Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-03-01
MECcA, Trumbull Co., Ohio,
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shrine of modern pilgrims is certainly re-
markably brisk and energetic place, and it
does ones heart good to behold the activity
and stir, 50 different from the general busi-
ness apathy and dullness usually prevalent
at this season Of the year.
Our party left the Forest City, via C. & NJ.
Railroad, on Thursday A. NJ, and arrived at
the good old town of Warren in due season,
and after Partaking of a capital dinner at the
" Gaskill, :" entered hack and were soon in
Mecca, which is only some eight miles from
Warren. There are four lines of hacks run
ming daily between Warren and Mecca, and
they never leave empty. On the contrary,
the stream Of travel calls into requisition the
utmost capacity of two good livery stables
in addition to the regular conveyances.-
There has grown up in Mecca quite town
already, and you readily recognize all the
the points of a fast place. Three hotels are
in full operation, and are tested to their ut
most capacity. There is no danger Of starv-
ing, for provisions are abundant and cheap;
but lodgings are different thing. Sleeping
arrangements are miserable, owing to the
throng Of applicants. Three sleepers to one
bed is universally voted to be q monopoly,
and it is declared to be an outrage when two
men lay claim to an entire bed. Business is
lively here. Everybody talks rapidly, ges-
ticulates fercely, and moves with an ener-
gstic jerk that is tOrmenting to a sedate, dig
nifed man. You hear nothing in the way
of conversation but" Struck oil to-day
down 90 feet''-' quarter Of the oil"-
worth $1,000 an scres'-' good show
" Fifty barrels per day" drilling, !" cream
ing" &C., &C., &c. You see oil running along
the cutters mixed with water--you see oil,
you smell oil, you feel oil, and before you
have been in the town twenty -four hours
you have dreamed of oil. New houses are
going up in every direction, some for stores,
some for shops, and some for dwellings. For
two miles on either side of the road IT has
the appearance Of city. The road is full of
teams and carts and drays, arriving with
loads Of barrels, and departing with barrels
of oil-.with lumber for vats and buildings,
with engines and pumps, with coal and wood
and provisions, hacks full of passengers, &c.
You hear on every side the putting of the
steam ezglnes, the plash of the pumps, your
eyes are filled with steam and smoke, and
you are inclined to believe you are in pande-
monium, especially when a dozen engines
are whistling at once. There are a great
many wells in successful operation, and new
ones are opened every day. The yield va
ries from six and eight barrels to forty and
and fifty barrels per day, at different wells
the average yield being probably some
twenty barrels. These are facts, and not
such stories as a-e told about Virginia wells
which yield one hundred barrels per day
As the oil brings ten dollars per barrel,
well of twenty barrels yield is a magnificent
fortune to its possessor. Great difficulty is
experienced in procuring supply of barrels,
and in consequence many wells have filled
their vats and are compelled to stand idle.
The first oil discovered year since was
near Powers Corners, and the district has
gradually extended towards the southwest,
until now the best prospects, and the excite.
ment csnters near the well of Asper, Chew
4 Co., some two miles southwest Of Powers
! Corners, and which has been steadily yield
ing forty barrels rer day every day when in
operation. Land in this vicinity IS held at
high figures, but is nevertheless rapidly
! tehauging hands. AS an example, learned
to-day, from good authority, that a gentle
man who had lately purchased a quantity of
land south Of Asper's well at S1l2 per acre,
had sold it again in few days at from $500
to $500 per acre. There are several wells
! being sunk in the immediate vicincity. One
By the "Bay State Co" from Massachusetts,
with a good show. Another by Mr.. Price,
of Girard, and a third by Messrs. Adgate &
Co., on the Quale Farm. Much of the land
hsreabouts is low and swampy, which those
experienced in such matters say, denotes a
basin in the rock, and is regarded especially
favorable for oil: We conversed with the
men at the Adgate we'll, and learned that
the indications for oil were excellent all
along southwest of Asper's we'll. In fact
we think, in a short time, that the best
wells in Mecca will be found in this direc.
ton, and the price is raising daily. Land
bought month since for 800 is now sold Al
$500 peg acre readily.
Many spectators are refusing to sell now
at any price, anticipating en- immense in6ul
of strangers in the spring. A returned Cal
ifornian, with whom converssd yesterday
declared that he would rather stand hi
chance Of making fortune by purchasing
an acre of land near Adgate 4 Co.'s well
and drilling for oil, than in working tn,
best claim in California. One must be her
, in the midst Of the excitement to fully ap
prseists it. There have been rumors afoa
that some Of the wells here are falling. Afts
& careful inquiry and examination, 1 thinl
, there is no truth in the statement. oeea
sionally two wells are sunk 50 near eacl
other as to interfere, but in no other case
have they showed any indications Of failing
.. On the contrary, the capacity of many ha
increased on the application of better pumps
That Mecca is bound to be great oil pro
duciug country is indisputahle, and it is
fixed fact that the oil is of an excellen
quality, and many believe the development
are just begun.
As 1 have already invested in land, an
. will begin in few days to diHl on my "sOli
tary acre. shall endeavor to keep myse
posted in regard to oil matters, and will o.
; cssiOnally drop you line. J. L. G.