Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-11-05

Some OF the Eccentricities OF a
Rich Pennsylvanian.



country, or anywhere else for that
matter, is Ed T. Clapp, OF President,
Pa, seven miles above Oil City on the
Allegheny river. He is bachelor
about sixty years OF age. 1t is some
times said that he is the richest man
In the oil country, and this estimate OF
his wealth is based on the fact that he
owns 5000 acres OF land right on the
border Of the rich developed oil terri
tory. Wells drilled on one edge OF
his tract has proved absolutely that
some of his property is valuable pc
troleum lands, and the superstition is
that the great bulk of his 5000 acres
is equally good. II this be the case,
he is not only the richest man in the
oil regions, but he is a veritable
Monte Cristo. One of Clapp's Pc
culiarities is that he will not sell or
lease an acre of his lands. nor will he
operate it himself for oil. He has
been paying heavy taxes on it for
twenty years, and on some Of it per-
haps for longer time. The land
is wholly unproductive as it lays.
None OF it is good for agricult-
ural purposes. A large part Of it
Is timbered, but, as he never cuts
tree, he derives no income from this
source. Six thousand acres of this
land lies in Venango County, and in
as wild and unbroken a section of
country almost as there is in the
| State, and yet without there being
any possib use for them he has
| built fine roads and drives all through
his lands. Many OF these roads are
built through unforbidding sections
and consequently at great expense.
Road building has long been hobby
with Clapp. He has his own theory
engineer and never lays out a road
above certain very low grade, and
consequently the highest Of the mount
ainous sections of his lands are
reached by easy grades. Some Of
these roads wind around the hill for
miles until the summet is reached.
None of these fine roads go to any
place in particular Some OF them
end abruptly in the woods and have
remained in this uncompleted con-
dition for years, while he goes ahead
building roads in other parts of his
forest lands. All these roads start
from Clapp's private residence at the
river, building which in itself illus
trates the peculiarities of the builder.
Clapp builds his fine roads mostly
by employing men who come along
looking for work, and as his generos-
ity in this particular is widely known
he has great many applicants. 1t is
thought by some that he builds these
roads to give employment to idle men,
and for no other reason. Not wish
ing to give money direct and receive
no equivalent, thus inviting impo'
sition from unworthy persons, he sets
them to work quarrying stone anc
working on his roads. Be this as i
may. he has got many miles OF mag
nificent driveways through a large
scope of country that is almost mac
cessible. Nearly all of these road
cross wild streams, and great deal o
masonry is necessary tor bridge build
ING. The stone-work in one of thes'
bridges alone cost him 5000. Thu
stone was all quarried on his owl
land, and this simply represented The
actual labor, Along his roads a
intervals he has erected fine watering
troughs for horses. These ar
put up in the most approved man
ner. All are built high enough
: so the horses can drink without tn
t driver getting out Of the vehicle t
t let down the check-rein. Some Q
+ these troughs are carved out OF soil
4 rock. The first one of these that tn
5 traveller en- counters in ascending IN
e river hill from Clapp's residence ha
5 large sign erected some sixteen fee
5 above it, bearing. in large, black lei
5 ters, the appropriate legend; Horse
Y Delight"
1 Many of the watering troughs ar
5 Inscribed in some such manner. Clap
: believes in plenty OF cod water 10
?. both man and beast. and Will allow u
r Intoxicating liquor to be sold or dram
/. on any part of his big scope OF eout
5 try if he can help it, 1t Is often IN
e case that there is not horse passln
l. over these roads tor many days, an
t perhaps weeks, at a time to drln
l. out of these fine troughs, but thef
v they stand. ali the same, constants
b Tull and running over with pun
mountain spring water, ready Tor MI
ID living thing that thirs 9TH. An occ
,r sioual deer is still seen III that seeuo
+ and last winter a Pittsburgh hant
~ got shot at fine buck as he sto'
a drinking from one of these troughs
a One of the queer things which Ga
. has done, and for which his most
- innate friends can give no explain
;. ton. was the purchasing oil sto
. filed with merchandise. locking 1t
- lust as it stood. and never allowing
% 70 be opened again for business IN
- was eight or ten years ago, ana
II goods are still in the building, sor
HI ts2T