, the interest in the
development has been wonderfully
on the side of continued drilling and
work of that nature now proceeds
at rate not heretofore experienced.
In fact, it is now definitely known
that the Monongalia is the greatest
white sand oil field that has been
struck for many years in any of the
prospecting that has been done in
years in this country, and lease hold
ers here are consequently jubilant
over the result.
The Lemley well was the tester of
the entire field. 1t came in a good
producer and leasings followed both
to the east and west of it. The leas-
es west are supposed to be nearest
the heart of the belt, but those
leases east were to be tested by the
Smith d Aiken, and since it gives
such promising indications of a
good yield the drillings for the most
part from now ON will occur to the
east of the Lemley well. These wells
east are in the nature of things on
the edge of the belt, and the farther
west well is the better is the pros
pect for a great production
All this being true, the operators
now have clear map before them
and will confine their operations
thereto and will drill from a line
with the Smith d Aiken to the west
so far as the belt is found to extend.
Fabulous prices are now being
paid for leases Hardly a foot of
ground that is supposed to be in the
belt west of the Lemley is left un-
taken and these continue to the
south far into Marion county. The
operations are vigorous in the field
at present ard new men after terri
tory are to be seen every day. They
can't conceal the fact that the oleag-
nous fluid abounds in great quaint
ties in this new field and are after
the fortunes that await the success
full and experienced operators
Indeed, it makes not great deal OF
difference whether the lease holder
is experienced or not. The oil is
there and all that remains to make
it valuable is a hole in the ground
to penetrate the pay streak. These
pay streaks bring various results in
various wells. In some the first
streak brings gas and further Dor
ing brings oil, and the gas above
is forcible enough to eject the oil in
the second streak, as is the case in
the Smith q Aiken, but in others oil
found in the first streak, though in
such wells it is generally the case
that pumping must be done.
On the West Virginia side of the
line in this county the producing
wells yield something near one thou
sand barrels per day and if the 9th
ers now going down should come in
good producers the product will
probably be doubled or trebled.
The oil business is the chief topic
in many parts of the county and
many of our people as well as the oil
operators have great expectations
OF course we have faith in the posi-
bilities of the field, but can give few
facts except as divulged by that
very practical demonstration, the cen.
ter bit. Without this however the
general proposition is fixed that Mo
nongalia is great oil field and its
development promises great things
for the county and for Morgantown
NO OIL EAST OF THE SMITH & AIKEN.
Yesterday Tuesday, evening ex
perts from the oil field informed
the New DOMINION that the Miller
well, a little east of the Smith
d Eiken had come in a gassel
thus proving the Smith d Eiken te
be The extreme eastern boundary Of
the oil belt.