The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-22
THE GREAT OIL STRIKE,
The Dackwoods With Twenty-Five Hun
dred-Barrel Wells.

| ANAN ONE OF IllE BEST TITLES.
(From Staff Correspondent ofthe Press.)
Garfield, Warren County, June 16..-
The excitement here in reference tc
the recent discovery of oil in the
eastern part of the county is intense
People are reminded of the days of the
big wells of the past, the "Big Iniun, y
the "Neble," and other gushers
Though oil is no longer Sl4 per barrel,
as it was when the late Democratic
| candidate for State Treasurer struck
his oleaginous bonanza Il strike of q
number of well, on a territory extend.
ing two miles, which flow from 700 to
$500 barrels every twenty-four hours,
is a matter ofimportance of to the trade
of Pennsylvania and the world.
l came here to day tosee the gushers.
They are located in Cherry Grove
township, forest of hemlock hitherto
I almost uninhabited. 1t is the most
outlandish country that fortune ever
invited mortal man to gointo; but hun
dreds are flooking here daily, and the
land is selli!g at from 5000 to 81 900
per acre, with one-fourth of the oil
| production reserved. Some of the ter
ritory was owned by Sweeds, one of
whom, named larsen, got very good
price for his land. Most Of the property
has been sold again and again in past
years at treasurer's sales for taxes and
costs, and the title are in such condi-
tion as to give plenty of remunerative
work to the lawyers of this section for
some time to come.
PRESIDENT BUCHANAN'S DEED.
1t is II curious fact that one Of the
best titles comes through President
James Buchanan to some of the Slay-
maker family of Lancaster, the land
in question belong conveyed in con-
sideration of an election bet. The as
signment of the deed is written in the
plain and beautiful hand of Mr.. Buch-
anan in all the verbiage of young
lawyer Of 1918 One of the persons in
volved in the transaction was Judge
Rogers, of the Supreme Court, so it is
to be presumed that the law in refer
ence to betting on elections was not so
stringent previous to 1889 as it has
been since, under the statue of that
year. In any event two or three lots
of land were bet on the Presidential
election of 1916, and duly conveyed
and they are now no doubt within the
oil-belt Of the newly-discovered terri
tory.
The ride from Warren to this place,
which will be the town in the new
field is not II pleasant one. / took it
because | wanted to be able to come
and gOas pleased. After leaving War
ren you soon get into the new oil coun-
try. Clarendon, which will no doubt
will be town of Importance is clus-
ter of houses literally thrown together
By ovcrwOrGed carpenters. There was
rain last night, and in Main street
the mud was hub deep, aud it took the
most discriminating of drivers to
guide Il vehicle, safely through it and
10y the large rocks which remain in
that thoroughfare. From Clarendon to
the wells the distance is about eight
miles, over II narrow gauge plank road,
in fairly good condition.
THE NEW OIL COUNTRY.
Until the new country is reached
there is scarcely a house and no clear
ings. The first sign of the new field is
bar under II wagon cover, near the
end of the plank road. As we stopped
typical bacllwoodsman appeared and
asked if we would have our horses put
into the barn, pointing to spot in the
woods which had simply been cleared
Of the underbrusl. The animals were
put up' and the most serious part of
the journey was begun. TWAS three
fourths of II mile to the wells over
what is called road. 1t called up
memories of the mud of Northern Vir-
ginia, the bOttOmless quagmires of
South Carolina and the rocks OF North
ern Georgia during the war. All
along telegraph men, teamsters and
pipe line layers were busy getting
through the mud and over the rocks.
and after an hours hard work the
great Mystery well on lot GIG was
reached. 1t is located atnearly the bot
tom OF a valley in the midst Of sea of
grease. Up the hill to the northeast
is the Cadwallader No. l, a steady
flower, and thrce-fourths of a mile
away is the Murphy and the other
gushers.
The first-named well begun to gush
just as it was approached. l hurried
to the derrick to witness the process.
There was a sound as of escaping
steam, which grew louder and louder,
until it reminded one of the earsplit-
ting sound Of II locomotive with Il
valve open. This continued short
time, and then the well was quiet.
took the pains to notice tie time of
flow. 1t began at 1908 O'Clock and
gushed for four and one-half minutes,
again mt 1929 for four and one-half
minutes. The escape of gas was very
great, looking like Il light mist while
the well was flowing. This well was
struck some weeks ago, the first in
this region, but was plugged. The
force of the gas blew the plug out and