STATE GEOLOGIST. 195 
In the winter of 1891-2 a well was drilled in Sistersville, which pro- 
duced oil and brine in large quantities, the former from 90 to Ioo barrels 
per day. From this well drilling extended towards the “Pole-Cat” well, 
and large producers were secured, but in all cases a vast amount of salt- 
water with the oil. Finally in 1892 it was decided to begin pumping the 
“Pole-Cat” well, with the hope that by reducing the salt-water, oil might be 
secured. The quantity of brine pumped from this well is said to have 
been 3,500 barrels per day for weeks. At last it began showing oil and 
gas; this increased steadily until a production of from 500 to 600 barrels 
per day was secured. This triumph of the “Pole-Cat” well gave the field 
a great boom, and made it for the time the Mecca of the oil men of the 
country. Drilling progressed as rapidly as the energy of the driller and 
operator combined could push the work; many large wells were secured, 
the greatest on the Ohio side making 1,200 to 1,500 barrels daily. After 
the limits of that part of the field along the river had been determined, the 
drill moved northward, and a number of producers were secured along 
Trail run, in the northeastern corner of Benton township. That part of the 
field, however, is narrow and unimportant, but along the line separating 
Benton and Perry townships it expands, forming a fine pool. This is com- 
monly known as the “Trail Run” or “Tron Bridge” field, and was opened in 
1895, the first well having been drilled on the Mathias Dye farm. Late in 
the spring of that year a well producing over 300 barrels per day was 
completed on the Freedman farm, and early in August a large gusher 
was struck on the J. R. Diest farm. Oil was thrown over the top of the 
derrick, and it is estimated that 1,000 barrels were wasted before the 
well could be brought under control. This started the boom, and during 
the following year work was pushed with great vigor. On the Diest farm 
of 125 acres five or six strings of tools were at work at the same time. A 
number of fine wells were secured, the largest being J. R. Diest No. 4, 
which was estimated by the Buckeye Pipe Line Company to have produced 
2,400 barrels the first 24 hours. It averaged from 700 to 800 barrels per 
day for a month. The oil sand is the Big Injun; rarely only is a well 
found in the Keener. The most striking feature of this part of the field 
in comparison with that along the Ohio river is the great decrease in the 
quantity of salt-water; so great is the change that the brine, instead of 
being a great obstacle, is really none at all. 
Irom the area near the “Iron Bridge” the productive territory extends 
northwest to Mechanicsburg (Aitch P. O.), in section 16 of Perry town- 
ship. This is the part of the Sistersville field that was last developed. A 
well was drilled on the Daniels farm about 1896-7, but owing to legal com- 
plications it was not pumped until 1899. Active work began that year, 
and was at its height in 1900. The producing sand is the ‘Keener. All 
in all, the wells are smaller than those in other parts of the field; the 
largest started at 100 barrels, and the greater number at from 10 to 4o 
