The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-11-02

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| Railroad.
Correspondence Of the Tribune.
CRY OF RENO, Venango Co., Pa, !
Oct. 10, 1865
1t is already known to most reader
that certain gentlemen of position and in
fuence living in this vicinity here invi
ted the business men, scholars and legis
lators, to make survey of the oil region
with view of placing before them som
plans for the improvement and develop
ment of the important field, to see fo
themselves the evidences of future pros
perity, and to consider the needs and re
quirements of this population and terri
tory at the hands of the Government ant
the public.
THE MONSTER EXCURSION.
1t is misfortune that the Oil Region;
have too long been regarded as theatel
for illegitimate and abnormal speculation
partaking more Of the character of lot
terry than permanent branch of mining
business. The time has come when il
must cease to be regarded as the pursuit
of adventurers and gambling swindlers
but be governed by the same laws as all
other industrial pursuits. The oil trade,
in fact, is one of the heaviest and most
permanent interests of the country. In
this conviction, and with view of pla-
cling the subject fairly before the country,
a committee, of which Mr.. Chas. Vernon
Culver is the principal, extended on invi-
tation to several hundred of the men most
interested in finance, trade and science,
to 60 over the ground with them. Ac,
cording to programme, about hundred
and fifty gentlemen from nearly every
large city in the Union, assembled at the
McHenry House, in Meadville, on Wed
nesday morning, whence they started by
special train, kindly furnished by the At
lantic and Great Western Railway for
Cory, forty miles distant.
At Cory we gain the first realizing
sense of the magnitude of this trade by
an inspection of the large oil refinery of
Mr. Samuel Downer, which has daily
refining capacity of 500 barrels. Last
year the amount paid for crude oil amoun-
ted to S1,20O,000. The proportion Of
refined oil varies from IS to 50 per cent
About 10 per cent. of naptha is proftably
distilled from the crude petroleum. The
tar, which, in Europe, is converted into
rare dye stuffs, is here burned in the
shape Of coke. One popularity of all
crude oils is developed here-the pres
ence of parafine crystals, which, upon
condensation aud congelation, become Wis
ible. Heavy or lubricating oil can be ex-
tTacted from oil in various proportions
After the heavy oil is pressed, after the
manner Of linseed, white cake of paraf.
fine remains, which resembles pure white
wax in color, consistency and tastes, and,
| am informed, is sold for the purposes,
even to the making of chewing gum
OIL CREEK AND ITS WRECKS.
From Cory the party took the railroad
down the famous Oil Greek Valley to Ii
tusvile, now city of some 5000 people,
and once the very gateway to the oil fields.
Beyond Titusvlle the train passes through
a succession of derricks in the bottom of
the gorge. Arrived at Shafer, horses
were provided for the entire party, and
although the weather was cold rainy and
bleak, the cavaliers mounted with buoy
ant spirits, albiet many of it's members
were bankers, politicians, merchants and
editors who had not bestridden a horse in
many years. The appearance of the cav
alcade as it filed down aud across the
stream was most ludicrous, as the horses
were of all degrees Of activity and inani
tion. The trip down to petroleum Centre
was accomplished without further acci-
dent than one of the party being thrown
from his steed, quite number being wet
through, aud all more or less chilled
At the Centre we observed an interposing
company have undertaken the work of
putting down an enormous shaft, IL by
20 feet, in order to ascertain what is be-
low. If not interrupted by too much gas
they may be able to discover the source
of the oil in about five years.
1t is rather a melancholy exhibit and
apt to ebate somewhat ones enthusiasm
for oil speculation to ride through miles
of abandoned and idle wells in the now
"dry territory" of Oil Creek, which was
once the scene of so much activity. Of
5000 wells that have been put down in
the creek, not more than $50 are yielding
anything at all, and of these the average
product, will not be over 20 barrels day.
The great flowing wells, which have ex-
cited such feverish speculations in their
day-the Noble, the Coquetted, the Phil
lip, the Jersey, McClintock, and others,
are now either dry altogether, or are be-
ing pumped for small quantities. The
wave of excitement has flown over the
Oil Greek, aud the adventures have a
bandoned it for the more lucrative field
elsewhere.
From Petroleum Centre we struck a.
cross the hills through Plumer to Pithoe.
This is at present the great point OF in-
terest, and certainly in several aspects it
is remarkable place. Already it is
city of 10000 people, with so large ho-