New-York tribune., 1882-02-20
THE ALLEGANY OIL FIELD.
SIX HUNDRED WELLS IN OPERATION.

ING-A VIEW OF THE OIL COUNTRY IN MID
WINTEI>
lRRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
BELMONT N. Y, Feb. 16.-AlIegany may be
classcd among the newer counties OF NewYork Hardy
two generations have passed away since its pioneer s
tiers with and fire cleared for themselves farms from
its timber lands These timber ancs-nObe pine forests
were the first Of wealth to the inhabitants Of
the county and many fortunes made OF begun by
epecuatOrs in them Landmarks Of the numbering days
may be in fields of charred stumps
and in Old saw-mills along the Gencsee River
and tho numerous creeks There are fourteen Of
these old mills Knights Creek, a stream flowing
through the present oil field After the larger growth OF
timber cleared of the hills, and the valleys were
cultivated, ANegany became a dairy comfy and has
ranked among the first in the State in production OF
cheese and butter.
1t has been known for many years that there were In
dcations Of oil in Allegany County small stream In
the part OF the county has always been known
as Oil Creek From time TO time "wildcat" or
test wells have been put down In various parts
Of the county, with. however, no satisfactory
results. One located by spritualist medium
and the oil produced was OF the gnosty quality
that might have been expected Oil men assert that oil
is always found In a shed, along the Leadwaters
OF streams-the Bradford field Is situated-and that
it is commonly found upon the western slopes oi the
Alleghanies. In the southwestern portion OF Alegany
County is watershed, formed by spur OF the Alleg-
hanies; Knights Creek and Brimmed Brook flow north
east to the Genesee River, and the Honeoye, Little
Genesee and Dodge's Creek, southwest to the ALeg-
hany River.
In the fall Of 1873 stock company, called the Alma
Company was formed. Stock sold rapidly at ten dol
lars share. and well put down near tho head
waters of the Honeoye in Alma Township. This well
proved TO contain gas and slight showing Of OIL 1t
believed by many to be upon the northern boundary
of the Bradford district, and well sunk further
south This was "duster," dry hole, and attention
was turned nOrthward. The drill was inserted near
Pkevle and a two-barrel well resulted. Territory TO
the northeast then tested and well producing only
gas and a slight showing of oil the result II then
apparent that the limit might have been
reached and In the spring of 1879 well put down
TO the northwest This WAS called tho Triangle well,
from It's relative position to the first and second wells
Eight hundred or people, men, women and children,
from the surrounding country and few oil operatives
from other fields present when it was shot 1t turned
be eigbtbarrel WELL and the excitement began
Temporary saloons and restaurants erected on the
grounds and for weeks there average OF five
hundred visitors per day. The drill inserted again
both the northeast and northwest but dry holes were
the only result. Triangle wells, Nos and 3 however,
were good the latter producing 800 barrels in the first
thirty days 1t plain to all that new oil field was
opening Operators and land spectators rushed in.
Land sold, leased and sub-leased. The oil, which
had till then to waste tanked. Companies and
individuals began drilling in every direction. Southwest
indicated to be the direction Of the belt and
wells sunk until the southern limit was defined
Test wells also discovered the northern limits and by
the spring of 1881 the belt decided 10 be almost due
east and west. In the meanwhile u test well was sunk
near Rchburg, village some six miles from what is
now defined the eastern boundary OF the field. This
well was finished April 27 1881 and flowed at first 100
barrels day. Spectators at once poured into tho WI
lage, and within weeks surrounding territory and
lands for three miles west all bought up second
WELL finished four weeks after the first, said to be
good for 300 barrels and people became Wild with ex
element. Land which worth from $l5 70 $50 for
farming purposes could not be bought for
$iOO acre. leased at the usual One-eghth royalty
The third WELL however, reported dry hole The
territory pronounced spotted" operators became
discouraged and OIL which had been the decline,
per barrel Later It discovered
that this was a good well The next well drilled also
proved good then ve dry holes were reported on the
northern boundary, but the future Of the field was
assured aud dly and rapidly increased in exteut
and production until II covers an area three mhes
wide and twelve miles long and is spreading in various
directions 1t Is almost certain TO develop further to
the west but what other directions it may take still
open TO conjecture II may reach southward to the
Bradford district, may lie north or east or the
whole territory already be pretty well defined and
covered 1t Is difcut obtain exact information, 80
rapidly wells begun and completed. but at present
nearly 600 producing wells reported with an esii
mated production of 1850 barrels por day. Two hun
dred wells drilling; rigs are constructing for 2l0
more and there bout 100 dryhocs producing
wells The average production per well has Tor some
time greatly exceeded hatOf the Bradford field, which
is generally acknowledged TO be rapidly failing. The
Allegany field has been developed with rapidiy |
incredible to those who have watched the growth
of an oil territory, and most published statements,
far have greatly uhderestimated its value and extent
The first well drilled IN Richburg tested ever |
twenty thousand acres and not only was the
adjacent territory bought up, but also all the land
lying between the Richburg and Alma districts. sin
gular feature in the development OF the Aesany field
was the combining OF operations for long time TO
what Is now believed to be the extreme outer edge the
east. not until many months after the first well
was drilled that others sunk to the west Now, al !
though there much good territory in the Alma district
Rchburg is the Of operations and thought TO be
nearer the Of the field The wells the bills
Rchburg average depth Of POO feet in the valley
900 II is only within year that, IN the eastern
and older portion OF the field, oil has been anked In con-
siderable quantities. An iron tank with 80 900 barrels
pacity was the first In the winter of s90'Sl
soe of tie principal operators discussed the advisable
refinery. This project was abandoned, ana in the spring
of ISsi the United Pipe Line Company laid pipes. and
and relieved the wells through receiving station o the
main line Wellsvie. pump station was erected mt
Pctrolia and another at Allentown places which had
sprung up with the marvellous rapdlty common to oil
auI mining torTit ories one year ago. Allentown which
merely crossroads called Head OF the
Plank" II then consisted Of Tiny meCuhg'
house tumbe-dOwn tavern, used in numbering times,
and half a dozen houses Now II has streets 100
buildings and population of at least GOO The tumble
down tavern rents for Sl,SOO n year Large oll-weu
supply stores, machine and tank shops, and planning
mills and numerous groceries and dry goods stores,
livery stables shops, offices and boarding houses, form
the business portion OF the place. Houses are heated,
and buildings and streets lighted with waste gas. Tele-
phone and Telegraph lines run TO Wesvile and Rich
burg. A narrow gauge railroad completed last NOvem-
ber connects with the Erie at Weusve, and conveys
cords of piping OF machinery and large quantities
OF other freight the oil field. This road has erected
tubi its
stations and has already paid l per cent dividend 10
stockholders, besides interest on its bonds.
In rapidy and extent OF growth Allentown, however.
il not TO be compared with RcEburg This latter place,
year since, of the most primitive farmer