The Portland daily press., 1865-07-08

nine coming up lIOM LLls rOOl runs across 10
large building few rods distant. Going in
side ~ this building, we find it filed with
lazse oil tanks 16 feet in height and 72 feet in
circumference, each holding about 1400 bis. Of
oil. Ascending fight of stairs to the top of
one of these tanks, we find the end of the pipe
running from the well, and no longer wonder
at the thr0ng or the excitement. No man
can stand and look at the rushing, roaring
tide of precious liquid gushing from that pipe,
without partalxing in some measure OF the
general excitement. The flow is not steady
like running water, but comes in spurts or jets,
rapidly succeeding each other, and with such
force as to shake the entirebuilding, producing
from 900 to 1000 bis. of oil per day.
There are some eighteen or twenty of these
enormous tanks holding in the aggregate
from $4,000 to $4,000 Bbls. ofOn. A few days
since one of the tanks burst with such force as
to break in the sides of another standing be-
side it, and thus $500, bbls of oil were let
loose upon the ground creating aelarge lake of
oil which flowed off into the creek and was
carried down the stream, forming such Riu-
| " " Wv ~ "eNo PAOoesDAJ AOfOA SOCA DCiOlC,
some boys at work about a mile below, seeing
the dark tide flowing past them, out of pure
mischief set it on fire; instantly broad sheet
of fame shot into the heavens, sending up inn
mense volumes of black sooty smoke. As the
whole body of oil rested upon the surface of the
water, it was literally sRicer on fire" The
flames ran rapidly up the stream and at one
time threatened inevitable destruction to every,
thing upon its banks, the well and other prop
erty of the Company included; but measures
were at once. taken to stop the flow into the
creek, and the current soon carried the fireto
safe distance When the fire was at its height
itpresenteda scene awfuIly grand and sublime.
Being seen at distance, and the real
cause being unknown, it was at once reported
that the q. S. well was on fire; the report
spread rapidly and created great excitement,
especially amongst the holders of o. s. Stocks
and numerous kilograms were instantly sent
to N. Y, to sell their shares without regard to,
price, but the actual state Of the case was
known so soon, that the orders were probably
countermanded before many sales took place.
The history of this well is somewhat pecu-
liar, and forms striking instance of unexpect-
ed fortunes made in the oil business. Land
was purchased, and the well commenced a
year ago in June, but the Company had SO lit
tie confidence in the territory, that the work
was allowed to drag along until near the end
of November, before the well was finished, and
even then, they thought it hardly worth tub
ing, and it was not until the Sd of January
that anything was done towards testing it,
They finally got ready to start the pump on
the 7th of January, and ran it about one hour
and a half; it had just begun to throw oil,
when sucker rod broke, and they were COM
PEELED to stop; Immediately after, it commec-
ed to fow with considerable force, with the
rods still in the well, producing about $50 bbls
per day. 1t continued at about this rate for
several months, but the paraffine and black gas
finally collected on the old rods and valves SO
thick as to diminish the flow, and it finally ran
down to 40 or 80 bbls per day. A little more
SUCKER rods, valves &C., and instantly the oil
gushed forth in immense quantities and has
continued to flow since that, at the rate Of
900 to 1000 bbls. per day. A Boston Compa-
ny sunk well last winter, about one third Of
mile above the U. S. WELL and their expert
ence has been similar They drew their suck
er rods about the same time and their well
has since produced over 500 bbls. per day.
This immense increase ofthese two wells Gre
ated great sensation in oildona. Pit Hole
property Immediately advanced an hundred
percent, and is continually rising; on Satur-
day, the 18th inst, a new well was struck some
twenty miles below the q. S. well, which
flows between 800 & 400 bbls. The following
Tuesday second one was struck, some dozen
rods below the last, flowing between 400 and
500 bbls; and on Friday of the same week,
a third one, just opposite the Boston well,
which promises to he equalto any off them, ex-
cept, perhaps the q. S. well. These wells
are the only ones yet completed, and all are
splendid flowing wells, which seems to indi-
cate that here if never before the great soil ba-
sim has been found. The Portland and Cher
ry Run Company Of your city, have splendid
lot on the creek just above the q. s. well, on
which they are now sinking a well, within
about eight rods of the great well. under
stand that this lot was procured prior to the
increased flow of the wells; it was certainly a
piece of good fortune as no lots so near the
great well can now be purchased at any price
On the top Of the hill short distance this
sideof the Creek, there is fine level plain of
some fifty acres This was laid out and staked
| of into building lots for village about two
weeks ago, and already there are over ffty
buildings upon it, comprising hotels, eating
houses, saloons, shops, stores, &C., &c. Many
Others are being erected, among them, one
very large hotel, Bank, telegraph office, ex-
| press Office, &C. The village is already in tel
egraphic communication with the rest of the
world. Portland is represented here also by
Maj. Stevens of the enterprising and energetic
firm Of Stevens, Allen & Co., formerly of the
firm of A. S. Shurtleff G. Co. of your city,
They are building large store and bakery,
and will have them in operation in a few days.
But am writing long letter, and must defer
many other matters of interest until a future
| time. JCK
OUR STATE REFORM SCHOOLS.
Mr.. EDITOR "A writer in your paper of the
| 20 ult, who had made a "hasty visit to the
Reform School, states that NEW feature has
been added to the school; that of regular
drill of a class in music" This appears a lit
tie verdant to those long familiar with the
management of this excellent institution: and