The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-09-23
OILY FIGURES.

The Petroleum Trade of Pennsylvania
It's Enormous Extent-Some Interesting
Statistics.
A special report on this subject made
by Henry Wrigley to the Geological
Commission is paper of considerable
interest. 1t treats of petroleum histori-
cally, geographically, geologically and
in its economic relations The historical
portion alludes to the French reports of
oil used by the Seneca Indians In 1850,
and to the fact that the first valuable
discovery was made by E. i. Drake, IN
1859, on Oil creek, by boring. The re-
gion near franklin was opened IN 1868.
The production has exceeded the in
creasing 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-
sumner, refined, SIS to $50 per barrel,
while the cost of freight and refningis but
1926. India produces ], 600, 900 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 in
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 in
a belt west of the Allegheny mountains,
and is in four regions-tha Canadian. In
the Province of Ontario, that yield 2, 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-
ny, Shamburg, New London, Colorado,
Enterprise, Titusville, Petroleum Cen
ter. Pithole, Stony Farm. housewife,
Oil City. Franklin, East Sandy, Reno,
and the Lower Fields. Some sixty-fve
points bordering these have gas wells
and show oil indications. Only 391 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 at 81 cents per
gallon in 1859, to 1923, 3O3 barrels,
worth s12, 765 1854 at $1.17 per barrel in
1874, and has been 81, 797, 094 barrels,
amounting to 1896, 475, 120.35, at the
average of So. 48 per barrel. About 49,,
500,0 900 barrels have been exported, pay
ing 800, 600, 600 freight to tide water,
and $3.50, 000,0 600 in all. To january,
1869, $3.50 wells drilled yielded 25, 700,-
600 barrels, averaging $406 each. There
have been 4, 939 wells sunk since, that
produced 100000 barrels at 1921
each, and of 1O,5OO,000 drilled on or
near producing land, $3.50 wells ere
producing, with an average of ten bar
'rels each. The total cost Of land, drill
ing and pumping, has been 1923, $780,
600; the sales at the wells, 1926, 475, 100;
profit, $112, 1876, 100. In 1874 the
wells received $l2,765, 900, and the
drilling and pumping left So, 380,000
stock and $2, 285, 900 cash on hand.
With these facts the report describes
the methods of drilling and pumping
notices the fifteen pipe companies ex-
tending their pipes 1900 miles, as an
economic method of moving fluids J;
gives the refining capacity of the coun-
try at 1926 barrels daily-in Phila-
delphia, 2,051 says that safety to the
consumer is obtained at the cost of bril-
liancy, and after explaining the uses of
crude oil as a preventative, notices that
of the refined as an illumination 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 remuneratiye price the
expedient course being to make every
well pay by restricting production. -
P1s5ladeL9,7aiG North american.