Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-03-20
Correspondence.
OIL Cry, Pa, March IL Is

| sA't -NoASh lCOfs
EDITOR DEMoCRAr:-Being out here in
this Pennsylvania grease spot, I've thought
a few lines regarding the state of affairs"
in the land Of OIL would not be uninterest-
ing to the readers Of the DEMOCRAT.
Oil City, the convergent point of four diff
ferent railroads, and the head of steam navi.
CATION on the Allegheny River, is the
head centre" Of the Pennsylvania oil fields.
II is situated at the mouth of Oil Greek,
and contains about 1000 inhabitants.
1t is in the Vale, of III, OlC.e that
the best oil territory is situated. Hundreds
OF wells have been put down along this
creek, few of which have failed to produce
oil in paying quantities, and rich strikes"
are being made every day. The average
yield Of wells is from 100 to 200 barrels per
day. The famous Coquett and Phillips wells,
the former on the Egber's and the latter
on the Tar farm on Oil Creek-whch at one
time flowed at the rate Of $500 barrels per
day, each are now pumping but $50 barrels
each. Many companies have suspended
operations owing to the low price at which
oil Is selling ut present. Crude OIL quoted
ut S9.OO two years ago, is now selling at
500. The oil market at present, is very
dull, but promises to grow more "busily'
during the present month. The Register
OF this city, speaking Of the New Yerk Pc
troleum Market says: THE exports of pc.
troleum from the port of New York last
week amounted to Gas, ,32S gallons. The to.
tai exports since the lst OF January, 1867,
are 4,OS3, ,0S6 gallons This shows a falling
off, compared with the exports of last year
Tor the same time, Of nearly one million
gallons.
1.-The receipts of oil in New York last
week wero $3.50 barrels. Since January
lst,. the total receipts are l46,7 755 barrels,
against l92,645 barrels for the same in 1866.
The increased business at the port of Phila-
delphla, however, mus. be taken into &C.
count IN estimating the actual condition of
the trade. The receipts Of oil and the
amount exported are greatly diminished,
but not in the ratio that the statement of
trade Of New York would indicate. This
reduction Of supply is the most hopeful in
dication Of the oil trade"
Oil City is not dead, as many begin to
think. There is still plenty of room for the
business man here yet The attention of
capitalists has been turned to the erection
OF reineries at this place, and Oil City
promises to become the great refining city
Of the country.
The citizens of Venango County are Pc
titiOn,ng the Legislature for the removal Of
the county seat from Franklin to Oil City.
They ask that an election be held, and the
matter decided by the people themselves,
which, it done, there is little doubt but that
the county seat will be removed to this city.
The Farmers Railroad, running from OIL
City to Petroleum Centre, and passing
through the best oil territory along the
creek, has done more to build up Oil City
than any other corporation in, or about the
place. The Superintendent, Mr.. X. G.
Taylor, is Il practical, forseeing man, and
evidently knows how to run road" The
Farmers is doing better business and has
brighter prospects than any other railroad
in the oil regions. | am indebted to Mr..
Thos. Dimock, track master of this road
for many favors rendered me during my
stay in Oil City.
a good story is told of poor farmer liv.
sd %ssds 9%sSsai ssddsy in S th' t oil sfS"' s f hs
on his property. lie hardly knew what to
do with his newly acquired wealth, as he
was unused to being ".botherod' with too
much hard cash. His only daughter who
had always attended the 'cpWm0n school,
in the neighborhood, was now brought
home, and a teacher was engaged to attend
at her residence as private tutor. For the |
old man said, now that he had tho stamps,
his. Sarah Jane should have a good "eddi- |
cation He no longer considered his taxes
too high, nor the old school system the hest,
but straight-way employed one of the best
teachers in the neighborhood.
Ono day tho old man thought he would
drop In to see how the gal was progressin'."
Upon inquiry, the tutor replied; "very well,
Mr: i. only that she lacks a capacity"
Before he had finished, the old man broke
IN with