The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-09-24
OILY FIGURES.
The Petroleum Trade of Pennsyivania-
Its Enormous Extent-some Interesting


The petroleum lf"u" VI ''""Sy''"
Its Enormous ENtent-some Interesting
statistics.
A special report on this subject made
by Henry Wrigley TO the Geological
Commission is a paper OF considerable
interest. IL treats of petroleum hston-
cally, geographically, geologically and
in it's economic relations. The historical
portion alludes 10 the French reports OF
oil used by the Seneca Indians III 100,
and to the fact that the first valuable
discovery was made by L. l.. Drake, IN
1859, ON Oil creek, by boring. The re-
gion near Franklin was opened III 1868.
The production has exceeded the IN
creasinQ consumption SO much that there
are 100000 barrels now ON hand IN
the oil country; and the supply has been
SO recklessly drawn upon that there is
some danger OF future want. The for
eign demand is three-quarters of all, and
the petroleum costs the foreign con-
sumer, refined. So to $50 per barrel,
while the cost of freight and refiningis but
1926. India produces 1,000,000 barrels
annually. selling for 40 cents per barrel
at the well, and the British government
has employed Mr.. b. S. Lyman, of this
country, to explore the field. American
skill AMI machinery are employed III
Russian petroleum operations adjoining
the Caspian sea; there are indications IN
Japan, China, and New Zealand; and
Austria is producing more abundantly
in Gallacia. South America produces
largely.
All the oil found in this country is III
belt west of the Allegheny mountains,
and is III four regions-the Canadian, in
the Province of Ontario, that yield $500
barrels daily those of Ohio and West
Virginia, giving 500 barrels (; tia OF
Kentucky and Tennessee promising
well. In Pennsylvania the oil region
proper contains Tidioute, West Hicko-
ry, ShaniburG. New London, Colorado,
Enterprise, Titusville, Petroleum Cen
ter, Pithole, Stony Farm, Housewife,
Oil City Franklin, East Sandy, Reno,
and the Lower Fields. Some sixty-five
points bordering these have gas wells
and show oil indications. Only 39l of
the 3, 115 square miles in this territory
have really produced. The production
of this State has increased from 5000
barrels, worth 81, 1854 Mt 81 cents per
gallon in 1859, to 10,919,3 barrels,
worth SO, 765, 054 at SLY per barrel in
1874, and has been 67,797, 094 barrels,
amounting to 1886, 475, 120.35, at the
average OF 49, As per barrel. About 49,
500, 900 barrels have been exported, pay
ing 500, 000,0 900 freight to tide water,
and $500, ZOO, 600 in all. To January,
1869, $3.50 wells drilled yielded %, 700, :
600 barrels, averaging 81. 06 each. There
A 900 ,,,ol1e, AIot
produced 42,000,000 barrels at -. 81
each, and of 10, 5000 drilled on or
near producing land, $3.50 wells are
producing, with an average of ten bar
rels each. The total cost of land, drill
ing and pumping, has been $123, $780,
600 the sales at the wells, 1926. 475, 100;
profit, SIP, 195.1 100. In 1874 the
wells received So, 10000, and the
drilling and pumping left $2,3S0,000
stock and 81, 2S5, 600 cash on hand.
With these facts the report describes
the methods of drilling and pumping !;
notices the fifteen pipe companies ex-
tending their pipes 1000 miles, as an
economic method of moving fluids /;
gives the refining capacity of the coun-
try at AS, 236 barrels daily-in Phila-
delphia, 2,051 says that safety to the
consumer is obtained mt the cost of bril-
liancy, and after explaining the uses of
crude oil as preservative, notices that
of the refined as an illuminator and of
the residum for fuel The condition of
the territory and its future prospect can
not be stated until the new survey there
is finished, and it remains to be seen
whether production can be brought up
to capacity at a remunerative price-the
expedient course being to make every
well pay by restricting production.
Phitadciphi0 North American.