Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-11-14

AANNA NAaA ~ AAnAN MS AAGhuAN AAAANAf -
this season of the year, with horse and
Olrriage, is certainly susceptible of doubt.
This, however, is the fact, although the ac-
knoWledgement Ii is admitted rsaects
somewhat upon bis prudence, If not good
sense. Albeit, any one having failed to
visit this locality at a time like this, knows
nothing Of the prsoticability Of mud This
mixture, like many other things when not
used too freely" is innocent enough we
suppose-but its excess we have learned is
decidedly deleteriOus, so far st least as good
nature is concerned.
Previous to the oil development, no plea
was ever set up hereabouts for even deoen-
cy in roads, and since that, from the
Thousand and one" wagons continually
on the move, the only boast is that Of ex-
ceiling the world in the most capaoious
mud holes. 10 reaching q narrow place
in {" the track, within twenty rods Of the
hotel where We now tarry, our carriage
was obliged TO stand still until eighteen
1Ogsons loaded with oil, barrels, &C., could
pass
We make this statement that your read
ers may if possible catch q faint idea Of
the general olatter as well as mud and
seneca" for which this locality is mar
vellOusly notorious.
Oil Greek is constantly covered with a
thick scum Of the oil, occssioned by the
waste and drainage Of wells along its
banks. Thousands Of barrels Of "the
crude" thus ride down its waters daily.
Owing to the necessity Of fording this
stream in many places, and also to the fact
that the entire soil around is completely
saturated with oil, many valuable horses
are being ruined. Constant contact with
this oil appears to induce irritation Of the
surface, and subsequently Inflammation of
the entire muscles Of the part. Stepping
into any stable, the first thing that attracts
attention is the array Of "beetle legs"
therein. The swelling involves the hind
limb, from the fetlOok midway to the hook,
as the usual conditions the fore leg,
strange as the fact may appear, rarely
suffering.
The oil trade, ss such, is just now at
what may, perhaps, be called q low ebb.
The enormous quantities produced by
spouting wells, opened up within few
months, has for the time being thrown q
vet blanket over the general specula-
tion, so far certainly as the majority of the
interests are concerned. Well after well,
for the last three months, has been gsrging
its hundreds Of barrels daily, until every
thing has become inundated.
One yesT ago, and little did any one
dream of q reverse by way Of over supply.
Then to obtain a we'll that would yield from
fifteen to twenty barrels every twenty
four hours, BY faithful pumping during that
time, was regarded q fortune. To-day
such wells are actually worthless, as they
can in no manner compete with these self
bumpers.
That your readers may approach, per-
haps, an idea Of the almost fabulous guam
titles of oil being thrown out along this
valley, Will instance the products of one
we'll. The well known as the "BrsWley
WELL" upon the lower Buchanan farm,
commenced flowing the fifteenth of August
last, and at the fifteenth of October follow
ing, go days. it had produced thEty-thrss
| thousand barrels Of oil
This yield, although it ranges high in
/ decimsls, is a moderate instance compared
with others. Some wells here have actually
/ flowed over two thousand barrels day.
When informed, in this connection, that
there are some fifteen or twenty flowing
wells within q range Of about four miles
along the creek, you may, perchsI oe, gath
er something Of an estimate Of the ''riVers
/ Of oif' being sent forth.
With such a rush is it any marvel that
many Of the owners Of wells should be
caught minus reoeptacles for securing
scarcely a tithe of the yield2 And again,
is it any wonder that men, rather than
allow it to run to waste, should sell it for
even fifty cents per barrel2 It is under
these circumstances and these alone that
oil has been sold thus for nought
Keen eyed spectators from all the cities
roundabout are here, with barrels at hand,
watching their chances, and while the
floods Of oil furnish them all they wish at
their own figures, it is folly to suppose that
anything like a fair price can be obtained
by any one. Stop the rush by some means
control these wells, and be enabled thereby
to draw from them somewhat in accordance
with the demand, and the remedy is at
hand. This system is being inaugurated.
Within ten days six of the main flowing
wells have been controlled. This is &C
complished by means Of double tubing,
the last tube being quite small, not more
than an inch and quarter calibre.
The gravity of the column being thus
reduced, il is supposed that the propelling
! power, whatever may be its nature, will
remain undisturbed, the pressure upon the
column being at all times sufficient to keeT
the tube flled-thereby rendering the en-
tire operation simple as drawing oil from
any ordinary vessel, by means of the
! faucet.
Thus far this experiment has proved &
complete success. Tanks being from five
to eight hundred feet from the surface il
this arrangement are certainly not il
danger Of fire, consideration of no small
account. By observing this principle it il
believed that all wells cen be made to flow
and therefore pumping and the risk of irC
ebout the tanks, two important contingen
oies 20 far IS danger and expense are con
cerned, will be removed. One we'll five
/ hundred and ten feet deep, which had
never indicated any spouting tendency
was tubed in this manner and immediately
commenced flowing, and has since yielded
. spon an average thirty-fve barrels. ThiI
r we'll produces the pure oil, being thus sep
! arated from the water by some means q
the bottom of the well, or, at least, befort
, entering the tube. The we'll is upon th'
I Hamilton MoClintock farm.
? But have already written too lengthily
4 and will close until another time.
: WILLARD.
5 P. S. An officer from Pittsburgh is hert
= recruiting for a regiment in the regular
army, 10 be under the charge of Colone
Darlington, of your State.
: Loyalty and Profanity Identical.
The Chaplain Of the I4th Ohio writes from