The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-08-02
WEST VIRGINIA Oil.
a View OF tho Fisld-Cnuss OF tho Ronewed
II L. ActlYitY.

nEoi NlhulNlA UllL r.
A View Of the Fisld-Cnuse OF tho Rouswe,
Activity.
The following special correspondence,
Of the Pittsburgh Dispatch from Parkers
burg has good deal OF local interest:
This city was onco working cente,
of the oil industry. Years ago it was
the heart OF the oil trade OF this West.
ern country. It had its reiineries strung
along both banks OF the Kanawha for d
mile or more; its many oil tanks, itt
pipe lines and paraphernalia presenting
Dusy scene OF progress. In the valley
OF the Little kanawha, 35 miles above
this city, there were some Of the richest
oil wells in the country. From Burning
Springs crude oil was noated down in
batteaux to this point, and refined here
and sent 10 the western markets. Hun.
dreds Of derricks dotted the hills and
valleys.
Many grew rich by the industry and
the town Of Burning Springs grew and
thriyed, but the Standard Oil Company
got It's grip on the enterprise ; it removed
lts reGneries to tidewater, throt.led and
crowded out the independent retineries
OF this city until the banks OF the river,
which had but few months before pre-.
eented scene OF busy, industrial life,
tumbled into decay and neglect. Dis.
mantled, rusty tanks and stills and tall
chimneys were all that remained.
The difficulty OF reaching the product.
meagre facilities OF transportation and
the distance OF the field from the centre
Of business prevented anything like or.
ganized opposition to the monopoly at
the time. The pennsylvania region,
where the basins, crevices,. veins and
lakes OF oil seemed to be more concen.
trated then became the centre OF oil in.
terests, and continued 30 until within
the past few years. But the creation of
pipe lines, the organization Of great oil
companies and the concentration OF
capital in the limited area made it plain
ly evident that new developments must
be made to meet the constantly increas-
lug damand for oil. Then again the grip
Of the Standard Oil Company, with lis
%, 1000 miles Of pipe line :the absorption Of
territory and wells, its tank lines and con-
troll Of railroads crushed and paralyzsd
the industry, and forced the independ-
ents to abandon The field OF Pennsyl-
vania to again invest in West Virginia.
A quarter Of century had made a
wonderful difference. New railroads
had been built and were still throwing
out tentacles along the rivers and val
leys; the little kanawha had been made
navigable by slack water, and the whole
territory following the foothills OF the
Appalachian system was in condition
to be easily opened up and developed.
The interests crowded out Of Pennsyl.
vania began TO make organized efforts ia
widely separated parts Of the State.
. GROWTH OF EUREKA.
Eureka, in Peasants county, gave the
first indication Of coming prosperity and
success in the oil interests. At this date
there are at least l50 wells producing or
in progress within distance OF q mile
or more, all OF them very near to the
river. Many Of these wells are now pro-
ducing from $50 to 400 barrels per day,
and every day adds to their number.
Every creek, valley and hill south, east
and west, and in Ohio to the north is
now resounding with the echoes long
forgotten. Wells are now coming in in
the first, second aud third sands
in every direction. Miles away,
in Marion county, tho prospectors
are wonderfully successful, and the
create. portion Of them are Pennsyl.
vaniaus. The field, unlike that OF Penn
sylvauia, seems TO be bounded by neither
belt, crevice or lake theory. hrom Mo.
nongahela to Marion, thence through
Harrison, Gilmer and on to the Allie
ghenics themselves, it is now fully be.
lieved, and to great extent by practical
test that oil in paying quantities under.
lies the whole territory. IN the old
territory ol Burning Springs the largest
gas well in tho State was struck but a
few days aimee, and no doubt exists that
the now wilderness will soon again re.
sound with busy strife and success
greater than that Of anti.belIum days.
Belmont presents a scene familiar to
the Pennsylvania eye with its rush and
clanp, its gushing streams OF oil, its
tanks, derricks and a!l the sounds and
movements that ~ 10 make up the busy
huatle OF a rushing oil village. ,,'0
Everywhere in oil centers, in towns,
on railroads, rivers, in the valleys, ON
the hills and mountain tops, tho omni.
present prospecto. and apecnlator can be
found.
Tho success OF experimental work in
West Virginia already begins to show
that radical change in the control .ol
the oil market must soon follow. The
new fields have the advantage, especi.
ally in the Western trade, OF olcheap water
Transportation and great saving IN the
cost oi production, as compared with the
limited aud thlckly drilled Peuusyl
Vania territory. How successful the new
combination will be in competition viii
the Standard octopus slria, the drill
and the proportion oi success will tell
4 The Yates of development in the future
should be as great as that Of the present
and the wells prove as permanent ant
|stable as those Of Pennsylvania, q new
land prosperous oleagin0us era is q
lhapd.' 'ssl s
/ a Lucky Oil Operator.
FINDLAy, O., August 1.-C. G. Harris
the oil king Of the Ohio Geld, completed
awell on ths Stein farm, north OF thi
Icisy, that started natural ut 250 barrel
m hours. 1t is regarded the hes. vol
In the field. There are aevetas dry we'll
but a short Distance away. Mr.. Harri
q regarded as the luckiest man in th
Ohio field. He gets boomers whe.
other producers get dry wells. I.o is
farmer, and commenced tho oil busnes