The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-05
IN THE OIL FIELDS.

The Past Glortes OF inc Frtcaeh EoVt hc-
salIed-Deeiine of tho Weekly Gusher
In Tyler County : Operations In the
Southwest.
One OF the Frieders-owners or the
famous oil producing farm in Monroe
county. ohio.-was in towna day or two
ago. and talked with one Of the Wheel
ing men who was so fortunate as to be
in on the ground floor with George Dig
by, when the first well was drilled IN on
the Frieden, over, q year ago. He says
the original well Is stlll producing some
oil, but the decline is great and he Is
sorry he did not sell out TO the eastern
ers at the time Digby, Robinson, Crock
ard and the other Wheeling men. VINO
held the lease, disposed OF their inter
ests for the cool sum OF $4,000 He
says the famous "Dog:skin" district Is
uuIet as a graveyard. This Is the place
that was touted year ago as a coming
rival OF sistersville as an oil town. One
OF the first moves. It will be remember
ed, was to establish a bank. II lasted
about three weeks and died with the
town.
From Indian creek comes the rather
startling report that the Kyle and
Weekly gushers are decreasing In their
output OF oil and increasing their flow
OF salt water. The oil production OF each
is now about S00barrels q day and about
27b barrels OF salt water. Promoters or
new work are laboring under the most
embarrassine trials in getting new
work started on account OF the bad con-
dItlon OF the roads. The superintendent
OF one company expected TO start thirty
teams from SIstersville to Indian creek.
with supplies yesterday, but was unable
10 get a single load OF material out OF
the town. The Devonlan oil Company's
No. 2 Kyle Is now three days past due.
and Is awaited with no little interest
]. NJ. Guffey & Co. have started two
wells on thePitts farm. near the Kyle
and Weekly gushers. No. Is down 500
feet and No. 9 Is spuddding. The same
company Is getting ready to start hVe
more wells on the same property.
In the Flat run district north or Man.
nington the South Penn OIL Company
has drilled in its No. 2 George Cross.
The well madcfone flow, but is not deep
enough in the pay TO Judge OF It's Status
as q producer.
ON the Devlin farm, Meigs county.
Ohio. TAYLOR & Company are drilling at
600 feet and SIstersville parties are
starting a well in Letart township.
In Monroe county, to the northeast Of
the Frieden pool the Eastern Oil Com.
pany Is deep in the sand at its test well
on the Bechtel farm, and has no show
for oil.
There is new Richmond In the oil
field. Not In the active derrick-decked
field OF production. but in the vast field
of distribution, where the Standard OIL
Company has had absolute control
through many year and many bitter
fight.
The name OF the new man Is s. Y.
Ramage, and his mercantile career has
been metcoric. Ten years ago he was
penniless oil prospector. who trod the
hills OF Pennsylvania In rawhlde boots
and flannel shirt. seeking the spots
where the exploring drill might tap the
oleaginous veins OF mother earth.
Even now he appears still scarcely
more than a boy. smooth.faced. care
fully-clad. qulck-spoken young busi-
ness man, such as dozens around him.
But he Is a man OF big affairs.
Almost unknown and without iniiu-
ence. operating upon capital consti-
tuted OF the small savings OF few
fairly fortunate years as an oil pros
pector, he took up and carried to q
Euccessful conclusion n vigorous fight
against the wealthIest and most power
full business corporation in the world.
On Monday morning he departed from
New York to assume what Is practi-
cally complete charge OF the business OF
the Standard OIL Company in the cen
tFal and southern states; an enormous
commercial interest which represents
the tranefer OF 800. 900 900 year from
the pockets OF the purchasers OF oil TO
the tills OF the distributing company.