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


terIssies Of the IIegheny Oil Region.
The New York Commercial Advertiser
publishes an interesting series of letters
from the oil regions, from which We make
the following extracts:
IRVINE, Penn, April 1866.
TIE Law SUIT ABOUT OIL CITY.
ms former letter I mentioned that
portion of Oil Citv had become the subject
of a grand litigation, involving the valid
ity Of the titles to its real estate. l have
lust come into possession of the facts in the
case, BY one who has seen the documents,
and I believe is entitled to implicit trust in
matters Of fact. The circumstances are
substantially these:
Before 1886 tresty was made between
the State authorities Of Pennsylvania and
Cornplanter, the chief of tribe of indians
inhabiting this section of the State. By
virtue of it, the Rborigines were TO be
protected sgsinst all intrigues and en-
croschments from the whites upon certain
reservations assigned them. One of these
consisted Of tract of land, about half q
mile square, on Oil Greek, lying on both
which were made out and delivered to the
chief, then residing with his tribe higher
up the Allegheny. What motive induced
him TO make this selection is unknown;
but of the fact itself the bsst evidence can
be produced, the treaty conveying the title
being now in Philadelphia
Some time sfterward, however, Corn
planter proceeded down the river TO Pitts
burg, and, in 50 doing, came in contact
with certain white Spectators, who pur-
chased his Oil Creek reservation for the
sum of 1915, which was paid down and the
deeds duly handed over. But on his AZ
rival at Pittsburg he found that $500 of
the purchase money consisted of counter
felt bills. The residue, like true Indian,
he spent and returned to his home on the
Allegheny. On his way he stopped and
demanded good money for the counterfeit
or a restoration of his title-deeds and the
property. The purchaser alleged that it
was out of his power to replace the money;
but that if Cornplsnter refunded TO him
the $75 spent, the papers should be re-
turned. The chief proceeded on his way,
procured the small sum, came back and
paid it down, receiving his papers as GgFeed
upon. But it appears that the purchaser
had, meanwhile, gone to Franklin, the
county seat, and got the deeds recorded.
The circumstance passed oyer and was for
gotten. No person lived on the reservR-
lion, which consisted either of low, i'm.
passsble swamp, or precipices Too steep to
be cultivated. Its sole value appeared to
arise from its becoming at some time a
commercial front st the lower end of the
valley. Cornplanter was length gathered
| to his father, as Governor Wolfe with
whom he had negotiated the treaty. The
paper itself, With several others, remained
in the hands of his family, who took no in
terest IN them, except as curiosities. From
time to time, however, it appears that sus-
picions began to prevail among the new
settlers in Oil City that all wss not right
with their titles. The matter was at length
brought toa focus by Cornplanters dsugh-
ter mentioning to white friends that her
| father owned property somewhere on the
creek. The paper was hunted up and dis
covered legal gentlemen were asked to
take hold of the matter, which is soon to
come before the State courts for adjudica-
| tion.
As represented 10 me, by one who has
seen the deed, that reservation comprises
at least, three quarters of the built up por
ton of Oil City-lncluding houses, yards
landings rehneries, wells, &c.-the whole
worth more than a million of dollars. o.
the fact of the deed being in Cornplanter'
family, there can be, presume, no dis
pute the defence will probably be made
| on other points. The right of possession
as between whites, would be decided by
less than thirty years occupation; but a
to transactions between white men and
Indians, am informed, the rule does moi
apply.
As to what virtue may be in the fact Of
registration, of which, it is represented
the old chief was ignorant and consequent.
ly took no steps to undo, the future will
| decide. The whole account is feasible
enough; and it would be manifestly sb-
surd for Indian heirs to attempt the forgery
of title-deeds against white settlers, who
had honestly come by their property.
Think of whole city-guttsrs and al
changing ownership. But there is one
consolation left. If the city itself, with
its filthy streets and dirty hotels, should be
transferred to the poor (now rich) Indian,
the race-courSe-for the improving the
breed of horses, you know-will remain In
the possession OF the Oily Gami1s.
THE PANIC
Is at present the prevalent topic Of conver.
sation in Oildom, and have reason to be-
lieve that large number Of derricks, fol
which preparations had been made, will
not go up this summer. In other cases
individuals and companies that had com
menced operations, will find it difficult to
finish; and I should not be the least sur.
| prised to find decided fall in the value Of
land and improvements made on It. Not
but that there is demand enough for all the
| oil PetroliR con furnish, nor that the rocks
have become exhausted of their stores oi
wealth. But the high pressure system
which has for years prevailed respecting
the business, the boundless expectations
excited respecting an enterprise which has
already been reduced to 8 common level
the falsehood, the fraud, the swindling, that
have been resorted 10, have led multitudes
to believe the whole thing gigantic bub-
BILE. We are entering period Of reaction,
in which the hopes deferred, the dissp-
| 9ointments experienced, the falsehoods
brCught to light, are combining to reduce
vElries as far below their intrinsic values IS
they have lately been in the opposite di-
rection.
THE ALLEGHENY RIVER VALLEY.
A few general remarks on the charac-
teristics of this region and
lst. On neither side of the river, or any
of its tributaries below Franklin, is any
we'll flowing, nor does any we'll yield by
pumping more than so barrels per day.
2. The oil is Of q quality superior to that
obtained on Oil Greek, but inferior to the
French Greek article. It cells for about
one-third more than the common lllumin-
Ating oil, having gravity of 3s to 40. The
difference between it and French Greek
(hesvy) oil is said to begin at the mouth
of the creek; but in the direction of Oil
City it melts by degrees into the light or
Illuminating article.
Sd. On 8 walk of about seven miles
dowa the Allegheny wells were seen to
be abandoned; "a we're lying idle, SEEM
ingly out of order from the food or some
other temporary affliction; 13 we're sctive
during the whole or part of the day 13
were in progress Of construction, and
was told IS many as fly more were under
way up Two Mile Creek and East Sandy.
doubt not thenumber of abandoned wells
was much larger than is reported siRce in
many places scarcely vestige has been