History Of The Ritchie Mines PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER LV Natural Resources EST VIRGINIA now holds a second rank in the production of the higher grade of oii and gas, and Ritchie county is one of the leading oii-producing sections of the state. As has already been noted (in the Ritchie Mine chapter), this great industry had its beginning in our Commonwealth, in 1844, when George S. Lemon, discovered it while putting down a well for salt-water, near the mouth of Flint run. in Wirt county, and introduced it into the Marietta market as medicine. Then came the famous Burning Springs-field, in 18(50. and from this time it has gradually grown into one of the richest resources of the state. The history of this industry in the county, dates back to the 'wild cat wells" between the years 1865 and '70, when one of these wells, which gave a promising showing of oil, was drilled in on Big run, near Cairo. In these early days, the oil interest centered in the Volcano field, in the heavy lubricating oil, which sold as high as twenty dollars a barrel. But after the conflagration, on August 4, 1879, which destroyed most of the town, the development was carried southward past Petroleum to the California House, and on to Burning Springs. Ten years after the Volcano field commenced its decline, Cairo began to show signs of becoming a center for this development, and about 18'J0 prospecting was begun; and soon exaggerated stories were in circulation as to the importance of the results, and tests extended to Cornwaliis, Pennsboro and Harrisville. On August 11, 1890. A. L. Gracey, now of Marietta, Ohio, leased a tract of land near Cairo, and the A. M. Douglass well. which is still a producer after the lapse of twenty years, was the result of this test. Then came well number two on the Hatfield farm; the...