The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-10
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT
From the Pittsburgh Trade Circular.

From the Pittsburgh Trade Circular
To the oil district of the United States
the city Of Pittsburgh occupies central
position her river navigation, that cheap
est Of transportation, reaches all the prin-
cipal oil-producing regions, and to Pitts
burgh the crude oil naturally came for a
market. The necessity of refining the
petroleum before it could be used for burn
ing, led to the immediate demand for re-
fineries. The low price of fuel in Pitts
burgh, and the cheapuess of constructing
the iron work necessary for their erection,
caused them to be at once erected here.
Such are briefly the points in the history
of the oil trade of this city. Three years
ago, this trade in petroleum had no exist
ence here. list numerical value is now
counted by millions. Three years ago,
with an exceptional keg or barrel, gather
ed from whim or curiosity from some of
the Allegheny oil springs, not barrel of
petroleum had been landed upon the
wharves of Pittsburgh. Within the last
three years it is estimated that not less
than two millions of barrels have been de-
livered at the wharyes of this city and its
suburbs. At the average of the market
rates that have prevailed during the three
years, the value of the two million barrels
of oil, in its crude state, would be about
$8,OOO,OOO. Refined, its value would be,
at the average of prices for refined oil for
three years past, over 81 100000.
Some indication Of the extent of this
trade will be obtained from the fact that
the shipments by railroad alone from the
city, from October LIST, 1862, to December
1st, or three months time, were 6O,514
barrels of crude oil, SS,921 barrels of re-
fined, and 6,492 barrels Of benzine, repre-
senting a value of 1,493,4 3O for that
quarters oil exports alone. Heavy as are
these figures, they would have been yet
larger, but from the difficulty of obtaining
transportation, owing to the crowded con-
dition of the railroads. This is better
shown by the fact that from the I'd of
February up to the 18th, when additional
rolling stock was placed upon the Penn
sylvania Central Railroad, there was ship
ped in those two weeks On that line over
46, OCO barrels of crude and refined oil.
Three years ago there was not a refinery
of petroleum in Pittsburgh; there are now
sixty in the city and suburbs in active op-
Grafton. The capital represented in the
cost of their construction alone, is over
one million of dollars. These sixty ref
neries give employment to over six hun
dred hands, Immediately employed in the
works, whose wages will annually amount
to upwards Of 100000. In addition
there is large number Of hands indirectly
employed. The yearly amount of coal
consumed by these sixty refneries will av-
erage one million five hundred thousand
bushels. The indirect value of the oil
trade, and its increase of employment and
distribution of wages, is somewhat shown
by this new consumption of fuel. To sup
ply this fresh demand for coal, IN addi-
tional working force in the collieries will
be required, whose wages for the increased
amount of coal to be dug would, at GUS
tomary rates, average about $4,000, and
at present rates 100000.
In three years the petroleum trade has
caused the establishment here of one hun
dred new firms, large proportion of
whose parties were previously residents of
other sections of the Union, and even of
other countries From France, from Eng
land, from Germany, from the New Eng
land States, from New York, have come
men of means, men of talent, vigorous,
sagacious business men, and made them
selves homes amongst us. The value of
the addition of so much fresh energy to
our previously energetic and industrious
population is not to be estimated. That
it will show in future progress Of our city,
is not to be doubted.