The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-28
The Petroleum Trade-Rapid In
crease or Production and Con.
anunnfian

The Petroleum Trade-Rapid In
crease OF Production and Con.
sumption.
From the Pittsburgh Gazette
The exports ofpetroleum in 1870 were
thirty-seven per cent. greater than those
of the previous year, and nearly all this
increase Of thirty-seven per cent, is &C.
counted for by the shipments from the
port of New York. The total exports
from the United States in 1870 were
al, 20S, l55 gallons, against 100000
gallons in 1860, and 99,2Sl 900 gallons
1868; showing an. increase OF nearly
100000 in two years. The first sale
noticed for export was in May, 1861,
when 10000 gallons were sent to
foreign markets.
Antwerp, which has since led all
other, ports in the importation of petro-
leum, took in that year 567l gallons,
increasing the amount in the following
year more than 100000 gallons. Great
Britain took $4,000 gallons in 1861,
and in 1862 increased her expectation
to 3,23S,000 gallons. The continued
growth of this trade for ten years
from 100000 gallons in 1861 to ILL.,
100000 in lS70-is a wonderful exbib-
it, not only on account Of the rapid de-
velopment of the oil interest, but also
because the yearly increase has been
steady. The daily average product OF
the Pennsylvania oil district in Decem-
Der, 1867, was lO,4O0 barrels of forty
three gallons each; in the same month
Of 1870 it was 1924 barrels, fact
which shows the inexhaustibility Of the
wells in that region.
In regard to the home consumption
it is estimated that it is equal to one
half the quantity exported, making in
round numbers, an aggregate consump-
ton of 2l1,000000 gallons annually
This enormous amount, reckoning the
price at an average OF twenty cents per
gallon, represents value of more than
$42, 100000 for a single year-certainly
a remarkable return for product I'M
known to commerce ten years ago.
Itnight be interesting to inquire how
much OF this vast export was shipped
by Pittsburgh, and what the prospect is
for our city retaining its position as a
leading manufacturer of refined petro-
leum.
OF the 100000 barrels consumed in
1870, our refiners furnished about one
fifth, or 100000 barrels. Their ca
pacity is about double this amount, and
for some reason or another they have
run but one-half of the time In 1868
Pittsburgh made nearly all Of the re-
fined oil shipped from or consumed in
the United States. Cleveland now man.
ufactures nearly double the quantity
we do, and so does New York, Philadel-
phia, Boston and Titusville supplying
the remainder Of the 100000 barrels.
We can see no good reason why Pitts
burgh should not increase its capacity,
as our railroad connection with the oil
regions is now complete, and abundant
~ able to transport all the raw material
required by us. In addition to this,
there is still a considerable quantity
comes by water, although this route is
being abandoned on account OF the risk
attending it.
Our proximity to the sections OF
country from which most Of the timber
for barrels is furnished, and the use OF
water communication for the same, are
much in our favor. Fuel, Of course, is
in constant and inexhaustible supply.
The old clamor Of a want Of competing
line to the seaboard is not now insisted
on, the completion of the Connellsville
railroad having supplied that deficiency.
We can, therefore, see no reason why
Pittsburgh should not hereafter furnish
more of this valuable article than in the
past years. Everything is in our favor
and we shall look for a much larger
business in 1871 and 1872 than ever be-
fore, thus placing Pittsburgh again at
the head Of the list as a manufacturer OF
refined petroleum.