Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-08-14
CLEARFIELD, Pa, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST IA, 1871

OF, which will have to be borne by th,
consumer Any common carrier which
refuses to carry the oil of this sector
on the ground that there is an INSULT
cency of cars should have its charter
annufled by the Legislature. The diff
ficulty is in getting the oil to the mark
ct. While outside rcfncrs offer an ad
vance of 3 cents per barrel above the
market price, there arc no Transports
ton facilities, the Standard Company
refusing TO carry the OIL
The producers have had some rclicl
afforded them by tho building of the
Equitable Pipe Line to Frsbee, from
whence it is transported on cars to its
destination.
An interesting feature OF the coun.
try, to traveller would be the pipe.
limo system of the oil regions. For
miles and miles, encircling the county,
tho ground is covered with pipes for
the transportation Of the oil. These
pipes are about six inches in circumfcr.
ence, and lead from the wells to pump.
ing stations, which are located about
every five miles. The pumps force the
oil to the next station, and afford o
cheap mode of transportation. These
pipes run through creeks, over ground
and underground, and are to be found
everywhere.
Bradford has three railway depots--
tho Erie the Oean, Bradford and
Warren (narrow-gauge), which IS built
only from Bradford to Olean, and the
Elevated, or Peg Leg Railroad. This
road runs from Bradford to Derrick
City, on a single rail, and is on the
same principle as the little road in the
ravine near the Horticultural Hall, dur
ing the Centennial. 1t is o wonderful
success. They have just put on a new
engine, built by the Baldwin Locomo.
tive Works of your city, and there is
talk Of extending the road further. 1t
was built as an experiment, but has
proved an immense success, making
trips every hour and carrying hundreds
Of passengers daily. The road is built
on trestle work, eight feet above the
ground, and the cars cannot be thrown
from the track. IL will certainly have
the advantage of the ether roads in the
winter season.
The Olean, Bradford and Warren
Railroad is another example Of finan-
cial success. 1t is Narrow gaguo,
about twenty miles long, and the rates
charged are about ten cents a mile.
Nearly every shade and description
of business is represented in Bradford,
from the great undertaking of the great
oil kings to the more humble employ
ments Of the heather Chinee. John has
domesticated himself here, and with
about forty of his countrymen, has the
monopoly Of "washee- washee."
During the past month a new road
has been finished from Tarport-the
Kendall and Eldred Railroad. This
makes another connection with the
Philadelphia and Erie, and shortens
the distance to Philadelphia about thir.
ty miles.
To speak of the scenery of this sec
ton, language fails to supply words TO
depict its beauties. Lying in q valley
between q cluster Of hills and noun
tains, with ITS beautiful ravines and
flats, 1t presents picture to the travel
or once seen never to be forgotten.
Game of all kind abounds here to say
nothing of some Of the best trout fish
ing in the State.
Toward night Bradford presents a
busy appearance the drillers and opc.
rators como struggling in from the sur.
rounding villages, and, although infes-
ted with rough characters, we are re-
markably free from disturbances. All
the hotels and lodging houses are full,
and now ones are constantly being
built. We have about 200 buildings
ofevery description in the town. There
are from 100 to l50 arrivals daily.
There is no let-up TO the furore that
has prevailed for the last two years
over this wonderful oil district. All
tho old operators pin faith to this field
as second to none other in the oil re-
gion. The population is mostly from
Now York State and lower districts.
Many are so sanguine as to see in the
near future the failure of other districts
which are gradually falling off in pro-
duction.
During the month of May there were
over 450 wells sunk in Mexican county,
while for the month Of june the mum.
Der had decreased to $50. The mum
Der OF this month will be about the
same. The average production Of the
Bradford oil district is variously esti-
mated at from $4,000 to 1900 barrels
daily.
There are about 1000 wells in tho
Northern oil field, which, taken at an
average cost of $4,000 per well, shows
the enormous sum of eight million dol.
lars invosted-to say nothing OF the
amounts invested IN tanks, pipelines
and other modes of transportation.
Still thore are thousands OF acres await.
ing development and herein is pre-
sented a chance TO the capitalist, large
or small, offered but once in great
while.
In another letter | will give your
readers an account of the other towns
and villages tributary TO Bradford, all
oil and showing evidences of
rapid growth.
Our population to a man are now
awaiting some mode by which the diff
ticulties Of this country may be settled.
They have lost faith in politicians, as
q rule. The oil men have the balance
Of power IN the next State election, and
as goes these districts so will 20 the
State. Although taking but little in
terest in politics, the peculiar position
Of this part Of our State has aroused
The producers, and with an organization
in every oil town, they will demand
The defeat Of the present rings which
control our State government and the
substitution of new men, free and un.
The political pot has not
yet commenced to boil, but the average
sentiment of the oil man is the dethrone.
ment from power Of the present party,