The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-08-06
HAS GARRETT ANY OILr
Indications Point That Way and Active
Operations Are Under WayTo
Develop 1t.


Develop 1t.
The Maryland Geological Survey in
It's recent report on Garrett county
and its mineral resources, says that
we need not spend any money in
hunting for oil. Sage advice! which
has been followed closely by our peo-
pie. According to the report, howev-
er, there is one spot where oil has eX-
listed in the past. In beautiful val
ley bounded on the East by Great
Savage Mountain and on the West by .
Meadow Mountain, and extending
from the hills along Savage river
MOI Inward to the beautiful town of |
Berlin, Pa, has in the past been an
oil field. But alas, for the comfort of |
of our people the report now says
that it has all leaked away. There
is one little hope held out that oil can
still be found-if hole be bored deep
enough in the ground.
But judging by the activity dis
played by a number of men possess
ed of capital and brains and the eff
forts being made by them at this time
they seemingly do not regard the ad-
vice of the learned men as much as
do our own people. These gentle
men have in the past two months
have had practical men to visit this
valley and they very much disagree
with the theory advanced by the
Maryland Geological Survey, and as
one of the prospectors stated to the
writer recently, 1--WE do not care for
theory; an ounce of practical facts is
worth tons of theory, for we see
theory swept aside everv day and the
greatest blessings given mankind
achieved in the face of every theory
We are told by scientific men that
petroleum oil is caused by the pres
sure of the earth upon coal measures
which looks reasonable indeed. This
valley, when viewed from the sum
nit of Savage Mountain looks like an
oldfashioned ash pit, the altitude be-
ing considerable lower than the sur
rounding country. The coal meas
ures are north, south, east and west,
but no coal has ever been found in,
this valley or any trace of it, The
coal measures seem to be away above
hence the opinion of practical oil men
that oil exists here and can be found
if we'll of sufficient depth is sunk.
In view of the above a company
composed of capitalists from Oil City,
Pa, and Pittsburg has purchased
fourteen hundred acres of land two
miles west of Finzel, this county, have
/ erected a derrick and the drill going,
The hole at this writing is about two
hundred feet deep. The head of the
company sinking the we'll is practi-
cal and experienced oil man who
owns some thirty producing wells
up in Pennsylvania. He is very en-
thusiastic over the prospects here
and says the country has the finest
indications for oil of any place he
has ever visited except Oil City.
A second company is also operat-
ing, its base of operations being eight
miles north east of Finzel where four
thousand acres of land have been Sc
cured. The drill has been sunk tC
a depth of four hundred feet. This
company, composed of Philadelphia
and Pittsburg capitalists, is capitaliz
ed at one hundred thousand dollar:
with fifteen thousand dollars subscrib
ed and paid-up. The point where
the drilling is being done is located
on the eastern slope of the Allegheny
mountains near the old salt well where
the pioneers of the country used t.
obtain their supplies of salt. The
idea for drilling at this particular
place is that oil and salt are Away!
found together and also from the fac
that the surface has so frequently
been burned off indicating the pres
ence of oil or gas.
Another company composed of cap
italists from Boston, Concord, Will
mington and Baltimore, has beer
quietly at work for the last year Sc
curing options and making expert
ments. If the latter proves satisfac
tory the company will secure charter
and put down number of wells.
The Tuscarora Oil COMPANY, which
is composed of capitalists from tn,
north, is actively engaged in drilling
well in the Narrows at Cumberland
the drill having been started Monday
The work will ibe prosecuted as rap
idly as possible and should the holt
prove dry another will be sunk.
Meanwhile our people pursue the
even tenor of their way. Should tn
company now operating be successful
in finding oil they will grow ricl
while our own folks will be awaiting
an opportunity. Let us awake AM
gather for ourselves some of the rich
es nature has so lavishly heaped up
on us and not allowed outsiders tt
carry away all our wealth.