New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-16
ORIGIN OF THE PETROLEUM TRADE.

COVERY OF IHk LAMP.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The article of your correspondent at
Titusvie of July 5th, has just been brought to
tca He speaks Of seeing the original derrick Of Mr..
Drake still standing rtusville. The fact Is this
derrick taken Philadelphia Centennial EIhi-
biton in 1876 by Messrs Alsaouse ODonnel aud tae
enterprise failing pay, the derrick went 10 the rub
bish-heap The person who put up petroleum In bottles
for medicine Pittsburg. Samuel N. KIer, of
that bored two salt wells at Tarenown and OBJ
tned petroleum from boh-in all abou, six barrels per
week This ne commenced TO bottle about 1853, and
also burn In common oil and fund lamps In crude
state but failed succeed with the lamps Of
smke and odor. Later he put up small stiil and dls-
titled the OIL would not burn well He advertised an
offer Of 900 for lamp that would burn the OIL but IL
could not be obtained Several other salt wells at
Tarento produced petroleum 10 the amount sometimes
Of twenty barrels per day but mostly run TO waste.
In 1857 the writer succeeded in adapting 1t 70 the
proper lamp contracted for 5000 barrels year OF the
petroleum. and commenced the petroleum business
in November 1857 at No. 20 Water-st, calling the oil
Carbon Oil" Messrs Eveleth Bisse, spoken Of were
two lawyers this city Interested in tract OF land on
OIL Creek. After informing themselves OF the nature
and extent OF my petroleum business at my store, they
dispatched Mr.. Drake rarenown where be obtained
tools and expert we-bOrers and succeeded in boring
well on Oil Creek. the property spoken Of In August
1859. But before this Mr.. j. NJ Williams. OF Canada
In November, 1858 bought OF him me thousands OF
gallons OF crude petroleum at 43 cents per gal.
lon bringing 1t to New-York for my trade, and paying
United states duties $50, and freight SAL 70.
also brought crude oil from California IN 1888, and
imported largely from species OF petroleum. az
the records Of the New-YOrk Custom House viii show
In the spring Of s5s, Mr.. Neyins Editor OF The f
burg Inles bored oil well at Greensburg, Penn, Dus
JAILED 10 strike Oil, aud IN the fan Of 1888 Messrs Bond
a Farbauk of Erie, Penn, bored tue nrst successIu
oil well in Canada. 20 tnat Mr.. brakes well was the
tnrd in ord boring for petroleum. but was the nrst
successful well bored the United states oil Held, and
for this he rec the State Of Pennsy vanis
pension Of - 900 per aunum Mr.. Williams has also re-
celved gold and medals and has held lucrative
Life positio the Government OF Canada Tor many
years BRAKES oil bought 70 toe amount OF loo
barrels % per gallon not 80 per Darfei, a.
SEATED correspondent He IL likewise IN error IN
stating It's only use nrst for boCtng as med
icine at ouce, 1857, directed my efforts to adapt
il lamps for Illuminating purposes III Wnlch attempt
met WIN and tue popular demand al once 50
far tae supply that advanced the price 10 ~
per gallon, supplies Oh creek soon broke tne
market, and sometimes ran to waste, as Lhere
Illuminating business In petroleum started by the
writer almost wO years before Drake made MS effort,
and others succeeded procuringt before his time
and foundation or the DuslDess had been orOsdy
Land by che writer who has abundant documents, orig
in contracts books Of account, correspondence et,
which can be examined by any curious To know the
exact origin and progress Of the now great petroleum
business. a - fSAnAs'
Nelc- York, July II, 1882