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velopments of mineral wealth bestowed on us, Nature, keeping pace with the necessities of man, suddenly unfolds another wonder-Oil, Petroleum-which now comes spouting from the bowels of the earth, from inexhaustible basins hidden deep down amidst the sandstone rocks below.

Although Nature has selected the nineteenth century in which to develop her great resources in the article of petroleum, yet history informs us that the existence of "rock-oil" was known through many past ages. The walls of Babylon were built with brick, cemented with hot bitumen or asphaltum, which was found in Judea, afterward discovered in France, and in the sand rock of Albania. This asphaltum is black in color, brittle and solid, and when heated is reduced to a liquid state. It finds its way to the surface in the shape of a thick, waxy fluid, which was used for lubricating purposes, and for the calking of vessels. In the Birmese empire there is a mountain where over five hundred pits have been sunk for the collection of petroleum, which has long been used for burning purposes. It is also found on the shores of the Caspian, where it oozes through a soft soil in the form of vapor or gas, and is led through earthen pipes, and employed for illuminating the neighboring towns and cities. A very light liquid oil, resembling naphtha, is found coming from a spring near the village of Amiano, in the State of Parma, which supplies a sufficient quantity to illuminate the city of Genoa, for which purpose it is employed.

It is evident that the supply of whale-oil is fast decreasing, and that those mighty creatures of the deep have become so few that our once immense whale - fisheries threaten soon to be among the things that were. During the past ten or twenty years the demand for a burning oil has increased so rapidly that lard-oil and burning-fluid were introduced. But these, together with the sperm-oil, not only failed to supply the increased demand, but have gradually become almost extinct. It was at this point that there was disclosed to us, at our thresholds, a never-failing supply of burning oil.

can not be sustained by facts, because the Canadian wells now flowing hundreds of barrels of oil are located on the borders of Lake Erie, far to the west of the so-called oil belt.

Oil Creek, which has become celebrated as the site of the richest oil-producing region on earth at the present day, is a tortuous mountain stream, taking its rise in the northern part of the State of Pennsylvania, near the south line of Erie County, and, with its tributaries, waters Crawford and Warren counties, and after a course of about thirty miles through these counties empties into the Alleghany River seven miles above the town of Franklin. The valley through which Oil Creek takes its course is narrow, and flanked on each side by high and rugged hills, on the top of which are broad fields of excellent farming land. The scenery on Oil Creek at one time, no doubt, was quite picturesque; but now the bottom lands are dotted with tall derricks, wooden engine-houses, and iron smoke-stacks, out of which columns of black smoke roll upward to the clouds. The pines and hemlock are cleared from the mountain sides, and all is busy life.

Previous to the developments of the petroleum discoveries this entire region supplied the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi with vast quantities of lumber. Thousands of long rafts found their way out into the Ohio and Mississippi rivers during the spring and fall freshets. The extensive lumber saw-mills of Messrs. Brewer, Watson, and Co. were located on Oil Creek, near Titusville, the present metropolis of Petrolia. Near those mills oil first made its appearance in large quantities in this country. Half a mile below Titusville Oil Creek meets its principal confluent, Pine Creek, more commonly known now as the East Branch of Oil Creek; and the delta of these two streams is covered with old oil-pits, which occur at intervals all along the creek below Titusville. These pits are supposed by some to have been the work of the French during their occupancy of the country in 1759, on account of being located almost directly between the French forts of La Boeuf and Venango. The writer is inclined to believe that these pits were constructed by the Indians long before the appearance of the white man in this region; which belief is sustained by the following circumstance: In sinking a well recently in the neighborhood of Titusville, five

The most celebrated oil-wells as yet discovered and operated on the American continent are located in the western part of Pennsylvania, principally in Venango, Crawford, and Warren counties. The wells next of note are found in Western Virginia and Eastern Ohio; and re-feet beneath the spot where a tree had stood, cently wells have been opened in the States of New York and Michigan, also in Canada.

which, calculating the layers of its yearly growth, must have been at least two hundred and forty years old, was found a wooden well curb, or mouth, of an old oil-pit in a good state of pres

It has been said that petroleum is only found within a belt running diagonally across the globe, varying from six to sixty miles in width-sweep-ervation. ing across through the centre of the State of New York, passing over the western part of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and the eastern portion of Ohio and Kentucky, and so on down through the wilds of Tennessee. That there is such a belt of oil lands in existence, from the present developments, is not doubted; but the assertion that no oil is found without the belt

The land of this entire region belonged to the "Holland Company," who obtained it in lieu of moneys lent to Congress during the Revolution. It was divided into four-hundred-acre lots, and sold at a very low price; but so many more attractions were held out to emigrants by the Western States at that time that this Venango region was almost overlooked, and it be

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came settled very slowly. In the year 1797 Jonathan Titus and Samuel Kier arrived from the east and entered lands in this region. Mr. Titus secured a large tract of many hundred acres, part of which is now the site of Titusville and part the lands belonging to the "Titus Estate Petroleum Company" of New York. The Hon. John Reynolds, now of Meadville, with his father, shortly afterward settled at Cherry Tree, seven miles below; and not long afterward Hamilton and James M'Clintock settled on Oil Creek-the former at what is now Petroleum Centre, and the latter on the present site of M'Clintockville.

Petroleum, under the name of "Seneca oil" -so called from the tribe of Indians of that name who once inhabited the country-became early of great importance to the settlers, both as a medicine and for burning and lubricating purposes. The greater portion of oil was obtained from two natural springs. One of these was in the immediate neighborhood of Titusville, on the lands now owned by the "Watson Petroleum Company" of New York, on the spot where now stands the old "Drake Well." The other spring was on the farm of Hamilton M'Clintock, within four miles of the mouth of Oil Creek.

The old salt-wells situated on the Alleghany River, near the town of Tarentum, were owned by the father of Samuel M. Kier, now of the city of Pittsburg. About two years after the opening of these salt-wells oil made its appearance upon the water that flowed into the saltkettles, and interfered with the quality of the salt to such an extent that Mr. Kier at one time thought of abandoning his wells; but he afterward constructed a canal leading into the river, into which he passed the oil from the water. The oil on the water in the canal and river became very offensive to the people in the neighborhood, and many complaints were made. One day some boys, who were playing near the canal with matches, accidentally set the oil on fire, and it was with the greatest difficulty the village was saved from burning.

had in 1854 analyzed the rock-oil, and proAlthough Professor Silliman, of New Haven, nounced upon its properties, no further developments of any importance took place until the winter of 1857, when Colonel E. L. Drake, of Connecticut, arrived at Titusville, and was the first man who attempted to bore for oil. In December, 1857, he visited Titusville, examined the oil springs, and gave the subject of surface oil a thorough investigation. cluded that rock-oil could be obtained by sinkHe soon coning a well; and acting upon this, he in company with James M. Townsend and E. B. BowOil Company for the term of twenty-five years ditch, leased the lands of the Pennsylvania Rockfor the purpose of boring for oil. The operations were to commence the following spring. Soon after closing this lease, Colonel Drake and friends from Connecticut formed a company called the "Seneca Oil Company" for the purpose of working the lands and sinking wells under the management and control of Colonel Drake. Early in the spring he removed his family to Titusville, then containing not over one hundred and fifty inhabitants. He first informed himself thoroughly on the subject of boring, and visited the salt-wells on the Alleghany River for employed a man who agreed to sink wells for that purpose, where, after some difficulty, he the Seneca Company; but he and others to whom he had applied failed to keep their engagements, and it was not until the following spring that he could obtain a suitable person to commence the well. countered was the surface water, which would flow into the well and undermine the earth, and cause it to cave in. In sinking the well it was supposed necessary to dig to the first rock; but in consequence of the earth caving in on the workmen so frequently, Colonel Drake invented the iron driving-pipe and mode of driving which is now in universal use, not only in the oil regions, but among the salt borers. He was obliged to go fifty miles to a machine-shop every time his tools needed repairing; but after many de1859, at the depth of 69 feet 6 inches, he struck lays and accidents, on the 29th day of August, a vein of oil, from which he afterward pumped at the rate of thirty-five to forty barrels per day. This is now known as the Drake Well, and was the first well ever sunk for oil, and the first petroleum ever obtained by boring.

The first difficulty en

Now commenced a scene of excitement be

During the year 1853 Dr. F. B. Brewer, of the firm of Brewer, Watson, and Co., conceived the idea of collecting surface oil by means of absorbing it in blankets, and wringing the oil out. Great quantities were collected in this novel manner, and used for burning purposes in the lumber mills of the Oil Creek region. The oil produced from the oil springs became so nec-yond description. The Drake Well was immeessary and useful as to suggest the formation diately thronged with visitors arriving from the of an oil company in 1854 called the "Penn- surrounding country, and within two or three sylvania Rock-Oil Company." first Oil Company ever formed. This was prior neighboring States. Every body was eager to This was the weeks thousands began to pour in from the to the sinking of any well, or before such a thing purchase or lease oil lands at any price demandwas suggested. sprang up and covered the entire bottom lands ed. Almost in a night a wilderness of derricks of Oil Creek. Merchants abandoned their storehouses, farmers dropped their plows, lawyers deserted their offices, and preachers their pulpits. The entire western part of the State went wild with excitement.

The Pennsylvania Rock-Oil Company purchased 100 acres of land on Oil Creek, below Titusville, for the purpose of collecting the surface oil. This project was, however, soon after abandoned, and the original Petroleum Company ceased to exist.

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from Union Mills and Franklin, through mud axle-deep. Parties interested with him became disheartened, and would have abandoned the enterprise had it not been for the energy of Mr. Abbott, who finally succeeded in completing his building.

Very soon after the success of Colonel Drake, castings and machinery were brought in wagons Messrs. Brewer, Watson, and Co. leased the farm of Hamilton M'Clintock, and commenced a well on it, which was successful at the depth of 70 feet. Then followed the sinking of many wells on the different farms on Oil Creek. The Barnsdell Mead and Rouse Well was opened in the spring of 1860. Then the Crosley Well in April of same year. During this summer many wells were opened in the vicinity of Tideoute on the Alleghany River. In June, 1861, A. B. Funk sunk a well 470 feet deep on the M'Illheny farm, which was the first large flowing well. Then followed the Brewer, Watson, and Co. Well on the G. W. M'Clintock farm, the Phillips Well on the Tarr farm, the Willard Well on the H. M'Clintock farm, and the Rouse, Mitchell, and Brown Well on the Buchanan farm. This latter well flowed a stream of oil without pumping equal to one thousand barrels per day. Thousands of barrels of oil flowed into the creek before suitable tanks could be prepared to receive it. In the midst of the excitement, from some cause unknown, the gas and oil from this well took fire, and, as described by an eye-witness, columns of black smoke rolled upward into the air, the blazing oil leaped heavenward, and, falling over on all sides from the fiery jet, formed a magnificent fountain of liquid fire. The sight was awfully grand, but, sad to relate, nineteen human beings were burned to death. Among them was Mr. Rouse, one of the proprietors of the well. Mr. Rouse lived for several days after being injured, and in framing his will, after making certain bequests, left to the County of Warren a handsome sum, to be applied one half for road purposes and one half to the poor of the county. This bequest is now valued at $150,000.

Brewer, Watson, and Co. were really the great pioneers in the introduction of petroleum in large quantities. This enterprising firm expended the sum of $750,000 in cash for barrels alone before they realized one cent of profit. All they required was the actual cost of the barrel. They have lived to reap a rich harvest from their arduous efforts in the introduction of petroleum, and have been handsomely repaid for the hardships and trials through which they have passed. During the summer of 1861, Samuel Downer, of Boston, established a branch of his works and commenced the refining of oil at Correy, and gave his entire attention to the business, and during that year his refinery absorbed nearly all of the oil product. George M. Mowbray, agent for Scheifflin and Co., of New York, made the first extensive purchase of petroleum for shipment. Messrs. Drake, Watson, Brewer, Kier, Abbott, Mowbray, Downer, the firm of Brewer, Watson, and Co., and others, exerted their utmost endeavors to introduce the article, and to create a demand equal to the supply; but before this could be accomplished oil at the wells was offered for sale at prices ranging from ten to fifty cents per barrel, and thousands of gallons were allowed to run into the creek.

The only pumping wells opened at an early day, and not abandoned but worked until the present time, are the celebrated Economite Wells, located opposite the town of Tideoute, on the Alleghany River, in Warren County, Pennsylvania. These wells are four in number, and are each now pumping 30 barrels of oil per day. Many persons at the present time, in passing through the oil regions, wonder at the number of abandoned wells to be seen. These wells were not abandoned because the borers failed to discover oil, but simply because it did not pay to operate them when oil was so plenty and cheap and no great demand existed for it.

The next large flowing well opened was the Empire, in the vicinity of the Funk Well, that flowed 3000 barrels per day. The Sherman Well was opened in April, 1862, then the Noble and Delemater Well in May, 1863. This celebrated well was commenced in 1860, and was bored to the depth of 167 feet and abandoned. Mr. Noble went further down the creek and became interested in other wells on the Tarr farm, but in the spring of 1863 he recommenced the work on his old well, and went down to the depth of 471 feet without having any indications of oil. At that depth he concluded to tube and pump, abandoning the idea of obtaining a flow-ploded. ing well, but to the great astonishment of himself and every one else, after pumping a very short time, suddenly the great Noble Well commenced to flow, Long before the opening of this well petroleum had become so plenty that most of the pumping wells were abandoned. Every person wanted a flowing well.

Samuel M. Kier, of Pittsburg, was the first man who refined the crude oil, and to him we are indebted for this discovery. W. H. Abbott, of Titusville, erected the first large refinery at that place, which was before the days of railroads in that region. The heavy iron

The entire oil regions of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio were consequently nearly deserted, and the then so-called "oil bubble" ex

Most of those who had taken leases and had opened wells removed the tubing, and sold their engines, tools, etc., and retired from the oil trade disgusted with their enterprise, and, no doubt, much displeased with themselves, returning to their deserted homes to be ridiculed by the knowing ones, who "always said the undertaking would prove a failure."

Much time, however, did not elapse before a new demand for petroleum was created, and once more thousands poured into the oil regions; and to-day the use of petroleum is universal; and for a cheap and perfect burning oil it has no equal. The old wells are being opened, and

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