Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-03-30
AN OILY COUNTRY.

The " Fat Contributor " of the Sanduskv
Register has been down to the oil springs in
Trumbull County, Ohio, and the marvels he
saw there are related in the following report
Every thing about here is 50 greasy and
oily it is with extreme difficulty that | can
write at all. Ny zen slips out of my fingers
there is an oily scum on the ink the paner
is fairly transparent, and | slosh around in n
"demmed unpleasant" manner. Patience and
perseverance (sweet oil is unnecessary here)
will, however, overcome many obstacles.
arrived here at a verY late hour last night
on an oil tram. and might as well have come
on tram oil, as we were sixteen hours behind
| time. All trains are behind time here, |
| learn. owing 10 The accumulation of oil on
the track; the oil fries. out of the ground
and lubricater the rails for great distance
We shouldn't have arrived here at all if they
hadn't got ont and sprinkled the track with
cigar ashes.
Islipped out of bed (nobodv ''arises" here;
we all snip into bed and shO out) at an early
hour this morning and began investigations
| found section embracing fourteen thousand
acres of land, chuck full of oil springs.
Drilling is unnecessary here, as the oil
boils up in springs, sometimes to the height
of twenty-five fe t, and is caught in tin pals
as it comes down. On a hot day. am told,
it is no unusual thing to see the women frying
dough-nuts in these Jets of oil. The halls of
dough are dropped into the Jets, where they
are allowed 10 toss about like corks in q
fountain, until they are fried by the heat of
the sun.
The only species of tree which abounds here
is the slippery elm, These trees are so slip
perry that squirrel can't climb them without
dipping his paws IN Spalding' Prepared Glue.
a small bottle Of which he always carries
suspended about his neck. There are few
maple trees here, but no sugar, as nothing
but sweet oil runs out when they are tapped.
There is one considerable sized creek run
ming through Trumbull county, which is all
oil. 1t was discovered short time ago in a
singular manner Three boys went in bathing,
and when they came out they were so greasy
they couldn't stay in their clothes. As fast as
they slipped them on they would slip of
again, and one of the lads. in needless mo-
ment, narrowly escaped slipping out of hi.
skin. On reaching home, their parents. be-
ing exceedingly frugal. wrung them out, and
extracted about fourteen gallons of pure on
from the three boys, Fact A company are
erecting large candle factory on the banks
of this stream. preparing to dip candles in
It,
The principal amusements here are climb !
ing creased poles and catching oiled pigs, |
the appliances being constantly on hand
Sliding down hill is popular among all class
Is during the Summer months. This is ef- |
fected without sleds. on q bill Of solid tai
low. just back of the tavern. As write,
lau' liter rich and gushingis waited to my
window from number of the beauties Of
: Bowers Corners. as they sweetly dissolve
Town the side of that melting slope
There was a thunder storm this afternoon,
md as the electric a,fjd ran Down one of those
lippery elms ! told you Of; wss treated to
ny first view of CREASED Lightning" 1t is
quite common here they say, Thunder is.
Invested of all its harsh. intonatlon BY the
minute particles Of oil which ill the air and
,rease the wheels of Jove s noisy chariot
IF any of our readers think i have ''cut it
at in this letter. let them visit the Oil .
springs and see for themselves.