The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-12-12
DRILLING FOR OIL In *.
A Correspondent Reviews the At
tempt to Find Oil Near
GrantsViiIe.
ANOTHER TRIAL is NOW BEING MADE
BY the Cssselm an Valley Mineral Develop
ment Company at a Point Four Miles
South of GraRtsviIle.
o the Editor of The Republican.

! To the Editor Of The Republican.
Under legislative charter a COM
pany was formed and drilling for oil
was commenced in the summer of 1867
on Shade Run. one mile west of
Grantsville, then Allegany county,
Md. Five thousand dollars were ex-
pended.
/ A third of a century has elapsed
and a generation passed since that
pioneer effort was made to develop
the minerals and other hidden treas
ures of our beautiful Casselman val
ley. 1t must be remembered that the
wealth and population of this COM
munity has greatly increased Con-
ditions considered, it was consider
able enterprise. The faith and forth
tude of our frugal fathers deserve
commentator and emulation. The
oil excitement was then high in West
ern Pennsylvania, the field where
great fortunes were rapidly made and
! lost.
Experts then as now pronounced
our county in the ''oil belt" Coal
was a secondary consideration. We
were boring for oil and nothing else
After expanding all the funds that
could be raised, reaching a depth of
something up near 700 feet, we were
forced reluctantly to suspend opera
tions before reaching oil; but to this
day our people firmly believe we have
oil and it will certainly be found Our
most experienced, intelligent and
trusted local geologist, the late Joel
Miller, ST., whose faith and zeal never
failed, has left this rude but reliable
record:
Concerning the drilling for oil on
the Fuller farm, near Grantsville,
Md, under the supervision of one
James, at 9G feet from the surface the
b eachy vein of coal, feet thick, was
struck; at 1876 feet coal and slate 10
feet thick was found; at 266 feet coal
and slate, to s feet, was found; at
276 feet through coal into floor rock.
The Salisbury, Pa, coal bed lies 300
feet and over above the Beachy four
foot vein of coal. The drilling stopped
at 276 feet and the well changed
hands.
The new company, drilling under
charge of one johnson, commenced
drilling at the depth of 27G feet in
white sand rock; at 31G feet black
slate with streaks of coal was found:
at 339 feet, hard substance appear
ance of iron ore; at 341 feet, slate with
streaks of coal; at 344 feet, hard sub
stance like iron ore; at BAG feet, slate
and streaks of coal; at 364 feet, sand
rock; at 369 feet, slate and pebbles;
at 373 feet, hard sand rock at 800 feet,
slate; at Ala feet. soap stone; at 416
feet, sand rock; at 437 feet, slate; at
43S feet, hard sand rock; at 475 feet,
brown slate and streaks of coal; at
4S9 feet, hard sand rock; at 541 feet,
becomes very hard; at $50 feet, brown
shale; at 553 feet, brown slate; at 563
feet, hard sand rock; at 574 feet, slate;
at $50 feet, sand rock; at 5S3 feet, crew
ice opening six or eight inches; at $50
feet, soap stone; at 500 feet, grey
shale; at 602 feet, sand rock; at COS
feet, shale; at 61S feet, white sand
rock; at 62S feet, slate; at 630 feet, red
shale; at GA feet, grey slate; at 67e
feet, blue sand rock.
Drilling at this point was finally
stopped for want of funds. The re-
quired depth of the oil deposit rock
has not been reached at the depth
here drilled.
(Signed) JOEL MILLER. SR."
Thus persisted the hopes of our
fathers for finding oil. Their hard
earned money was cheerfully expend-
ed without regret or murmur. Many
of these worthy men have died be-
lieving, and we survivors still cherish
the faith of our fathers and friends,
that oil will yet be produced in this
county.
The Casselman Valley Mineral De-
velopInent Company is now boring
with core drill four miles south of
Grantsyille. Indications are reported
encouraging. Early and extensive
developments of our mineral interests
are expected.
With our mines, mills, railroad and
bank in active operation, this valley
will be alive with push, progress and
prosperity.
OCCASIONAL.
Grantsville, Dec. 9, 1901.
Potatoes are Rotting.
The potato famine last fall will
not be circumstance to what is