Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1922-09-28
BIG POWER PLANT WOULD
MEAN MUCH TO COMMUNITY

Recently Mr.. Wilbur Stout, assist
ant state geologist, in company with
Mr.. James and Mr.. COllett, geolo-
gists with the Pure Oil Co., was in
this county in the interest Of the
Pure Oil Co., in reference to testing
for oil in Meigsville and Bristol
townships. At the same time Mr..
Gillespie, a geologist for the Ohio
Fuel & Gas Co., was here in the in
terest of Mr.. J. H. Witte OF the local
gas company. In the evening these
gentlemen met and talked over the
geological formations here in this
county. In the course OF .he con-
versation it was learned that Mr..
Stout who is an expert in his line,
had been employed with the eastern
capitalists who are contemplating e
the building of an immense electric
power plant near Philo. Mr. Stout
it seems has made tests as to the
coal up and down the valley. which
is very necessary for the operating
of this immense plant. He reported
that there are at least three other
places more desirable than the Philo
site which apparently has been Sc
lected, although it is stated that
proceedings have not gone SO far
there but that they would change
locations if some other place would
afford them better advantages
There are three places Mr. Stout
named as appearing to him more adj
vantageous. One of these is up
above GAINESVILLE, the other at or
near Eagleport. and the other here,
or near here. 1t would appear that
this is the best of them all, since
the coal supply is greater here than
at the other places. In this coal
testing he finds that there are 1000
acres of No. 9 coal with vein of
from SO to- 38 inches of clean coal
in Meigsville and Bristol townships.
1t also develops that around here
at depth of about 200 feet is locat-
ed No. 6 coal with a vein of u feet
this immense plant the available
coal supply counts for practically
everything and with a larger acre
age in this vicinity together with a
thicker vein, Mr.. Stout feels that it
might not be too late to get the
plant at this location. At least he
would make it appear that it would
be well worth the effort.
This plant as has been stated, is
to be built by eastern capitalists,
and will cost some three or four
million dollars. It is to furnish
electricity through steam power, the
steam to be produced by coal, which
would require many thousands of
ht1ChnJc Ioi1 o1o &,s
would be carried by wire to supply
various cities and towns.
While the plant will be located
along the river, the water would
have no part in producing the power
for electricity other than to supply
the boilers with water, and a water
supply for the hundreds of persons
it will require to run the plant. Coal
is to be transported to the plant by
what is called an aerial train which
is sort of an endless nhain affair.
Mr.. Stout is neither boosting for
nor working against any particular
location. He is employed to do coal
experimenting work, and in his con-
versation he reported the result of
his test. 1t is stated that powerful
influences are being brought by
GAINESVILLE parties to have the plant
located at Philo. We can't blame
them, since it is big catch for any
city no matter how large, to have
such a plant located nearby.
With the information already at
hand, we should get busy on the
proposition without delay, and hang
on till either the prize is landed, or
until we are absolutely dead certain
some other location has positively
been selected.