The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-12-24
THE WEST VIRGINIA SITUATION.

For the past year West Virginia terri
tory 10 many has been bear upon the
situation. 1t has been proclaimed time
and time again that the Standard Oil
Company. with its thousands OF acres OF
prolific leaspa could coon flood the mar.
kets OF tue world. This assertion has
no. been borne out by the demorstra
ton CT the Grill, and it is questionable
to day whether upon the aggregate Of
operations in the entire Virginia field
that investments have paid. Mt. Nor
ris, and especially Washington has con.
clusively shown that oil could not be
produced at present prices. The record
OF the field also shows that the territory
is spotted and those who have made
money are but few compared with
those engaged in operating. Eureka,
Belmont and 81. Mary's have all
apparently reeched the eliminating
point. Giycerine IL those fields has
been used literally, yet Notwithstanding
this fact the production 10 constantly de.
cliniug. Numerous wild cat wells have
baen drilled Ut nearIy every point Of the
compass with poor results; and tLous.
ands OF acres OF land which had hitherto
been counted on ss good territory has
been condemned. In these pools with
in the past three weeks ten dry holes
certainly confirms the above conclusion.
The ST. Mary's field was opsEed up about
two weeks ago BY the Duncan Z Com.
paua well on the Smith farm. The we'll
is only good for thirty or thirty.fve bsr-
rels day, md ia the only well produc.
ing in the field. Since this well was
completed there have been eight or ten
wells started In the vicinity. Two OF
these lave passcd through the same for.
nation in which the oil was found in
the above vel, and neither oil nor gas
was found.
These were the Bills and Galliger
wellF. The latter has virtually oblisera.
ted the hope OF finding oil in many OF
the town lots, and has had q depressing
elec. upon the boom. Between Belmont
and St. Mary's, along the Ohio river
front, three dry holes have practically
aunihilated the theory OF a connection
between Belmont and st. Mary'a. John
son 4 Co.'s dry hole, three miles south
Of st. Mary's on the Beers farm, and.
known as the "tom cat WE'LL" has also
condemned a considerable amount OF ter
ritory. In the old Belmont field proper,
matters have subsidized to sorry sight
as compared with the boom OF only a few
days ago. The best well in the field is
the old Stewart No. !, which, from the
moot authentic report, has production
OF only 50 barrels day. The Rutten-
cutter district has also been ove1estima.
ted, and the production Of the best we'll
there may DO estimated at Is or 80 bar
relsa day, while the two wells recently
completed are making but ten barrels
each. The old EureEa pool is thing OF
tue past, and it'd resurrection is hey ond
hope. Across the river from here ST
Hughee, however, is looking for an cut.
let to the northTtst in the direction Of
the old Oracle mill.
In the shallow territory In the Cow
run eand there was q small we'll com.
ple!ed recently on the Kerr farm which
is practically no good and was sad dis.
10 many.
Ackerly & Sammall, on the j. 3.
Green farm, are now in the sand with
we'll on the northeast corner OF the
farm, which IS showing for the best well
in the field. Smith & Aliens we'll,
3 900 feet north and q little west OF the
Brown well, Is in the sand on tho Hen.
der5hot. Tho well is showing some oil.