t 
$36 Evans ox the Oil-producing uplift of W. Virginia. 
either side, but abut against their sides or faces, in the manner 
exhibited in fig. 2. That such is not the case is conclusively 
shown by the following facts. 
First, a comparison of the rocks in the western slope, from B 
to A, fig. 1, by their lithological characters, with the rocks in 
the eastern slope, from F to G, shows that they are identical one 
by one in their order;-they are also found identical with the 
rocks in the intermediate hills, as at D, so far as these extend 
upward, say a maximum height of about 300 feet. The strata 
thus traced over include sandstones, shales and veins of coal; 
also a layer of flinty limestone, which may be mentioned as one 
of the best guides. At the railroad this appears on the west 
side projecting upward through the bed of Laurel Fork, and on 
the east side in an exposure of sloping rocks in the hill a little 
south of Petroleum station. At various places it not only ap- 
pears in the opposite slopes, but has also been traced through 
the hills between, as on Comb run, about two miles south of the 
railroad. Indeed there are numerous exposures in situations 
corresponding to B and F, fig. 1, where the continuous connec- 
tion of the same strata, as they change from an approximately 
horizontal position to a steep pitch, is plainly traced by the eye. 
Again, it is a fact that the rocks bored through in positions a 
little to the left of B, fig. 1, correspond, in lithological charac- 
ters, with those found to the right of it, but differ from the latter 
in being struck further down, and in continuing longer in pro- : 
portion to a greatly increased inclination. Borings made at 
descend into rocks of steep pitch. All this is in direct con- 
tradiction to the hypothesis presented in fig. 2, where the slop- 
ing rocks are.represented as not only distinct from, but also as 
projecting over the horizontal ones. 
The inner belt between the slopes, from B to F, is not inap- 
propriately called the “oil belt,” as it is only in the horizontal 
or slightly inclined rocks between these limits that oil has been 
und in paying quantities. In the upturned edges of the east 
and west slopes, as well as over a considerable extent of terri- 
tory outside, a large number of wells have been bored for oil, 
but with little or no success. 
Even within the inner belt, the producing wells are thus far 
nearly all confined to three narrow strips. It will be seen that 
the cross section, fig. 1, exhibits three principal angles, marking 
three distinct axial lines; the western angle at B, w i 
