Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-03-01
THE WOOD COUNTY FIELD.
OPERATIONS IN THs FIELD EIGHT NILES
NORTH OF PAREERSbURG
Getting Very BrsS-A Short History Of the
Ee.t-W1a, is Being Done and Who
is Dong l.

A special dispatch to the Register
from Parkersburg gives the following
IN regard to the new territory opened
up iu Wood county:
THE new oil field living about eight
miles northeast of this city which has
been for some time the centre of at
traction Tor operators, is at present
being much invested in by seekers Of
the greasy fluid who are eager to OBJ
tain lease at most any figure.
Ever since the big deal last week
between the Standard Oil Company
and George w. Boss took place. in
which the latter dispose of a portion of
his leases, deals have been made on
every hand, and this city is the attrac-
tive poin for the operators. who expect
when the weather mOderates 20 begin
operations iu earnest in the new Wood
county oil field. and expect to bring TO
the front some large producers.
The "SrOsnider well, drilled in the
fan of IS on the farm of Elijah Stros-
nider. by A. L.. Poole, of Fittsburg Pa
was the beginning OF operations in this
field. From this WELL which was
drilled 800 feet before going through
the Big Iujm sand. on flowed i'm quite
a large quantity. but the company
failed and at least 1900 barrels of oil
was wasted by being burnt and other
wise destroyed. Betman& & Watson have
secured control of the we'll and will try
To improve it,
"The great drawback which has, IL
seems. been a great hindrance to the
thorough testing of this field all
through the early operations, was the
lack of capital by the operators, and
the second test of the territory was the
well drilled ON the It. Rawson farm, d
short distance northeast of the first
well. and at a short depth Oil was
found. bat for lack of capital the we'll
was abandoned by the operator, George
Devol. of Elba. O. Later a we'll drilled
ON the land of Capt. W. A. McCOsh, OF
this city, ON Bull creek, came IN dry.
and operations were extended farther
south and are rapidly approaching Par
kersbUrg.
At Ogdiu. Wood county, a we'll put
down by the Bowman Bros Pitts
burg firm. ON the Ii. Ingram farm,
made quite a gOOd showing for oil, but
from lack of proper management caVed
IN and was abandoned, and likewise a
We'll drilled ON IL. n. Corbltts farm,
which now contains oil standing IN IT
within "a few feet of the top, which was
left i'm the same tiN.
The above section of the field, all
though not thoroughly tested, was
abandoned early, and operations be
gan anew three miles further south,
where the Vernon OIL Company. OF
Pittsburg. struck "a large gasser on the
land leased by them near Ralston' S
Mills known as the "Raiston Gasser, '
the gas coming 10 the surface with such
force as 10 cause "a sound which could
bo heard for several miles, and light
inc mo the surrounding country for
some distance at night when ignited.
The company being So well rewarded
I'm the above field. concluded 20 so q
little farther south and "Bdlston NO.
% " "a l9rger gasser tuau the hIst, was
struck.
This company. like others who first
hsran i'm the new field. had left a we'll
ON the James Butts farm, on Bull Run'
yerv shallow. and concluded TO more
thorouehN test it. and 1T was drilled
deeper and shot throwing oil over
tine ton of the derrick. the well HoWlng
continuously ever since. the otl beng
of splendid quality and the thickness
of the Berea grit being tWenty-SeNeh
feot The last we'll. 10 seems. has put
OH mon TO thinking. and territory IN
it's vicinity is held at "a large figure
Never I'M tine history of OIL
fields near this city has SO much atten-
ZION been paid a field as is now beng
Given the new Wood county field, ana
mon of wide experience and unlimited
,aDitaI are investing on every hand,
and land which has heretofore been
held bv parties as a source OF specu'a-
tion is rapidly going into the hands or
experienced operators and men OF capt.
tai. who seem determined 10 thorough
y test their leases.
Among the compauis who will he
Gin op.ratiOus with the opening OF the
season. and who have material on the
ground for the preliminary work IN
most cases. are. smith & Shea, oil
Sistersvile. The Henry OH Company,
of chicago. Florence Oil Company. Of
pittsburs. Gillespie x Co., of Pitts
bure. EiIders x Co., of New York;
rrI,yic IL Mooney. BettmaG x Watson,
~ RermOnt Eastern OIL Company. Of
Now York. the Standard oil Company
and the Athens oil Company.