The Portland daily press., 1865-08-11
/ LETTER FROM THE OIL REGIONS
PIT HOLE CITY, Pa, Aug. Sd, 1866.

many of us seen in more eastern cl;mas
towns and villages growing up with wonderful
rapidity, but doubt if the growth and mate
rial prosperity of this little out of the way
city has any parallel in the history of the
country. Six weeks ago there were but too
buildings within the present city limits, to-day
there are more than four hundred, many Of
tnem imposing structures, that would do no
discredit even to the beautiful "Forest City,"
and still the work goes on, certainly not "with-
out the sound of axe or hammer" for there is
a continual din of these and other building
tools, from searIy morn till dewy eve" go
away some morning after breakfast, and on
my return at night am surprised to find on
the adjoining lot,-vacant when went away
"a commodious house tportable) with fam
lily already domiciled, and living to all appear
ance, as though they had been there for
months, or if happen to stay away for a coup
lie of days, perhaps whole street has sprung
into existence in my absence. Said gentle
man to me to-day, II come here once or twice
every day, but can never come often enough
to see the city taoice alike" Since the date of
my last letter July 3D. large number Of
hotels have been opened, amongst them the
"Patchen House" an elegant hotel, large as
the Preble House. In one of the five stories,
on the ground floor, is located our Post Office.
We have now all the conveniences of ''me-
tropolis," hotels, saloons, stores, shops, tele-
graph and express offices, 1.-TWO of each) banks,
brokers, lawyers, doctors, thieves, pickpockets,
gamblers and other tasraties too numerous to
mention, and from what does all this spring
Why this immense outlay of money and large
investment of capital? The answer is sim
pie. 1t is embraced in three little words, viz:
"Ga OIL sCell." Just that and nothing more.
One single Oil aceu started all this and much
more, for the valley beyond the city is as pop
ulous with derricks and oil sellers, as is the
city with buildings and money seekers. At the
date of my last letter, three new wells had
just been struck near the U. S. well, all OF
which are still flowing successfully. Since
that date, four others have been opened on the
same farm, the "Thomas Holenden Farm,')
all splendid wells, and as yet not a failure ON
the farm, serving to prove my assertion, that
"here if never before, the great sOil basin has
been found" The last of these wells was
struck yesterday, and the event was followed
by one of those sudden and terrible calamities
that sometimes fall upon the most prosperous
and happy communities, appalling the stoutest
hearts and casting gloom over all. As usual,
there are many conflicting reports, but be
heve the following embraces substantially the
facts.
The well was completed and tubed, and the
pumps started yesterday morning. The own
ers had procured no tanks, preferring to wait
until all uncertainty had been removed. Very
soon the water was exhausted and the oil be-
gan to flow, quickly saturating the ground and
flowing off in little streams. All were excit-
ed by the unexpected display, and paid little
heed to the wasting oil. Soon one of these
streams ran under the engines, from which it
took fire, and instantly the whole mass of oil
was in flames. A panic ensued, and men mad
ly rushed in to stop the fire. They might as
well have attempted to dam the Mississippi
with chip, or touch off a barrel of powder
gradually; nothing but the exhaustion OF the
oil can stop one of these fires In their iil-ad-
visedattempts, five poor fellows were terribly
burned Three are already dead, and little
hope is entertained of the others. 1t is sad
case, but no blame seems to be attached to
any one. The well itself was supposed to be
ruined, but to-day has started flowing again,
and promises to be one of the best on the
Creek. Oil boring on Pit Hole is by no means
ar I'D 10 ho ~ Tor, 10
non" or Homestead" farm, next above the
"HoIenden," on which the Boston well is loca-
ted, is being extensively "b0red," and another
city in imitation of Pit Hole City has been
started, and has already assumed some impor-
lance. The "Rooker Farm" also, next below
the Holenden is being vigorously operated, and
many others both up and down the Creek for
miles, but the principal operations are confin-
ed to these three farms. The Rocker farm,
was for some time disputed territory, TWO par
ties claiming the ownership. Pending this
dispute few dared invest or operate there, but
boring commenced in good earnest. 1t yet re-
mains to be seen however whether there is oil
ON this farm. 1t is now known that at least
one old dry well exists there, though carefully
concealed for long time, still the work goes
6raoeIy on. Probably not less than four hun
bred wells are being bored ON these three
farms, and it has been a grave question, how
all the oil likely to be obtained was to be got to
market, but it is settled at last, and we are soon
to have two railroads, one running down the
Creek to the Allegheny, and the other up the
Greek and across 70 Titusville, affording am
pie transportation for oil out and supplies IN
The daily throng of visitors and spectators
continues almost undated. 1 was told not
long since, by a careful statistician, that there
were no less than nineteen hundred arriudIs
in one day. OF course the hotels are ja,nmed
and the city thronged, and pickpockets tbri1e
Hordes of New York and Philadelphia black
legs arrive daily and "faro tables" sweat boards
and other gambling "inStitattions' line the
streets, almost rivalling San Francisco in its
palmiest day. In the absence of all munich
pal authority, or police organization, these fell
lows have had it all their own way, and fights
and rOocs, were of almost hourly occurrence
A day or two since however, the citizens ap-
pealed to the sheriff of the county, and he and
his posse soon cleared the streets of this pest,
and to-day all is tranquil and serene. A Po-
lice Departments TO be instituted at once,
and we trust order viii be preserved. Pardon
the length Of this letter, and look for another
when opportunity presents itself
J.C.K.
IT