The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-10


delivered, from 60 to 65 cents per buzhel.
some time ago 1t commanded 80 cents, or
$22 40 per toni Bear in mind, too thst
this is the light bituminous coal one ton of
anthracite furnishing as much caloric IS
two or three. Yet, beds of coal 40 inches
thick were within mile in many instances,
while in others enough wood and refuse
could have been obtained wi hin 800 yards
TO keep an engine running for calendar
month. Only think of supporting q
whole posse eonitatsLs in coldness, while
fuel is TO be had for trils more than the
cutting
HOW OPERATORS RAISE THE WIND.
But first consider what 3 numerous,
noisy and omnipresent interest the opera
tors are. They comprise all thu hotel
keepers, saloon keepers, merchants, real
estate owners, who are interested in prop
erty or trade, all the real or expectant get
ters-up of oil companies, all those who deal
in oil land, all agents for Eastern msnufsc-
turers-a very numerous and influential
crowd. This list might be extended long
enough, but the outside reader will readily
see how likely he is to be carried away by
the great ground swell, the instant he
reaches Cory, Titusville, Franklin, Oil
City, or even Mesdville, where nearly ev-
cry man is beckoning to his neighbor:
"C1me inI come int
Eternal glory thou shalt win"
He pushes forward through the mire, re-
solved to explore Petrolis thoroughly and
see for himself. We shall suppose him to
be an Eastern capitalist, stopping at the
principal hotels and known to be flush of
funds, which he is desirous of investing.
The way IN which he may be taken in and
done for is substantially this;
Ist. The telegraph is made to pene-
trate every nook and corner ofthe country
as fast IS good well is struck. This in
strument can be made to announce the ad-
vent of q celebrated stranger as well IS
the outbreak of an Gil spring.
I'd. OIL can be poured into well before
| his approach, and it be made to have q
most excellent show.
Sd. Oil can be purchased of another
party and exhibited on the premises as the
product of the wells, during given period.
By like process the amount of sales in a
month can be made sstonishingly large.
4th. Tanks can be half filed with wa
Ter instead Of oil only, the latter floating
on the surface. The stranger is not apt
in all cases to look as far below this as he
ought to do.
9th. A we'll may be pumped 'by head, ("
two or three hours per day, thus saving
fuel. But when distinguished visitor ap-
proAches, she will be certain TO pour out a
most edifying tide of the greasy liquid.
He takes out his watch and times the flow.
There it il, sure enough, gallon in three
| | - a1rTa
barrelsper day. What need Of further
test tony? Just at the nick of time, it
habbens that some nut or screw in the
nkchinery gives way, and operations must
stop-when the oil was exhausted. What
does the stranger know about q steam.
engine.
9th. There is the old and stale mode o.
rating 3 well by the squirt she gave ou'
the first day or two, duly reported by tele
graph 10 all parts of the country. Thi
squirt may last for three or four weeks
but it is only temporary. The knowing
ones always deduct one-hslt from sucl
: figures, and sometimes two-thirds or three
fourths. Even then they would occasion
ally estimate too highly.
l have been told more than once b.
engineers and lsborers that they we're in
structed to misrepresent the actual yield o
the wells with which they were connected
and the looks of others gave evidence +
same effect I have watched very shrewd
knowing men from the East "boring
away ever SO diligently to reach the "hsrd
pan" of facts, yet TO be completely de
ceived. Even your correspondent ma,
have been sold more than once; but hi
experience is that it Is very foolish
: assume knowing look about the oil we'll