The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-10-30
Ths Petroleum Region.

Col. Fornev. in a lon, letter 10 his pspsr.
descriptive OF a speaking tour Of himss
aud Gov. Car'ia in Western Pennsylsania.
gives the following Interesting statistics Of
the celebrated OH Region:
When the discovery of coal oil was frst
made, (for which the world is principally
indebted TO Mr. James Young, of Glasgow
Scotiand). J. the efforts of 'ha manufacturers
were directed almost exclusively to the lu-
hricating principle. that OF illumiuatson
having been Al that time almost entirely
overlooked. The early efforts OF Mr.. Dow
ner and gentlemen then connected with
him, were first turned 10 the development Of
the lubricating principle in coal tar Of the
gas houses. After that branch of the bust
ness hsd arrived at some degree Of perfec-
tion in this country. they were induced. at
the solicitation of European capitalists. to
superinterd tho erection Of factory in
Glasgow. Scotland. which was intented to
be used in carrying on that business. While
in that country. their chenest. Mr.. Luther
Atwood. and Mr. Josiah Merrill, superin-
tendant Of the mechanical portion OF the
Undersak irg. had their attention drawn to
tho light bodies II coal oils then worked by
dr. Young, who at that time was selling
somc half . million of gallons Of luhricatlng
oil per anum, at price equal to about
dollar aud third per gallon, while he was
disposing Of the lighter portions from which
me illuminating oil is now principally made.
for purposes of n.pihss and similar light bod
les at about sixpence gallon. Mr.. At
wood, avaling himself Of the kno ledge he
had acquired Of the puri6cAtion of the foul
oils al the gas houses, purified these oils
white aud sweet. On the return of these
gentlemen 10 America, tha manufacturer of
these illu ninating oils was Immediately
commenced on a small scale, the celebrated
Prince Albert coal of New Brunswick be-
ing used in their production. They were
SO perfect in their quality. and so admirably
aiaped to suppl ~great wat then severely
felt IN III. community, that their cousunp
ton aud sale was mos. rapid. From that
time to the present (an interim Of not more
than FIVE years), the annual consumption Of
these oils from American sources WAS rs
follows: For the first year one million gal
Ions; for the second year four million gall
Ions; for the third year twenty million gal
Ions; for the present year with from three
hundred to FIVE hundred factories scattered
over the lsnd). the production will no be
less than from forty to sixty millions of gal
Ions. As I came here from Erie. few
days ago, 1 was introduced by Judge
johnson, of Warren to u gentleman named
V. N. Thompson. whose receipts from his
oil we'll ere one thorsaud dollars per day,
and who only few years ago was poor
man aud a bankrupt. Another instance
wa. tha, of the firm OF Mobiles q Delama-
ter. whose daily income was said to amount
to 50, 600; sixteen hund, ed barrels per day
being filed from their vel! l also learned
that the Ferrell well. at ritusville. produced
" hen started. more oil than eight hundred
whaeships had collected in year Al New
Bedford
Titusville. Craw ord county, er.tofore
an inconsiderable village, with a popula
ion three years ago. OF not more than four
hundred inhabitants, Gov contains nesrly
four thousand. and is realsing more wealth.
by reason of the oil product alone, than
California is sending here in gold.
There resides at Titusvile NJ. E. L.
Drake, the o,igioual discoverer of the oil
product, He is man Of good habits. re-
specsed 10 the community. industrious and
useful; yet such are the freaks Of fortune.
hat while this enormous development of
wealth has been given 10 the world, and
from which many others have realized prin-
cely fortunes. it has been the misfortune Of
Mr.. Drake. owing to the peculiar localities
10 which he started. and the general vicisi-
tn es that attic ds all inven .ors il new fields.
he has reaped none of the fruits Of this
golden hearvest.
The immediate oil region is sb7u eigh-
t-en miles in length. extending from Titus
vile 10 Franklin, Shennpgo county. / did
not visi, Oil City. which IS in the same
county, AMI is the p ace where the flowing
wells are 10 be found. but l heard enough
10 induce me to regret that nv time did not
allow me to gn there. II has q population
of two thousaad, and is one of tho most
important depols in this vicinity, being stu
ated at the confluence of the waters OF
French creek and the Ailegany river Four
thousand two and four horse teams are en-
gagged d-ily in hauling OH to the different
railroad and river and stations; the south
ern and eastern markets being supplied
from that poiit Large quantities Of oil are
feated down the creek by means OF artificial
pond fresheis, and in consequence Of the
extreme nsrrowness of the flats. much skill
is requisite in managing the different craft.
Fhc value of the oil iltranspsfted daily from
Oh CITY is valued at $50 900; aud when j,
il considered that the price Of this ol Is
Increasing rapidly, another year will 1t least
double this amount