Maryland Heights Before 1861, Harpers Ferry, Va. (later W. Va.)
Date:
ca. 1861
Description:
View of Maryland Heights from across the Potomac River and the covered railroad bridge at Harpers Ferry, Virginia,, later West Virginia, before 1861 and the Civil War.
'Armored Cruiser West Virginia. This is one of the United States' fastest cruisers, commanded by Captain John B. Milton, in the armored cruiser fleer in the Pacific December 19th, 1907. This cruiser is the same type as the Colorado and the Maryland and has a phenomenal record of 22 1/2 knots an hour. It is considered one of the fastest grey hounds in this magnificent fleet of armored cruisers and should be there any war the West Virginia would give a good account of itself.'
'Wetzel County is situated in the extreme northwestern corner of West Virginia, in the Pittsburgh region, and so is in the very midst of a region which is very rich both in petroleum and natural gas. In a single year the wells of West Virginia produce more than 14,000,000 barrels of petroleum, and natural gas worth more than $4,000,000. In order to reach the oil it is necessary to drill through the solid rock, and sometimes to the depth of thousands of feed. Now and then the oil will rise to the surface, but for the most part it must be pumped up by machinery. The methods of drilling and pumping are everywhere just about the same. First comes the derrick, a frame-work about 20 feet square at the bottom, tapering almost to a point at the top, and rising to a height of from 40 to 60 feet. In the view parts of two derricks are seen. A stem engine is also necessary to work the pump, through a single engine is often sufficient to supply power for several wells. The large horizontal beam, seen above the horseman's head, rests upon a pivot in the center and the ends play up and down. One end is over the well and works the pump. When brought to the surface the oil is stored in huge iron tanks, or else is carried in pipe lines under ground and over mountains eastward to the great cities to be refined and shipped to markets all the world over.'
