The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-01-11
Jetttn1s By the Wdystde.

PICKwIcK, Jan. &, 1s7s
EDITOR FRREMAy-To those who hs We vial, al
the counties comprising what known as the
and expectation OF that region was lumber.
the changes effected since the discovery of oil
productive gion the labor OF the tiiier or the
soil was but lily repaid. as Is evinced by the
character of the old farm houses still standing
while the few barns yet remaining bear not
the faintest resemblance to the structures in
this and the eastern parts of the State. or
course, In very great many Instances, the old
houses hsTe been replaced by and more
pretentious structures. but they seem TO have
an uncOmf ortabe look. as though the nng les
had not yet worn smooth, or as IL they mad not
heer built to lit the families occupying ,hep.
However. the houses in the "oiI towns" and
they were all alike as nearly as | could Judge
are not by any means intended for fixtures, but
are put up in the cheapest aud most expedi-
tious ma.ner possible. being merely plank
frames, with the inside walls papered and The
ceilings formed will breadths Of muslin tackled
together Here ard there. indeed, occasion
al buildinR puts on style on the strength of be
| ing plastered, hut such the EXCEPTIONS not
the rule Composed OF such IrifiammatIe ma
ieriaI. it is small wonder indeed that a contia-
| grafton sweeps everything before it, A fire
occurred in one of these 'shDgIe palaces RI =
| Gently, by which two children we're burned 10
death. although the mother of the little un for
tunat.s was absent from the house not more
| The country through the oil belt Is dotted
! with huge derrickss seventy Ave nr eighty feet
| In heigbth, scarcely a.stone's throw from each
other; nnd as each derrick represents about
1900. some idea Of the amount of capital in
hia s,r Tnat oe 3. nn,atnedt a. shen TOO, whenever
CLING humanity surges that way, and towns
rise In almost n highland in some instances as
Tie land not being Under cultivation, no
| fences are to be seen. aud roads cross and re-
| cross with The most charming disregard II each
! other; while ths steam pipes. by means o;
which two or three wells are pumped by the
| same engine, and the oil pipes, which discharge
! the oil from each well into n common reservoir.
run over the surface in every direction. The
crude oil is first umpcd into the tank connect
ed with the well. ana then gauged by an official
| who gives the owners certIncatefor The amount
Ia
/ ing pipes, carried into the common reservoir,
| whence il is distributed to the different refner-
| les st o,i CIty ana down the Valley road, as fa'
One peculiarIty OF the men who most do con
Rregatc here. is that they talk nothing hut oil
| in some one OF its various phases. Passing
along the streets, you hear nothing but first
some other of :he phrases which t. US are un,
! intciiGible, but perfectly understood by those
who live. move and have their being In oil
! Politics doesnt seem to trouble the eouls OF th'
| men here in the least.
| The streets in some OF these towns are paved
| OF planked rather, but withHi the crossing o.
the streets a t any but the recognized crossing.
only few days ago, gaze iongingly at theothe
! side OF the street. then Mt the OF mud be
| tween. ana then at his nicely polished boots
and then he sighed. A little street Arab, wh,
evidently understood the situation, sud pitied
him, sung out 'Mithter, there crothing dowr
thore; you d better down" And he went
! The mud ,pds deep, but don't believe it was
thousand feet.
! The narrow gauge railroad connecting tn
| town of Clarion with the Allegheny Vale,
| Road was recently completed, and, on Mondey
the gath ult, was formally opened. Invited
guests, to the mum Der of several hundred. dinet
! at Clarion, and finished the day with a supper
and dance at EnleDtOn, the point OF junction
| with the Valley Road. The supper ut Em len
| ton was given al the large hotel at the depot
| and OF which " hiom Ehensburger, Mr.. jaime
| A. hlttclI, does the hOnOrS, and very gracefully
too. The road ie finished nicely. and il dou h
as sa fe as roads generally are, but il does Civ,
| one nervous feeling to watch n train CROSSING
| a deep raYine on trestie work that at q shOr
! distance looks about as substantial a spide
web. The scenery along the road ia highly pic
turesQue, and the effect is hightensd by gong
over it at night, when the burning gas from
| the oil wells castt an unearthiy glare over tn
| surroundings, In most places where this pa
! from the wells IL abundant, they utilize il b.
carrying II through pipes into their dwellings
where stoves are heated with it. 1t answer
the purpose admin ably, and besides that is per
fectly clean, which Is II great item in the estf
| nation OF those notable housewives who xii
| themselves keeping things clean"
| Contrary to the general reputation of town.
built by persons Rocking in the direction of tn
last STRIKE the towns in the oil region ar
law abiding and church going. Their churche
are generally tastefuliy built, and during tn,
holidays were beautifully decorated with ever
greens. The services on Sabbath are well At
tended. ana as there are no trains an
OF the roads in that region on that day. the EN-
ployes are given a chance to Rene Der the
Sabbath day and keep il holy"
| Wishing you q happy New Year, am
| Your friend, n