New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-19
THE OIL REGION.

Greene, Fayette, and Washington Conn
sies, with Remarks on the GleasinOas
Deveiop ments of Western yirgini" and
Vepango County.
By ]. &. TUEL.
Apart from the na:ural developments ana the
geological formations which are found 10 eS'aD'
fsh connection between the oNaglnous as
triet Of venango County and those OF the sontn-
western borders OF Pennsylvania and western VIZ
ginis, the map q the regions Indicated clearly
shows the existence Of direct geographical INK De-
tween them. Running straight line from Frank
lin yenango County, TO the developed of West
arm Virginia il passes through the center Of Fayot'e
and Greene Counties leading TO the inevitable couclu
s,on that these localities form the certrd point OF the
sreot oil basin Of PENS vana and Western Virginia
The qualifications here discovered are similar through
out to those Of venango showing gcueraly. however
much greater disturbance of the original formations
and more nearly ab.ng the great oil district Of
Western Virginia.
veDango County was taken from Allegheny and
Iycoinc Counties BY act oe 10th March 1900 md was
organised for judicial Purposes by act Of April 1905
Inls9 its limits were curailed by the establishment, Of
Clarion County the Clarion River having been pre-
viousy the southeastern boundary. The county now
forms very irregular figure with of about go
square miles.
Tho Allegheny River flows through the center OF We
mango County in a direction so very circutous that
there is not point Of the compass to which II does not
direct is course. The country along is banks is ex
eeedngly wild and rugged, the river hills being hgh
and PERCEPTIONS Tho valley is narrow but bounded al
tsrnstely ON either side by elevated alluvia lands
French Creek which comes in q F,ank'in and the
nov famous Oil Creek, short diftance above ere The
other two principal streams. Racoor, Tionesta PIt
Hole Sandy and Scruhgr,ss Greeks all How IN deeply
3ndeDted valleys rendering the general surface ite
hiIy. .snd nsny Of tie component rocks Of these s
pertaining to tie ogoT congomeEstes Of the coal Tor
NATION make, on the whole, a rugged country.
venaDgo River was the given by The French 70
French Creek TIE word Venlngo is a corruption Of
the Indian word TnaaE-Vsl which had some reference
to rsde and indecent figure carved upon tree which
tie Senecas found here when they Irst cane 10 ths
region.
Since the development of oil upou oiiCreCk, theim-
preston has very generally prevailed tha: the name Of
that creek is Of recent origin. This is mistake; Oh
Creek By name, il old as the Indian traditions c1
tend Among the many natural cnriositiss discovored
IN this country many years ago. thc most remarkable
the peculiarly ufammsDe oil found floating on tie
surface Of Oil Creek. The Seneca oil from the oil
springs in Oh Greek was used By the Seneca Indians
an unguent and in their religious worship. IT was n
most as celebrated the famous th Of the Caspian
Sea. With it the Senecas mixed their paint whcl
gave them hideous elstenng appearance, and added
great pcTlianency theil paint, IL rendered II in
pervious water What startling spectacle The oil
anonted warrior of the Senecqs must have been as be
gare forth the fearful whoop padded his light
Along the dark blue waters Of Tie Ace hany and
Yenareol
The other use made q the oil was for religions wor.
snip Here it cannot be better described than in tire
Imaginative language OF the French Commandunt Of
Fort Daquesne NOV Pittsburgh 10 his Excelepoy,
Ger. Montcan, the unfortunate teIo OF Quebec. Ii
must be remembered 70 give startling effect His Ian
guage. that it was used over century ago. in the
tongue Of one OF the most ingenious Of nations and ye:
the mystery which updsrlad it unhnown to that.
most scientific Of people.
II would desire" says the Commandart, ito assure
your Rxcelieney that this is a most delightful land
Some Of the most astonishing natural wonders have
been discovered by people While descending the
Aneghany fifteen leagues below the mouth Of the
ConovangO, and three above Fort Venaugo, we were
invited by the Chief Of the Senecas 70 attend religions
ceremony of his tribe. We landed and drew up
cances at point where small stream entered Tho
rive The tribe appeared unusually solemn We
narcheL % the stream eoout half league, when the
company l,-ge basd j, appeared. had arrived some
days before Gigantic hills begirt NJ On every side
Tie scene was real sublime. The great Chief then
rected the conquests and lercism of his ANCESTOR
Tn surface Of the stream was covered With q thick
scun. which burst into complete confagrltion The
oil had Ien gGhtred and lighted H.M n torch. Al the
sight 4, flames the Indisas gave forth triumphant
a.. IL nj Vpfg la
Here then Is revived te sucient fire. vorsh Of the
Eas--here then the Children Of tie SUI :"
Greene County tie locality Of extensive dis
ecyeries Of oi Gee the extreme southwestern cor
rer Of the State aAa embraces % 597 square
mixes extending q miles IN length and ~ in breadth
The surface Of the country Is generally hy the rolling
character Of the surface and the nature Of the soil being
bet or adapted 70 grazing 20 grain The country
Is well watered by principal sresms-Dunkard, now
rendered flmous by the discovery Of oil upon II, Big
Whitley Little Whitel7. Muddy, and Ten Mile Creek,
- OF which empty into the Monongahela which washes
the eastern boundary Of the county. Wheeling Creek
emptie the OHIO at Wheeling These streams IN The
course Of time have very deep channels in The
country AID have impaired TO it its roug and rolling
aspect.
Tsyette County embraces Of some ga square
miles and extends > miles in length by n n breadth.
The p.ysicai features of this country strongly
marked The eastern portion consists Of an elevated
and rather rugged belt (perhsps it might De called
valley bounded the east and west BY two lofty and
weI-defned mountain ranges The submits Of these
mountains are about so feet above the level Of the
sea- AID ABOUT 900 feet above the Intervening valley
Between iese two mountains several smaller de-
tschcd rdges The western section OF the comfy
seDts dusdDg surface IL some parts rather billy.