The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-01-11
Jottfsl1s by the Wuysids.

PICKwICk. Jan. &, 1873.
EDITOR FREEMAN-To those who have visited
the counties comprising what IS known as the
"otI belt in years gone by, when the sole hone
and expectation OF that region wac lumber.
the changes effected since the discovery Of oil
seem like the work of magic, A barren, un-
productive RI gion. the labor of the ,iler of the
soil was but lily repaid as Is evinced by the
character of the old farm house. still sta;dfnQ
while the few barns get remaining besr not
the fafntest resemblance to the structures I'm
this snd the eastern parts OF the State. OF
course, in very great many Instances, the old
houses nave been replaced by and more
pretentious structures but they seem to have
an uncomforiahle look, rs though the angles
had not vet worn smooth. as in they mad nor
heer built to fit the families occupying .hem.
However. the houses in the "oil towns" and
t'iey were ali 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 manner possible, being merely plank
frames, with the inside walls papered aud the
ceilings formed with breadths OF muslin lacked
togefher. Here ard there, indeed an OCCASION
al building puts on style on the strength of be.
| ing piastered, but such are the exceptions. not
| the rule. composed OF such iuita III Tnabie ma
terial. 1T is small wonder indeed that "A conffa-
grafton sweeps everything before it. A fire
| Gently, 10y which two children ere burned to
death, although the mother OF the little unfor-
tunatcs was absent from the house not more
1 than five minutes.
The country through the OIL belt is dotted
with huge derricks, sevent y-fve q eighty feet
in heighth, scarcely a;etone's throw from each
ether; and as each derrick represents about
*4Wo. some idea Of the amount OF pital in
vested may be obtained. Then, too. whenever
big strike is made the food of eager. strug-
| CLING humanity surges that way, and towns
rise IN almost n highland in some instances as
! ranidly disappear.
| FENCES are TO be seen. and roads cross and re-
cross with the most charming disregard nf each
| which two or three wells are pum ped by the
| same engine. and the oil pipes, which discharge
RON over the surface in every direction. The
| crude oil is first pumped into the tank con meet
| who gives the owners cert tIicatefur the amo u nj
OF oil: 1t is then, by means OF these connect
! IN pipes carried into the common reservoir,
whence il Is distributed TO the different renner.
les at OIL City and down the Valley road, as fan
One pecuiisrity of the men who most do con
gregate here, is that they talk nothing but oil
along the streets, you hear nothing but "frst
second or third sand wild cat" "olI belt" o
inteiteibie, bat perfectly understood by thos.
who live, move and have their being in oil
men here in the least.
The streets in some OF these towns are paved
or p'anked rather, but withal the crossing o
the streets at any but the recognized crossing,
IS q matter OF uncertainty, I saw "A gentleman
eide of the street, then at the sea of mud be
tween, AMI then At his nicely polished boots
| evidently understood the SITUATION snd pitiec
him, sung out "Mithrer, there a crothng dow
| there; you d better down. And he went
The mud tods deep, but don't believe it was
thousand feet.
The narrow gauge railroad connecting tn
town Of Clarion with the Alleg heny Vale
| hoao was recently completed, and, on Monday
!
! xues's, to the mum Der OF several hundred dine
! at ttarion- and finished tho day with supper
, ana dance At Btntenton, the point OF junction
| with the Valley Road. The supper ut mlcn
| ton ws5 given at the large hotel at the depot
| and OF which Il whiIom Ebensburger, Mr.. jaime
a. hitteiI. does the honors, and very gracefuII
too. The road is finished nicely. and il no dout,
as safe Rs roads generally are, but IL does Civ
one a nervous feeling to watch train cross I'M
deep TaviDe on trestle work that at shor
! distance looks about substantial as a spide
web. The scenery along The road is highly pic
turesque, and the effect is heightened by going
over IL at night, when the burning gas fror
the oil wells casts an unearthly glare over tn
surroundings, In most places where this IA
| from the wells ts abundant, they utilize il b.
| carrying it through pipes into their dwellings
where stoves are heated with IL. 1t answer
the purpose admir ably and besides that is per
fectly Clean, which Is a great item in the est 1
! nation OF those notable housewives " 10 xii
| Themselves keeping things clean"
Contrary to the general reputation of town
built by persons fiockinv IN the direction of til
last strike" the towns in the oil region ar
! law abiding and church going. Their churche
are generally fastefully bnilt, and during tn
holiunys were beautifully decorated with ever
greens. The services on Sabbath are well nj
, tended. ana rs there trains run on an
oil the roads in that region on that day. the EN-
| pioyes are given a chance to Remember til,
Sa6oath day and keep ii holy"
| Wishing you happy New Year, I ara
Your friend, II