Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-23
II OIL REGIONS.
Especial Correspondence cleveland LEADER.
FRANKLIN, VESANgo Co.. Pa.

Special Correspondence cleveland L~EADER.1
FRANKLIN, VExANgo Co., Pa,
December 20, 1865.
EDITORS LEADER II last had the pleasure
Of addressing you from this place in Au.
gust and as l have been a pretty close OBJ
server of matters and things in the "Oil
Region" I venture to offer you some fur
Their facts connected Herewith.
Beginning with Pithole, (which is un
doubtedly at the head of the list of oil pro-
ducing lOcalities,) the yield is about the
same as four mouths since. Some of the
larger wells have fallen off, but others have
been struck to make up the deficiency.
The railroad to the Allegheny is being
pushed forward with the utmost speed prac-
ticable, and it is hoped for completion by
the New Year.
Oleopolis, at the mouth of Pithole creek,
Ito which I alluded in my last letter. is
growing very rapidly in consequence of its
favorable position, and from the prospect of
its becoming the largest Oil Depot in this re-
gion.
About half way between Oil City and
Franklin, and on the Allegheny, another
town has sprung up to join ats fellows of
the earth" Reno was nothing but a one
house mot one horse station on the Atlantic
and Great Western Railroad, but by the de-
termined enterprise Of several leading capt.
tallsts it is assuming importance.
Franklin, unlike its "upstart" sister cities,
progresses with a staetly, sober growth,
with seeming confidence that it will also
prove to have more solid foundation.
II ia now known that this "a - h. Al
great Railroad Centre mot Fenian), and
since the return home of the English Cap
i~talists, who recently visited us, the great
Air line project from New York TO Venango
County has been decided on, to have its
terminus, it is believed, at Franklin.
This road will start from the vicinity of
Milton, a town on the Susquehanna river
the connection between that place and New
York being already secured by leases of
the Catawissa Railroad, and the Morris and
Essex road, and will stretch its iron band
across q prolific timber and coal territory,
and wind up among the oil tanks.
l regret to see opposition being manifested
toward this enterprise, chiefly by Pittsburg;
calls being mBde for Legislative Injunction,
&c., &c. Now, believing in the saying,
&c ompetitiOn is the soul of trade" it is
that competition must tend to
break up monopolies, by causing a more
diffusion of capital, whether of
money or labor. If English capital seeks
for Investment in the hillsides and valleys
Of Pennsylvania, should we say no? Mar
row mindedness i'll BELTS this progressive
age and nation ; we want everything and
body to come, for we Aatter ourselves WI
can show them q rich country and a free
and substantial government. All we ask
the emigrant is to dig for coal, bore for
oil, or, if he like it better, to buy a Western
farm.
To return to Franklin. Two weeks since
he Grant House was formally opened to
he public. This hotel is large, substantially
built, of imposing appearance, and, to COM
Dlete its attractions, is managed by one who
smphatically "knows how to keep a hotel"
refer to Colonel Power; like good wine
ne requires no praise. On the occasion of
he opening ball, the beauty of Franklin
md surroundings was there, and oh, Messrs.
Editors if you have any doubt of the
character Of 0ildom, come here and
zee the complexion of our bellies! The
merry dance was kept up to the small hours,
md everything passed off to the satisfac-
ion of all. The house is already nearly
ull.
The wells on the Allegheny, below
are flowing and pumping as
teadily as as ever. This, by the way, con-
tltates the great advantage of his locality
.bove Pit Hole and other places. The wells,
hough not producing-a s great a number of
arrels per day, are more uniform and re-
Among the wells l may mention,
The Colonel Lewis Well" fifty barrels, a
well on the miller Farm" seventy-fve
%arrels, (oil selling at $3.50 per bbl0 the
wo wells on Foster Island and sE~--hs.oH
Le uVOVer and Cochran farms, all doing
dmirably; so that when we shall have the
enefit Of the jamestown railroad terminus
in which you Of Cleveland are so greatly {
Interested, and which will bind us to you
lore closely and the great New York line
here, Franklin will loom up in
proportions.
We hav a new hotel almost COMPLETED,
Thich will probably surpass in size and
luipmentanything within a hundred miles,
nd I should be glad if you would come and
ring your friends and help US to trip the
light fantastic toe" on the "opening night"
T which we shall duly advise you.
' Yours truly,
nHavuvrr