History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 43

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century > Part 43

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Telephone communication in the country districts has also taken remarkable strides since the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company was organized in 1904, backed by local capital, headed by J. Miller Munce. A contract was entered into with the Bell Telephone Company, which agreed to confine its business to the corporate limits of the towns, while the Farmers Mutual has care of the entire outside districts. The Farmers Mutual has con- structed more than 40 miles of circuit, making it possible to gather at least 500 subscribers around Washington and Canonsburg, the most of which is already accom- plished. The following telephone companies are con- nected with the Bell company : Beallsville, Buffalo,

234

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Hickory, Martins Mills, McMurray, Old Concord, Pros- perity and Scenery Hill telephone companies.

The National Telephone, after laying its conduit on Main Street, was delayed in getting funds, but its appear- ance not only caused the Bell to improve its plant and service, but to reduce its rates after its officers had met once or twice with committees appointed at a citi- zens' town meeting. In announcing to the citizens' com- mittee in 1907 that a reduction of rates had been de- cided upon, the officers would not admit that the citizens' meetings had any influence, but stated that the com- pany had decided of its own free will to reduce rates- they were going to reduce anyhow.

The National had commenced stringing wires and to exhibit their automatic phones, with which the citizens were much pleased, as it gave instantaneous connection without ringing up an intermediate party.

This led to much competition in securing subscribers' contracts by both companies in the winter of 1907-8.

The National has now P. & A. connection throughout Pittsburg and connections at Wheeling and at many points in Washington County, as well as a goodly sub- scription list in Washington. The interesting contest for the county seat which is the key to a large part of the surrounding country is not near its end, and some future historian will record the result.

Other companies have operated in portions of the county and other contests have taken place, but the greatest and the deepest laid schemes are those briefly indicated above.

The Bell rate for single line before 1908 was $54 per year. They reduced this service to $42 and made other reductions. Their rates are now, for business single line, $42; two party line, $33; for family lines, $27; two party, $24; four party, $18. This company met the prices set by the National company for family serv- ice but have not yet met the rates set by that company for business service, which are $36, $30 and $24.

CHAPTER XX.

GEOLOGY.

The Pittsburg Coal-Origin of Coal-Varieties of Coal-Geological Divisions with Respect to the Coal Measures- Upper Coal Beds-Pittsburg Coal Bed-Geological Strata under Burough of Washington-Monongahela River.

The geology of Washington County is interesting not only because of oil and gas rocks and sands, but because of the coal. The Pittsburg or River vein of bituminous coal is one of the best defined and easiest found geo -. logical formation in the county. Some knowledge of geology seems necessary for those interested in coal or engaged in mining.

In common with the larger part of the workable coal of the world, the Pittsburg coal was accumulated during what is known to geologists as the Carboniferous period. As the Carboniferous period is but one of the three periods of the Carboniferous age; and as the Carbonif- erous age is itself but one of three ages of the Paleozoic era, which is one of the four great eras in the recorded history of the earth, it will be seen at once that the period during whoich the coal was formed was compara- tively short. The Pittsburg seam (incorrectly styled ""'vein") covers an area of 14,000 square miles, and is the principal seam of the so-called coal "measures," which range in thickness from 4,000 to 4,500 feet.

The Pittsburg coal district is a part of the great Appalachian coal field-the largest in the world-and Washington County lies in the heart of the northern part of this Appalachian district.

That all coal is of vegetable origin is no longer doubt- ful. The best and most structureless peat may, by hy- draulic pressure, be made into a substance having many of the properties and uses of coal.

Coal consists partly of organic or combustible, and in- organic or incombustible matter. Thus, when it is burned the organic or combustible matter is consumed and passes away in the form of gas, while the inorganic, or incombustible, is left as ash. As the percentage of ash rises the coal becomes poorer, and the so-called "bony" coal, which contains 30 to 40 per cent ash, is the value- less refuse of the mines. If a coal contains more than 10 per cent of ash it is probably impure, that is, mixed with mud at the time of its accumulation. Coal, even when pure and thoroughly carbonized, consists still of many varieties, having different uses, depending upon the

proportions of fixed and volatile matters. In pure and perfect coal, then, the combustible matter is part fixed and part volatile, which may easily be separated by heat- ing in a retort. By this means the volatile matter is all driven off and may be collected as tar, oil, etc., in con- densers, and as permanent gases in gasometers. The fixed matter is left in the retort as coke.

As the proportion of fixed and volatile matter in the coal varies the uses to which the coal may be put are affected. For example, when the coal consists wholly of fixed carbon it is called "graphite." This is not usually considered a variety of coal, because it is not readily combustible, but it is evidently only the last term of the coal series.

When the combustible matter of coal contains from 90 to 95 per cent of fixed carbon it is called "anthracite." This coal burns with almost no flame, produces much heat, and is admirably adapted to all household purposes. With a hot blast it may be used in iron smelting fur- naces. The Pennsylvania anthracite field is in the east- ern part of the State.

If the combustible matter contains 80 to 85 per cent fixed carbon, and 15 to 20 per cent volatile matter it becomes semi-anthracite, or semi-bituminous coal of va- rious grades. These are free burning, rapid burning coals, producing long flames and a high temperature, because they do not cake and clog. They are admirably adapted for many purposes, but especially for rapid production of steam, and therefore for locomotive engines. Hence they are known as "steam coals."

Again, when the volatile matter rises to the propor- tion of 30 to 40 per cent the coal becomes "full bitumi- nous," which burns with a strong, bright flames, and often cakes and forms clinkers. This is perhaps the com- monest form of coal and may be regarded as typical coal.

If the volatile matter approaches or exceeds 50 per cent then it forms "highly bituminous" or fat and fus- ing coals. This variety is especially adapted to the manu- facture of gas and coke, and of this coal the Pittsburg seam is constituted.

235

236

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Geologists have called that portion of the earth lying on top of the Pittsburg, coal approximating 487 feet, the upper productive series. The portion lying above the Waynesburg sandstone, above the upper productive series, they speak of as the upper barren series. Below the Pittsburg coal they speak of as the lower barren series, which continues to the Mahoning sandstone, 602 feet. Next below this lies what is called the lower productive series.

These names are given for the sake of convenience of reference, in order to divide the rocks of the coal measure. The distances, of course, are subject to great changes in different localities, because the Pittsburg coal as well as all other strata lying above and below, rises and falls. These rises and depressions occur sometimes toward the north or south as well as from east to west. In geological language the earth waves are called "anti- clines" or anticlinals and the troughs or depressions are known as "synclines" or synclinals. The line along the top of the wave from which the rocks tip or slope each way, corresponding to the comb (as the top of a house roof) is called the crest or "axis" of the anti- cline. The bottom or trough between the anticlines are. called synclines. In addition to the variations indicated by the dips and rises of the various waves, there is a general dip of 16 feet to the mile toward the south, which seems to be quite regular. The principal geo- logical lines reported by geologists run almost parallel to the ridges of the Allegheny Mountains.

The surface of land in the county shows much variety. It is abrupt and rough on the river front, with fine rolling ground with good sized hills back until near the West Virginia line. The southwest and northwest corners are considerably broken and hilly because of the streams running westward. In the northern part of the county the rocks of the hills belong to the lower barren series, but in the southwestern part of the county the upper barren series become prominent. Throughout the county the great limestone of the upper barren series is a surface rock.

The Belle Vernon anticline runs under the county east of Charleroi, cuts through East Bethlehem Township and passes into Greene County just across the creek east of Clarksville.

The Pigeon Creek syncline (so called in the Browns- ville quadrangle) passes at the eastern edge of Hazzard, which is the eastern part of Monongahela City, strikes Pigeon Creek 41/2 miles southwest, follows along and near the creek, passes at the western edge of Bentleys- ville, where it is known as the Waynesburg syncline, 1/2 mile east of Scenery Hill, on through the Amity quad- rangle and goes out into Greene County 1/4 mile east of Bissel or Martins Mill. There is some discussion among geologists whether this is continuous or whether

there is not a too decided break in the line near Bent- leysville, to warrant it being considered the same geo- logical wave.

The Amity anticline, sometimes called Pin Hook or Lone Pine, crosses the B. & O. Railroad track at Venetia, _extends between Kammerer and Dunningville, through the village of Lone Pine 1/2 mile east of Amity, and into Greene County 1/2 mile east of the corner of Morris Township and two miles southeast of Conger Station on the W. & W. Railroad.

The Nineveh syncline starts from the eastern side of Thompsonville, continues 1/2 mile north, then passes 1 mile east of Zediker, 1/2 mile east of Chamber's Dam, 11/2 miles west of Baker's Station and out under Greene County, three miles west of the corner of Amwell and Morris Townships.

The Washington anticline has not been fully reported, but the indications are that it comes under the county about one mile west of Hill's Station, crops out on "Dam Hill" across the creek from Canonsburg, passes 1% mile west of the old Enterprise mine, continues near Tylerdale Station, through West Washington, touches the southeastern corner of Buffalo Township, continues close to the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, thence by East Finley Postoffice, passing out of the county 23/4 miles west of Simpson's Station and Postoffice, and 1/2 mile east of the corner of the two Finley Townships.

The bottom of the Finley syncline lies almost parallel to the Washington anticline and rises near the junction of Rocky and Templeton Runs. Its bottom is broad and irregular toward the south but rises and narrows. abruptly to the northeast. The greatest contraction occurs one mile south of Fargo, where there are certain changes which raise the bottom of the syncline suffi- ciently to form a small basin to the north.

There is a shallow trough or depression again where Buffalo Creek crosses the Buffalo and East Finleyville Townships. Then there is a rise of 60 feet to the next basin, which extends from Coffeys Crossing to Woodell, from the northeastern end of this basin. The bottom of the syncline swings northward, rising about 100 feet to the mile, passing through Chartiers Township, west of Arden.

The Claysville anticline is traced under the county passing near Good Intent, near Claysville, passing north- east by Claysville and west of Taylorstown, to the north of Gretna.

The Bulger anticline is a gentle wave passing in this general northeastern direction close to the large cut at Bulger, formerly Bulger Tunnel. It is well defined but has not been traced to great length.

The Burgettstown syncline, mentioned also as the West Middletown syncline, passes a short distance east of West Middletown and thence across the northwest corner

237

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

of Hopewell Township, near Cross Creek. It is some- times called the Cross Creek syncline. It passes on west of Burgettetown and seems to culminate near Five Points in Hanover Township. Of all the wave lines in the county this one is nearest north and south.

Upon all these lines indicated there are rises called domes and drops called basins, and crosscuts frequently called troughs. These facts and many more relating . to the surveys and underlying strata of Washington County have been obtained at a large expense and a great expenditure of time and energy by geologists walking over the country, making surveys and looking for rocks. There are geological indications upon the surface which are entirely unknown to nearly all those who have spent their lives in the county.

UPPER COAL BEDS.

The Washington coal bed, Little Washington coal, Waynesburg B coal, Waynesburg A coal and Waynesburg Main coal are names given to indicate veins found in Washington County, as we descend from the highest points towards the Pittsburg coal bed. The first men- tioned is said to be from 6 inches to 11 feet in thick- ness and is mined in Amwell, Morris, Donegal, Buffalo, Canton, Franklin, South Strabane townships and is of workable thickness in several localities in Jefferson, Hopewell, Mt. Pleasant and Independence Townships. The last vein mentioned is found in thicknesses varying from 6 inches to 11 feet and is mined at Lone Pine, in Amwell Township, where it is 51/2 feet thick. Three other veins have been traced as lying below the Waynes- burg coal, but we are informed that all these veins above the Pittsburg coal have but little commercial value at present.

PITTSBURG COAL BED.

This famous bed needs no description. Geologists state that with rare exceptions this bed is double, con- sisting of a roof and a lower division, separated by a clay parting, which varies in thickness from one-fourth of an inch to nearly three feet, and frequently contains thin strings of coal which are connected with the roof division. The lower division of the Pittsburg coal is from three and one-half to nine feet thick and contains three persistent partings, usually thin, which divide it into four benches, known as the "Upper," "Bearing- in,"' "Brick," and "Lower Bottom." The coal from the lower division of the Pittsburg coal is somewhat brittle, caking, rich in volatile combustible matter and containing a variable percentage of sulphur. In some portions of the district it exhibits layers of cannel along the top, and occasionally, as along the Panhandle in Washington County, it becomes a very superior block coal.

The Pittsburg bed is exposed in East Bethlehem, East and West Pike Run, Allen, Fallowfield, Carroll, Union, Peters, Hanover, Robinson, Smith, Jefferson, Chartiers and North Strabane Townships in Washington County.

It is interesting to know the foundation under the Borough of Washington and we give the geological strata in the coal shaft dug in 1864-65, a few rods from the Chestnut Street depot.

Surface soil and clay . . depth not given

Blue clay 4 ft.

Gravel 5 ft.

Black slate, like roofing slate. 18 in.

Limestone 4 ft.

Blue clay or shale, like fireproof brick is made of 15 ft. Coal 8 in.

Gray shale, like fireprof clay. 6 ft.

Freestone 5 ft.

Gray limestone, between beds varying from six inches to three feet. 175 ft.

(About the center of this 175 feet is 20 feet of white limsetone in which are salt springs.)

Black slate, such as is found at Arden Mill, two miles north 12 ft.

Gray soft limestone. 8 ft.

Very hard, gray, flinty limestone.

5 ft.

Blue shale, mixed with iron. 50 ft.

Sandstone, mixed with fossils. 15 ft.

Slate 3 ft.

Pure bituminous coal. 5 ft. 6 in.

MONONGAHELA RIVER.

A study of this river shows that in the vicinity of Lock No. 5 the river at one time cut westward about one mile into Washington County. At Stockdale and at other points it was far off its present location. Belle Vernon was at one time west of the river. These aban- doned channels and river changes are said to have their causes in the near approach of glaciers from the north. The glacial ice-sheet came from the north almost onto this county. The Monongahela River, which formerly flowed northward through the Beaver River to join Lake Erie, was evidently changed by the arctic conditions. It seems probable that when a portion of Allegheny County was under the glaciers, the short summers which then prevailed kept the rivers which flowed north dammed with ice. It would break first near the heads of the streams and the broken ice would tend to form jams or gorges which in time compelled the streams to find a new outlet. This is the only apparent theory to explain many peculiar things, including certain clay beds and sand beds along the Monongahela, in some of which large blocks of sand- stone from the mountains of Virginia are found. Geolo- gists say that not only the Monongahela but the Alle- gheny and Beaver Rivers formerly flowed northward to the St. Lawrence basin.

CHAPTER XXI.

OIL AND GAS.

The First Gas Well-First Oil Operations in Washington County-Oil Companies-Gordon Sand-Big Injun Sand-Productive Wells-Expenses and Profits-McDonald Oil Field-The Matthews and Mevey Wells- Late Operations and Production-The Dornan, Cross Creek, Cherry Valley and Burgettstown Fields- Measurement of Wells-Gas Fields and Gas Companies-The Washington and Zollarsville Gas Fields-The Amity and Somerset Gas Fields-Uses of Gas-Reckless Use and Waste-Value-Oil and Gas Sands with Table of Measurements.

Encyclopedias refer to the first gas well as being drilled in 1824 at Fredonia and used for illumination, but in 1821, three years before this date, Messrs. MeCook and McClelland, while engaged in boring for salt water on Little Chartiers Creek, about six miles from Wash- ington, toward Canonsburg, found gas at about 210 feet, in very large quantities. This gas well was considered a phenomenon and was not piped because that was the wooden age, and not the age of coal nor the succeeding age of natural gas.

Operations for oil in Washington County began in 1861. The Eureka Oil Company, a local organization, sunk a well in Amity on the property now owned by the heirs to John Johnson. It was sunk to a depth of 900 feet and abandoned. Operations by other companies were carried on without success near Prosperity, Lone Pine and South Strabane Township and a well was dug 6 or 8 feet square in Smith Township, about 75 feet deep, on the lot about a mile west of Candor on a branch of Raccoon Creek. This excitement was caused by oil pro- duced in wells from 100 to 400 feet deep near George- town in Beaver County, which in those days were "kicked down" with a spring pole.

These unsuccessful attempts were of short duration. In 1880 C. D. Robbins, Harry Robbins, his son, and C. O. Patch, his son-in-law, came from New York State and located in Burgettstown. The Niagara Oil Company was incorporated and many leases were obtained under that name. Within a short time two wells had been drilled on the Alexander McGugin farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, and the largest flow of gas in the world was then struck at 2,245 feet. The persistent energy of C. D. Robbins and friends soon resulted in two companies being organized, one piping gas to Pittsburg from the

high pressure wells and the other to Steubenville from those of low pressure.

Stimulated by the operations in the northern part of the county, the People's Light and Heat Company- was organized by local men of Washington, Pa., and their drilling under the guidance of William G. Gibson struck gas on the Hess farm, one mile from the Court House, on April 30, 1884, at a depth of 2,068 feet. This led at once to piping gas into Washington.

Another organization, the Citizen's Oil and Gas Com- pany, drilled a well on the Gantz mill lot at Washington and struck oil at 2,191 feet. This set the oil operators to the northeast, as well as the people of Washington, on fire with excitement. Other wells had been drilled but under very discouraging circumstances and some were already shut down. The town became almost imme- diately filled with oil operators and speculators and agents of every description. A guard was set upon the Gantz well, and to his credit it should be related that he refused $3,000 from secret messengers, who wished to look at the oil. Upon this report being made to some members of the company, this honest man was dis- charged almost immediately. It is not definitely known who, if anyone, received the amount which had been previously offered him. This well gave rise to the name "Gantz sand." It is pumping yet, but from a lower sand.

On August 22, 1885, a well drilled by the People's Light and Heat Company on the Gordon farm, a half mile west of the Gantz mill lot struck oil at 2,392 feet, giving origin to the name "Gordon sand." It flowed 25 barrels an hour and was then the deepest producing well in the world. Later during the year it averaged 124 barrels a day for 39 successive days.

238

239

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Drilling became an energetic and exciting business at a number of places in the county. 10,500 barrels were produced that year. The farm owner usually got one-eighth of the oil. On January 6, following, the Alvin Smith well, two miles northeast of town, produced 1,500 barrels in one day. Two months later the Mani- fold farm well, two miles east of town, opened up a good pool of oil at 1,405 feet. This sand was the nearest the surface of any yet struck and it was called the "Big Injun." This was followed by a few other wells in that locality in this sand, and a few other wells have been producing in the different parts of the county in the "Big Injun." The well produced 700 barrels the first day. In April, 1886, a well on the Clark heirs farm, near the Fair Grounds, led the pace by blowing out 2,000 barrels daily. Two four-inch pipes were kept busy most of the time delivering the oil into the tank. Sixteen producing wells and 4,000 barrels daily produc- tion was the result at the close of May. In the next month production rose to 10,120 barrels, and the month of October it was 17,549 barrels daily.

The Standard Oil Company reduced the price to 60 cents, which was a cut of almost one-half. This did not prevent active operations and both oil and gas were being produced in large quantities and the waste of gas was enormous. South Strabane came to the front again with wells on the George M. Cameron farm, the Berry farm, the William J. Mountz farm, the William Davis farm and others. The large well on the Clark heirs farm seemed to be excelled by the well on the George M. Cameron farm. This had flowed 140 to 170 barrels per hour and in November was producing 125 barrels per day. Other wells produced large quantities, one of them producing as high as 1,258 barrels in one day. Accord- ing to the Washington Reporter, the number of producing wells up to September 13, 1886, was 61 at the average cost of $8,000, which would make a total of $488,000. Twenty-five dry holes were found. The bonuses and purchases of land for oil experiments amounted to $466,- 000. The estimated expense of running the wells was $75,000. The total estimate of cost for the entire year was $1,184,700.

A most interesting book could be written upon the for- tunes won and the fortunes lost about this time. One company had nine wells operating at different points near Washington very soon after the excitement began, but none of these wells were ever completed. The drill- ing of this field was learned by experience and many wells got into trouble in the red sand at 500 or 600 feet which was so soft that the drilling could not be stopped until through the sand and the casing placed. The hotels and many private houses were filled with men from the "'upper oil country." The greatest production was confined to a very few farms, some had from 10 to 30

wells apiece and some which made a good showing were operated with only one or two wells.

Town lots became an attractive location and the eastern part of the town, much of which is now built up, was drilled closely until injunction proceedings were started in court which prevented further drilling within the town limits. Many wells were close to private dwell- ings and one or more were so close that one could almost step from the back porch onto the derrick floor. The sound of the anvil and sledge and the puffing of steam engines were heard on all sides day and night.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century, Part 43

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1474