The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1870-06-18
Viewing the OIL Country Under DIFF
yiru!tiCs,
Correspondence of the Buffalo Courier.
.TrrusvtLLG, Pa, juno I'd. 1870.


..TirusvtLLG, PA, June I'd. 1870.
ErlroRs C6rRIER:-Tbinkipg that per
haps you won.d like TO hear from the on
Country. we will relate our experience on a
recent trip,to the ..red ho,' section. The
name of the place is not determined yet
1t is like yonng couples first born-they
can't find name good enough for it.
It is caled,by some "Ba'tle City on
accont of a piece of disputed territory nbont
which there was almost riot-at least
there was some threatening and swearing.
and eventually one man had his mouth
slapped. We understand the disputants
don't like this name, because it reminds
them so iorcibly OF the Aforesaid, almost
riot; and what they are 10 call it we could
not learn. However, We will designate it
as Rattle City. Well, we had beard II
great deal abcnt oil leases, big wells, iics,
money. &C.. and we thought We would visit
the place where go mnch conld be seen at
once. 1t is about five miles from Tidionte,
and two and q halt miles from the Allegh
eny RIVER, near the line between Forest and
Warren counties. We inquired, and found
we could get there by going either to Tidi-
Quite or White Oak "a small station on the
river), as there is line of stages running
from both PLACES. We concluded to 60 by
way of Tidionte. So we took the morning
train to that place; from there, we took a
stage (said stage consisting Of two bundles
of bones done up in horse hides. and mar.
ket wagon With abont as much spring to it
as log), and started for Battle City. AT
ter about two hours riding over the rongh-
est road we ever saw. three or four break
downs, and much preaching from the driver,
We arriYedsat the battle ground. We got
out Of the stage and began to look for oil -
After diligent search, we found we'll which
was pumping about two hundred and fifty
barrels per day. We could sec nothing
very grand or picturesque in that dark
stream of crude oil, until some bystander
remarked, ''tbat dsrned thing is a
good thing to have in family; it
flows dollar minit"-and we brgan to
think what dollar would buy; that it
would even pay for ride from Tidioute. -
1t began to look good, then better. and final
y we concluded it was the richest looking
thing We ever saw. After looking at the
well for some time (Which is on what ia
knoYp as the Battle farm, we went to look
at the town. This town has oil been built
within two or three weeks-tbat is, since
the big well was Strickland built with the
expectation OF more wells being struck. -
The town consists of about fifteen saloons,
one unfinished hotel, there are four hard
ware stores, five or six groceries, one bill
ilard hall, one barber shop and boot shops
under the same she'd six or eight boarding
houses, and thirty or forty derricks. can't
be very definite with the numbers. as there
might have been some boarding houses or
stores in the bushes that did not see. The
place is full of men looking for work. land
sharks looking for leases, and some (very
few, though) looking and drilling for oil.
AS We wanted to see how oil looked in the
dark we concluded to stay all night. We
went TO The keeper Of the unfinished hotel,
and told him our wants. He says. "All
right, supper is ready" We. went to sup
per, and, at proper honr, started to go to
bed, and asked the landlord to show us the
way. He sadly shook his head, and said,
he "was chockfull, bu. there was q pile of
shavings we could have" We, being very
tired, laid down on the shavings, and began
to shivey; apd, as we'll MS we can recolect,
We shivereaf ffhost of the time for two hours.
We then got mp and went to an engine
house, got on the soft side OF pine board
close to tho fnNfaS, and alternately dozed
and though out Told till morning. We then
took farewell look at Battle City, and
1}-started for tAe railroad station, with severe
ctld in our head and some more knowledge
Of oil towns. However, we have the satis-
faction of knowing that we are not the only
one who had NO bed that night.
| OH. OFF THE BRAIN,