The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-02
% much Der pound bot By the pIece.'

b. e VI 4 a. d . . Il . .
John A. Pulliam was the first sue
cessful Elkins fisherman in the good
year Of 1915, having spent a good Dor
ton OF Saturday afternoon on the re-
tanning wall above the Davis avenue
bridge angling for catfish. His pains
was rewarded with string OF IS or
20 specimens of "cat," says the Inter
Mountain. VIZ
George S. Hill, cashier OF the old
National bank at Martinsburg on Mon
day rounded out half century OF
service in. the bank. Mr.. Hill was
horn inplNartinsburg July a. 1912. He
entered the bank when It was organ
ICED and two years later February ~,
1863, he became cashier, g position ne
has held ever since.
A mysterious explosion which oc-
Cured Saturday night in front Of the
Methodist church on Wilkes st. Is puz2-
ling, the people of Berkley Springs.
The large windows in the front OF the
church were shattered, and one WIN
dow broken In the home OF George
Cunningham, in close proximity to
the church. A large hole was torn In
the ground in front OF the church. It
Is the general opinion that 1t was
done by some careless person with no
Intention Of injuring the church.
In its issue Of last week the wetzel
Democrat INDUCED In the following
history which is of considerable In
terest ali over West Virginia where
they drill for oil.
at was In the early sixties that oil
prospects made their first appearance
in Wetzel county.
aThese men came mostly from the
east and paid large sums Of money
for lands supposed at that time to pc
oil territory.
"The Baltimore, Fishing Creek OIL
and Mining Company paid over thirty
thousand dollars for about 300 acres
of land on the North Fork OF Fishing
Creek for oil purposes that would not
have otherwise brought two dollars
per acre.
"These men carried on their opera
tions with spring-pole, but never
succeeded in reaching the oil bearing
sand and eventually abandoned their
undertaking. In 1880, the company
sold the land to James M. Allen for
much less than they paid, and It IS
believed that Mr.. Allen in the years
following received more rental Tor OIL
leases on this land than he paid 1or
It. It is said that hole drilled py
this company with a spring.hole IS YET
marked on the Allen farm: the lana
proved good Investment for Mr.. Al
len as it produced both oil and gas,
and underlaid with coal.
ut was proven by Developments In
after years that the theory Of these
early oil prospectors was correct as
many productive fields were found in
Wetzel County. The only thing that
prevented them from developing the
oil at that time was the fact they did
not have tools and machinery with
which to drill down to the oil and gas
sand.
'"9Then leasing lands for oil and gas
purposes came into practical use, ana
by means Of leases and improved
tools and machinery the business has
become more active year after year
and 1t has been q continuous business
ever since the invention of practical
drilling equipment. Thousands Of, dol
lars have been paid to land owners
for releases and rentals and millions OF
dollars worth OF oil and gas have been
produced and 10 yet being produced.
Activity in this line OF business
has not abated In the least and today
tits more active and aggressive than
ever before. 81
4 Many on and gas leases are being! !
filed for record In the Clerks office
Of the County Court OF Wetsel5 county
every week which means that land
owners are TeceiYing money for leases!
and rental, and that OF operators are 4