Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-24
4 VISIT no PIT.HOLE WELL.
sights on the Way---ROBanfie situa-
ffOn Of the Wsu-ExIteEnent About
I.and-What the Well is Now Doing
ana what 1t Promises 10 do.

A letter to the Pittsburgh Chronicle con-
tslns The following about the new oil ex-
citement on Pit Hole;
Returning to the Temperance House for
dinner, our party proceeded about four
miles to visit the Pit-Hole we'll, which has
caused 50 much commotion and hubbub in
0ildom and in Eastern cities. The road
had been well travelled BY thousands of
persons on foot on horseback and in
sleighs It is situated in In wild, seelud-
ed and picturesque valley, the hills, how
ever, on either side inclin-
ing with gentler slope than usual up here
to the creek. Every days experience
knocks to pieces the theories of
the wise men with regard to oil
localities The oil is struck lust
wnere, according to prediction
oil should not be struck and vice Uersa. It
is the prevalent opinion that wells should
be sunk at tie base of some lofty and pre-
cipitous hill, on the lines of violent upheav-
ais and rocky distortions. Nothing of that
kind here. A little brswling run rather
than brook, with gently sloping bsnks, and
q spot for the derrick chosen more probs-
bly, by chance than by csleulstion. The
well lies on the Holmden farm. The fence
has been torn down TO allow road for 7is-
itors. Diverging from this road was another
to Plumer, along which was q string of
sleds, each bearing away six barrels of the
precious fluid SO pertinsciously tessed from
the veXed earth. -..-- ~
And what a strange and busy scene
| around the well itselfl To get to.it, you
pass through forest or rather grove, Of
lofty and venerable white pines. What
contrast TO the impressive solitude which
has rsined there tor SO long period, dis
turbed, perhaps, only by the deer as they
came down to drink. a number of men
were hewing and hauling logs, and making
corduroy roads, to render easier the ascent
to the top of the bank. Another number
were just putting the finishing strokes to
huge tank, to hold twelve hundred barrels
of oil, Numerous horses, sleighs, and Gu
rious visitors were grouped here and there.
barrels from thereceiVing tank, while scores
of sleds we're loading and driving off as
fast as possible, their places being supplied
by other scores.
Mounting a rough ladder you get your
first view of the oil which has been so
rudely disturbed from its long slumber far
down in the very bowels of the earth.
You see nothing but two-inch iron pipe,
with stream of fluid flowing out as large
as heavy hydrant stream, and looking
like country-house molasses and of about
| the same consistency.
Every couple of minutes the gss-which
can be plainly seen issuing from the tube
like waves Of heat-gives the stream lit
tie squirt, and then it resumes its even and
steady flow. Standing over the well, the
oil can be plainly heard ascending the
tubing. Near by stands the engine house
with its trim polished and powerful engine
from New York, looking as demure and
innocent as if its ceaseless and powerful
workings were not the cause of all the hub
bub. No need Of an engine now, except
to sink another well, for this big well is
a flowing not pumping one. 1t runs by
natures gas, not by mans steam. How
long it will thus flow, who knows?-not q
man OF the United States Petroleum Com
pany of New York, which own it, nor any
of the many thousands who have visited
and who will yet visit 1t, but only the Om-
niscient and Omnipotent Power who made
the oil, and who has so mysteriously con-
cealed it In the earth until mans need for
it was greatest.
The men about the well claimed for it q
steady fow of two hundred and twenty
five barrels per day. Experienced oil
men who visit it, assert that it flows
strong two hundred. But the well is re-
markable not only for her locality and
what she is now doing, but for what she
may yet do, when allowed full scope. 1t
must be remembered that the sucker rods
are still in the tubes, and that what finds
vent is only what can come through the
valves. The tanksge was not adequate to
hold all she might fow if every obstrue-
tion were removed. She may yet come up
to three hundred, five hundred. or even a
thousand barrels per day. Eight or nine
thousand dollars 8 dsy-minus 8 quar-
ter royalty-besides the sales Of
land and leases at enormous
figures, will afford the New York petro-
lenmites a snug little intereston their
modest investment. This well was sunk
through four distinct strata of sandstone
rock, instead of three, as customary in 9TH
er localities. The first sandstone was
reached st one hundred and fifteen feet
the second at three hundred and forty-fve
feet the third st four hundred and eighty
feet the fourth at six hundred feet, and
the oil itself at six hundred and fifteen feet.
The well was pumped for a day or two,
but tho vast amount of gas in the subter-
ranean csverns or assures which held the
oil, soon rendered useless the expense.
1