Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-25
BELM0NT'S BIG BOOM.
CONTINUED OIL EXCITEMENT IN PLEAS
ANTS COUNTY, WA.
Jaoob MEMBERSHIPS Debt Of SiS Paid Ahsr He Struck
Ol-Ths Wells in the Eureka Tsrri0y-John
AcKsowns Offer - Prospects Of
Salt Works at Belmont.
Special Correspondence, Of he Register.

Special Correspondence Of he Register.
BELMONT, W. VA, April 24.-The farm
ers OF Pleasants county are somewhat in
terested in the oil developments of the
Eureka field, but not nearly so much as
they would have been, had they not
already leased their farms. They can
get no additional bonus, but the royalty
to be paid in case of a strike may be some
thing very handsome.
LUCKY THIRTEEN.
Oil is nothing new in this part of the
State. About 20 years ago jacob Hender-
shot was sued for bill of Sl3 and ss he
let the case go by default judgment was
promptly rendered and an execution en-
tered against him. The Constable set out
TO levy ON his property but he found .poth-
ing HeDdershot, however, was nN alto
gether pennilese. He was the possesser Of
bit OF farm about six miles southeast
of here, the value Of which was Considera-
bly, less than $500.
On this land of Henderson, q well was
sunk. 1t came in big and after bringing
$40, 900 to the fortunate owner OF the
sandy tract, Henderson, concluded that be
would rather have a dead sure thing than
an uncertainty. Accordingly he sold out
for a round hundred thousand With the
first $l3 Of royalty that came to him he
paid the execution still pending.
Now he lives across the river in Wash
ingtOn wealthy and prosperous farmer.
Other wells we're put down, but the
field was shallow and proved to be rather
improbable. In April, 1856, a well was
sunk on on the Rus Hammet farm, one
mile southwest of Belmont on n Al degree
line. For a whole year the tools were
lost. Finally after fishing job, the well
Was drilled in and started at a gait OF 225
barrels per day. Oil was found ut depth
of about !, 400 feet. The sand was white.
from 10 to 20 feet thick and c0reeponded
to the Ganiz on Macksburg field The
well is still doing 35 barrels. She is the
property Of Brown q Barne'dsle.
OPERATIONS IN THE FIELD.
Other operators came into the field and
soon a dozen derricks were up. Some of
the wells came in dry, but most OF them
were fair producers. This necessitated
pipe line and the Standard forthwith fur
nished one connecting with the line from
Markshire TO the Camden refneries ~ Par
kersbuTg.
Brown and BarnCsdale have drilled iour
other wells on the Camden and Hsmmet
farms adjoining. They are all producers
at a rate of from 90 10 90 barrels per day.
VIM. Johnston put down well on the
Ruttencutter farm. Ii was gasser with
a pressure Of 500 pounds. he is now
drilling another that ought 10 be in next
week. On the A5 degree line, Mildren
Bros, OF Butler, Pa, have a derrick up.
They are also drilling on the Stewart
farm, two miles ahead OF developments.
That, probably, includes all Of the deyel-
Opmenis in Peasants county.
ACROSS THE OHIO.
But the Eureka field extends across the
river into Ohio. where the pool is much
shallower. A stray sand is found at about
500 feet below the sBriace, and the Cow
Run" sand at a depth of about $50.
On the Tom Rowland farm, in Newport
township, Washington county, Ohio, across
the river from Eureka, a well is pumping
from 30 to 30 barrels. Another, drilled on
the James Pegg farm, close by, started on
at the rate OF % barrels No. ., on the
Rowland farm, southeast OF No. ], came
in with nearly 100 barrels. Rowland No.
3, drilled short distance southwark,
started OIL at q lively gait, while still an
other on the same farm was duster.
The Oil Well Supply Company, Of Wash
ingtoD, Pa, have well on the Thomas
farm, three-quarters Of mile northwest
of previous developments. II came in
last Friday, aud stands full Of oil. When
pumped it will likely exceed 100 barrels
per day.
Between these farms is the Mendenhall
tract, upon which Mr. +. X Rose, OF Lima
and ParkersbuTg, has derrick. Brown &
Huggin have a rig on the Deacon HUFF
farm; Storey is drilling on the Pegg farm
and Hout, Mccullough q Co., Of Wash
ington, Pa, are drilling on the Johnston
Nolan place. Their well will b. in within
the next few days. Lockwood, also OF
Washington, is drilling on the Lewis Row
land place.
THE PRODUCERS.
The operations in the Eureka field are
certainly attractive TO men OF small capt
tai. A couple of thousand dollars is oil
that is necessary TO complete a well.
Consequently, although the Standard Com
pany and its affiliations are laggeiy repre-
sented in the field, the independent ope-
rators are exceedingly numerous. One OF
them is George Rice, OF Marietta, who 10
widely known on account OF his vigorous
fight with the Standard people.
John McKeown, of Washington, Pa,
made a trip down here and took look
over the field Following bis old tactics,
be picked out a small tract upon which he
wanted to put down o well. Then be went
to the owner end without a word offered
him S.. 900 cash for tie farm. The gran
GERS eyes bulged ont upon his cheeks and
he almost wept. The day before he had
signed a lease for the whole property for
only a small royalty aud no bonus. For
once lucky John McKeOwn was TOO late.
SALT WORKS PROPOSED.
William Johnston has gasser near Bel
mont, as already stated. Near by 10 ms
well which has been throwing out about
4 600 barrels Of salt water every day, and
there is no dimunition in the volume. To
day Mr. Johnston went to Pittsburg to
confer with some capitalists in regard to
establishing salt works at this place. The
analysis OF the brine demonstrates that 1t
is far superior to that from the Pomeroy
wells. With natural gas as the fuel to be
used in the evaporation, Mr.. Johnston ~
certain that salt can be produced here
chesply and proftably, and IN immense
quantities.
BIG OH Contract.
Special Tshcram 10 nc Rsgisier.