West Oil Company Endless Wire Pumping Station, U.S. Route 50 (Volcano vicinity), Petroleum, Ritchie County, WV

Significance: A rare example of a technology which was once considered to be the best available means of long distance power transmission. The endless-wire cable method was introduced and advanced in the United States by John Roebling and his sons as a likely market for the products of their cable factory. Its use here was a result of the decline of flowing wells and the increased necessity of pumping the oil out of the ground. The technique was adapted to local conditions by William C. Stiles. This particular installation dates to about 1895 when Michael West first leased the oil rights to this land from the Volcanic Oil and Coal Company.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-14
Survey number: HAER WV-9