The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-05-11
THE OIL BOON In MONONGALIA.
Morgantown to be an Important Point
for the Oil Field.

The oil well which was struck on
the farm of Lewis Lemley proved to
be such a gnsher and large producer
that in less than As hours after its
capacity had been fairly Guessed at
old oil men from all parts of the
country were on the ground and leas-
ing all the land in that neighbour
hood. The furry and scurry of our
men was far beyond the idea which
the widest fancy of the most san
guine had pictured for that portion
of old Monongalia. In fact the
strike has come as a revelation to
the doubtful and a certainty for the
leasers that the greasy fluid abounds
in endless quantities there. Repre-
sentatives of all the principal oil
companies in the land, such as the
CHARTERS, McCool, Mascot, Hukil,
Union, Craig, Cuff V and Standard,
have been on the ground for many
days and the farmers for many miles
around have either sold or leased
their tracts to some one of these com
panies.
The Lemley well is about miles
from Morgantown, and though it
has not yet been cased so as to ascer-
tain its real capacity enough has
been learned that it is several fold a
better well than has yet been struck
at Mt. Morris, and that being so the
field is to be developed and it is sure
to be one of the most extensive in
I the country.
Don't forget that this oil field is
in Monongalia county.
People here will hardly believe
the excitement that is going on out
there. It's regular race for oil men
to get to farmer first, make him an
offer for his farm or the lease Of it
and draw up binding papers in a
great rush and plank down a nomi-
nal bonus. With rapidity that is
startling and miraculous rigs
are being constructed on leases
and boring commenced. The test
well is a grand, an unlocked for, sue
cess, and now comes the development
of the whole contiguous field En-
gines, boilers and other necessary
apparatus for the sinking of wells
are arriving here daily and being
hauled to the scene of vigorous ac-
ton. Within ten days from this
date the hills and valleys Of that re
gion will be closely dotted with der
| scl< oA1 fha {h,,1 of thn l.
beam and drill will herald the flow
ing of the wealth that will transform
that portion of Cass and Clay dis
tricts from the hum drum agricul-
tural settlement to the progressive
thriving oil field. Men still continue
to flock into the neighborhood and
that countryside is awakened to the
fact that she is in the transitory state
of new existence.
This picture is not overdrawn.
The New DOMINION has been ON the
ground and knows whereof she
speaks Teams are hitched along
fences along the roads for miles,
while their owners are hustling
around for rig locations. Even here
we know of the difference Every
day for a week past the town has
had representative oil men stop at
her hotels to spend a few hours in
letting their companies know by tel
egraph the riches that await them
by the development of the Monon-
gala field. Riches will also be put
in the pockets of many Mononga
liam whose land is leased or who is
enterprising enough to make the de
velopment pay him in the lines of
business in close relation to that of
oil boring.
Another significant feature Of this
development is that it is moving
steadily this way. Scouts are nu-
merous on this side of the Cassville
hill and test wells are likely to be
sunk soon to ascertain whether
the belt crosses the hill. In fact,
these scouts are so numerous that it
can't be learned exactly what they
do mean, but they are not fooling
away time for nothing and some
thing is liable to drop near Morgan
town about any time.
Now, as to the benefit we here are
to enjoy from this development, we
can say that it can hardly be calcu-
lated in it's immense proportions.
This place will be made the head
quarters of all these oil men if GER
tain conditions are complied with,
as many of them have told us that
such would be the case. Morgan
town affords an attraction for resi-
dences for these capitalists, and they
would then set up their offices, &c,
and do their principal business here,
driving out to the field whenever
necessary for them to go. The road
from here to the field is very good
except from Granville to Jimtown,
and that portion of it at the present
time is as near impossible as road
ever gets, and from the horrid man
ner in which it is cut up it is not
likely to improve from travel and
summer sunshine What needs to
be made is a thorough repairing of
that road. This county is to receive
much OF The benefit of these new de-
velopments, and if its commission
ers would cause an additional outlay
to be expended for work on that road
the return would be a hundred fold.
This looks like a little matter, but
to leave it unattended to would
leave us minus many a dollar. Let's
have good road to the oil field.
Meantime people are coming and
going and every oil man who has
lease near the Lemley well is conf
dent of rich return. May it all be
true. We have waited and waited,
but the waiting is richly repaid in
in the striking of oil. Beat the tom
tom and all give three cheers.
Welded i'm WedlOck.
Last Saturday night the NJ. E.
church was crowded with the friends