Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-28
ANOTHER NEW OIL TOWN.
Lively Times at Ksus and Some Inter.
esting Facts About the Place.
FROM the PhiladeipAta 7Y1nss.


From the PAiLGdetDhia Times.
KANE, PA, Dec. 23.-Since oil was
struck near here. less than a month AGO,
it is remarkable what boom has been
given this little town of less than 600 in
habitants. The Craig s. Cappeau well, as
1t is called, is about four miles from the
town, in southwesterly direction, on the
! decliVity of the mountain. The we'll is
still closed to the public. but ''scouts''
are permitted to gauge the flow Of oil
every day. 1t is now averaging 96 bar
! rels per day and the owners claim
! that the drill only penetrated
the SAND a few feet. The we'll is
a little over 1900 feet deep and oil
! men believe that when it is sunk deeper
! there will be greater flow of oil. That
new oil field exists here is no longer
doubted and great results are expected
next spring. All the available territory
lying within the belt has been boU ght up
or leased by spectators and about thir-
teen rigs are now going up. One near
the we'll that is now flowing is more than
half way down. More rigs are being con-
tracted for every day and it is expected
that early next spring the whole face of
the new field will be covered with der
ricks.
James McDade, the owner of the 600.
acre tract, on which oil was discovered,
sold the same for $685. Thomas Crit
hths, the owner of the adjoining tract,
has realized about 100000 out of his
land. He divided il up into 60-acre tracts
and or some of them he realized as high
as $3.50 per acre. In his leases he reserves
one-eighth royalty.
The little town of Kane is about 1000
feet above the sea. and is on the highest
point touched by the Philadelphia and
Erie railroad in its passage over the Ale
gheny mountains. 1t was founded by
Gen. Thomas l.. Kane, a brother of DR..
Kane, of Arctic fame. For more than
twenty years, before his death, he resided
here, and looked after the great Kane es-
tate. When he came here the whole re-
gion was a primitive wilderness. He
built splendid cottage. which can be
seen from the car windows, standing in a
grove of massive hemlocks.
Since the development of an oil field
near by Kane has begun to improve and
at this season of the year new buildings
are gong up for stores, saloons and dwell
ings. For three weeks past the telegraph
office has been one of the busiest places
in the village. an average of 800 messages
being handled daily. Hundreds of strange
! faces are seen on the streets and about
the hotels. and there is a hustle and a
| rush like that seen in all oil towns
Kane is supplied with natural gas from
two wells sunk within the limits of the
| town. One of the wells is about $500 feet
| deep, and the flow of gas is strong. The
| company owning the wells supplies the
| inhabitants with gas for lighting and
heating purposes. All stoves are heated
! with gas at an expense OF 81 per month,
| and loo. month is charged tor a burner
| in house or store. No wood or coal is
| used.
The gas is conducted everywhere in
| pipes. A pipe runs into a stove. All you
have to do is to turn a cock and apply a
match and you have a blazing fire in
stantlv. For heating purposes it is better
than wood or coal, because there is no
dirt and no labor required.
Ridgway, the county seat of Elk county,
is now supplied with gas in the same way
| The streets of Kane are lighted at night
with great burners at intervals, which
make them almost as bright as day.
Surveyors are now laying out route
for narrow-gauge railroad to the new
| well. 1t will he five or SIX miles long,
and will use the tracks of the Pittsburg
and Western for three miles. 1t is badly
needed to transport timber and machin-
cry to the wells that have been commenc.
ed. A national bank company has been
organized, With capital stock OF $50, 900,
and will soon be ready for business. Ex-
| Lieutenant Gov. Stone, of Warren, is one
OF the principal stockholders. With all
| these enterprises on hand. lively winter
is expected, and the novel fact is present.
ed to the public of the highest town in the
state being the centre of new oil field.