Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-03-17
ITEMS FROM OILDOM.
Franklin Pa. March IL,

strong signs OF olsSolutlon'
And right here we should like to
know, Mr. Editor, whether you are
the owner Of pair OF ''boxing Gloves"
and lf not, we most humbly beg you
to secure q pair, so as to be ready for
the grip of that "big, brawny hand"
Of Pete's, when he comes. Now, re-
member, that Ito be forewarned La to
b Gore r,nsd."
Sometime ago your correspondent
was sent to interview an old gentle
ma N living at Petroleum Centre, this
county. His name Is Adam Holiday,
and he thought he was the oldest living
member of the order of Odd Fellows in
the state OF Pa. in good standing at
the present time. He became mem
Der Of Lafayette Lodge, No. is. of
Philadelphia in 1887, and never has re-
ceivei q single dollar from the order,
from the fact that he has always been
healthy and did not need It.
He attends every lodge meeting and
has filed every office In It.
Not having time nor space to give
you but very little Of thu interview,
sutfice 1t to say, that 1t was published
In full in the Oil City Daily Derrick,
and caused considerable excitement, as
many papers copied the article, and
now 1t seems after due investigation,
that he is the Oldest Odd Fellow ia the
u. s.
Mr.. Holiday was formerly native
OF Blair county, and his grand father
laid out and drove the stakes for the
town of Holidayshurg, which was
named In honor Of the oil gentleman,
who was very wealthy, and owned all
the land for miles in every direction, 1t
having been presented to him by the
King or England for some noble act.
His successor and only son, John,
the father OF the one now living, in
herited the whole property 1t being
sntailsd undsr the old English law,
and he land out Johnstown, which was
30 called in honor OF his Lapt!snal
name.
IN fact, the re miniscences and rec
collections of this old gentleman could
not fall to bs very interesting 10 peo-
pie In that part OF tbs country-but
time is wanting.
It seems that there ara more wells
being put down this season than for
good while. At least such Is the ctse
here, for one may look In every direc-
tion, and as far Ss the eye can reach,
and the number OF ,Derrisks seems TO
increase with every hour almost.
To prove this assertion, We need
simply say, that this morning upon
looking out wa counted twenty new
ones which have been erected since
yesterday.
Aud work about oil-wells never
stops, only on Sundays, and often not
then. But most OF them here are
shut down from midnight on Satur-
day, till the same time on Sunday
night, when business begins again, to
90 IN without the least cessation for g.
mother week.
There are always two setts Of work
men employed. One sett 60 on tour or
to,Oer, as they call it, aE midnight, and
work until noon next day, when they
are relieved bY the other sett, who In
their turn remain until midnight a.
gain. And at any hour, one may go to
bed here, fall asleep, wake up, 60 to
sleep and waken again. to the same mo-
notonous screech, scresch, screech of
che wells. Indeed, 1t makes plenty of
Emusic In the air." bat to tell the
whole truth, the strains thereof are
not very meilihuous nor ravishlng, to
the ear Of any one who Is inclined to be
fastidiouS.
The different wells he re are all con-
nected, with wooden rods-so that go
wherever one may, this net work OF
rods exists. The Oil Is pumped into
the tanks first, and then rua into the
Pipe Lines. This Is done by turning
lancet, one of which is to be found
upon every tank. And just such snotE-
er network of pipes is to be found be-
meath our feet, some under the ground
and some unconcealed, 80 that the
grease can be run in all directions.
Some of the wells are pumped con-
stantly, and others at intervals the
latter kind will fill up to a certain
place In certain number Of hours,
aud IL not pumped out then, will not
fill up one bit farther, even If left a
week. Hence, il they are not pumped
on the Sabbath, the production OF one
day Is always lost, because they get no
more on Monday than IL they had
pumped it out the day before, and that
Is the reason why many do not shut
down their wells on Sunday.
Titusville now boasts oyer new Oh
Exchange, but Is nothing in compar-
ison with the one at Oil City, (which !!