Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-17
NEW OIL TERRITORY
In West Virginia Being Developed by
Pittsburg Capital.
RESULT OF A WILDCAT VENTURE.
Captain Moore Enthusiastic Over His New
Found Gusher.
NOT WILLING TO SELL HIS BONANZA

Captain Jim" Moore. one of the best
known men about town in Pittsburg, re-
turned from a trip to the new oil field in
Ritchie county, West Virginia, yesterday
To say that the Captain is enthusiastic
over the prospects OF that section is putting
it mild. He is fairly boiling over with
glowing reports of the territory, and says
the excitement down there can only be
compared to that which ruled the old oil
country years ago. Some time since the
Captain, who has had considerable e1pe-
rience in the oil business, went into partner
ship with a gentleman named Allen, who
lives in Buffalo, aud a well-known gentle
man of Pittsburg, for the purpose OF de-
veloping some territory in the State men
toned.
Readers of The DISPATCH will remem-
Der that a few days ago an item was pub
lished il these columns to the effect that a
big oil well had been brought in at Penns-
borough, Ritchie county. This was wild
cat venture on the part of the Captain and
his companions, and the first they had
made.
CON NsIDERED A GREAT STRIKE.
In speaking of the well yesterday Captain
Moore said: Every expert who has seen the
well declares that this is the greatest strike
ever made in the State. We have plugged
the well three times now, but every time she
has blown out 1 just received a telegram
saying that she blew out again last night. The
fow will be up into the thousands of barrels
a dav beyond question. You never saw any
thing like the excitement there is down there.
Standard Oil people, scouts and oil men gen
F-or, all arts rf rha ..nl-
Ing in there.
ave have already had offers for the oil 25
cents barrel above the ordinary price from in
dependent retinerS in Cleveland and Cincinnati.
The samples that have been tested are pro-
nOEnced superior to anything ever struck IN the
State, being of better quality than that found
at ST. Mary's.'
How m~Ssh territory have you under lease?'
We'll, We have one strip nearly six miles
long, which is located on both sides of the Penn
sylvania and Ritchie Railroad. You would
have laughed had you seen the oil men when
they got into the territory. They were simply
dumiounded to find rs with many leases
and actually accused US of wanting the earth.
II things pan out as well as they look now, we
will have little bit of 1t before we get through.
THEY DO NOT PROPOSE TO SELL.
''our first venture is located on what is known
as the Wilson farm. Mr.. Wilson owns an
eighth interest, and he was made bona ide
offer of $4,000 for it. but promptly refused
the same. We have also had some big offers
but do not want to sell. We think we are
strictly in it. and propose to stay. We have a
big gang of men at work building tanks and
will Law a line of our own to the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, about three and half miles
distant.
Are you making arrangements to do more
drilling?"
Just as rapidly as possible. Timber is
already on the ground for more derricks, and
we will put down wells as rapidly possible
We drilled l.Sl7 feet for the one now in. Aside
from our leases many more have been made by
various parties, and rigs are going up all around
US. To show you what the oil men think of the
prospects. will tell you of the Ferguson farm
that joins the Wilson farm. Ferguson was
offered s., 600 down. 81 month per acre for the
farm and quarter interest. with an agree
ment that he should be paid an additional
$1,000 when the first 2o-barrel well came in
THIS is as true as gospel"
What is the neares: developed field to your"
THE nearest is at Cairo, and the nearest well
is seven miles distant"
The Captain tells some rather amusing
stories of his partners who are entirely new
to rough experiences of the oil country. They
all live at a small and modest farm house some
distance from the scene OF operations and do
not take very kindly to gum boots and country
mud. The water down there is good, however
and by spring he thinks they will be rugged
enough to eat hay. The Captain will return to
the field on Thursday to be absent for a long
time. He was being numerously congratulated
about town yesterday.