Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-20
Some of the Most Famous of Their
Times, With History of the De-
velopment of Petroleum.
THE WORLDS LIGHT FOR 80 YEARS
LaRd That at One Period Sold for So q
Square Foot, Not Before Worth
Paying Taxes Upon.
REcOLLEcTIUNs OF SOME OLD TINES.
Bow Gamblers Stocked Fractions and Gudgeoned
Crsdulous Public.


Western Pennsylvania, OF the rapidity OF
development in the petroleum business,
from the time 81 years ago, when it was
known as Seneca oil. The whole of the
story reads like a fairy tale, and interest
was awakened a few days since by an allu-
sion among operators to the great profits
from the Arbuckle and the Young wells,
each Of which has been worth in the neigh
horhood OF 100000 to It's owners. This led
10 a talk about great wells and the reporter
was referred to Mr.. Samuel Harper, of
Lockhart & Co., for particulars Of great
gushers, and the information furnished led
to other interesting particulars.
Active operations began in 1858, when
Colonel Drake, of New Haven, was employed
to sink an artesian well for Bissell & Eve
leth, who had leased the Titusville oil
springs in 1854 from Brewer, Watson s. Co.,
paying them s., 900 for 99-year lease.
TRADED FOR A COW.
A few years before the land had been
traded TO a man named Chase for COW. At
first Bissell & Eveleth had trenches dug
which filled with water and oil, and this
was pumped into watts. The well drilled by
Drake struck oil at depth of 691f feet. In
September it pumped 40 barrels a day,
which sold at 80 cents a gallon. 1t begun
to hurt the coal oil distilIeries which made
oil from shale and camel coal. Operations
spread down Oil creek, and in December,
1859, we'll was struck at the Buchanan
farm near Housewife, but it was a small
one. Mr.. Harper states that the first crude
oil delivered in Pittsburg was from the Al
biOn well on the Allegheny river, owned by
Phillips, Frew & Co. This we'll made so
barrels day. The oil sold at 80 cents
gallon with the provision that the barrels
be returned. The machinery, supplies and
men necessary to drill the well were shipped
in the old canal packet Crystal Palace.
AN INFANT INDUSTRY.
In 1860 the petroleum trade began to be
recognized as business worth something
more than curious mention, but its magni-
tude had not impressed itself, for the peo-
pie rated production of crude in gallons
and not in barrels. There were no oil ex-
changes to rouse public attention. Some
big wells made their appearance, but not
many. The Hamilton McClintock, two
ullSS dDONS VII Sllls Oh at OU
gallons minute, and was worth % cents a
gallon at the wells. The Economics began
to rake in shekeis at Tidioute and refineries
began to spring up in various places.
Crude sold in this city at go cents a
gallon. Royalty to land owners
now ranging from ope-eighth to one-fourth
delivered in pipe lines, then ranged from
one-fourth to tbree-lourths and the oil was
furnished to the land owner in iron-hooped |
barrels, which ranged in price from 81 so to |
50 % each. This arrangement bankrupted
some operators in 1862, when the price of
crude dropped TO 10 cents barrel and they
allowed many thousands OF barrels to flow
into Oil creek and down the Allegheny
river. As Senator Ingalls, might say, their
irrideseent dreams Of wealth were speedily
dissipated. In September three-quarters Of
the oil in barrels furnished by the operators
were paid for the lease of a lot 70 feet front
at Titusviiie-
THERE WERE GIANTS IN THOSE DAYS.
In 1861 the greatest wells ever struck were
brought in on Oil creek Gne in Butler
county, on the Marshall farm, some years
ago made larger flow at the outset but it |
did not hold out long. The breaking |
out of the rebellion and consequent |
panic prostrated petroleum business in |
the early part of the year, but a revival of |
as the prospect began to grow for increased |
uses Tor oil. In August there were 500 |
wells between Oil City and Titusville. In |
September the Phillips No. 2. oE the Tarr |
farm, was struck. Its first DAVIS production
was 1000 barrels The Empire was also
flowing 9, 500 barrels day. The oil was so
plenty that wells were plugged, when they
could be thus restrained, but many thou
sands of barrels were allowed to run into the
creek, and the Allegheny river was covered
with oil for many miles below Franklin.
The Woodford well on the Tarr farm was
struck in December aud made 5000 barrels
day. This we'll ruined the Phillips No. 2,
and in turn was ruined. The water
was not cased off In those days, and when
the tubing was drawn at the Phillips the
Wood ord began flowing b. S. The same
trouble developed at that time on the upper
end of the Blood farm. 1t is said the bor-
ing of the Woodford well was instigated BY
pure hoggery, with intent to ruin the Phil
lips No. 2. The attempt was successful, but
it didn't pay the owners of the Woodford.
The Coquette was also on one OF the old
time spouters of great renown. She was
owned by DR.. Egbert, who now does busi-
ness at No. sc Fourth avenue, this city.
A REMARKABLE YEAR.
The year 1862 was more memorable for
/
wells. The British Government laid a tariff
of a cent gallon on all petroleum imported
from the United States for the protection of
British coal oil distillers as it was pre-
dicted that the petroleum food would de-
stroy them as it had those of the United
States. The Britishers were more teuacj-
bus OF lie than their American brethren and
Ehale ell is still distilled in Scotland, or
was quite recently, at least. The market in
this country broke down this year, though
q gallon of refined cost in this city as much
hs barrel of crude does to-day. The cost
ct hauling was immense and pipe line
projects began to take shape. The team
Bters and their friends in the oil country |
were powerful party and they opposed the
pipe line proposition and some lines were
destroyed in places and there were riots.
Congress proposed to lay tax of cents a
gallon on crude, more than twice what it
sells for now, ana 10 cents a gallon on re-
hned aud meetings Of producers were held
70 protest. Titusville was then the center
Tor the producers. The cost of sending a ,
barrel Of oil to New York was 81 45 and ,
steamboats, charged 81 barrel for bringing /
t from Oil City to Pittsburg. Crude ranged
n price this year from 10 cents in January
o ~ 70 per barrel in December at wells. I
some people were ruined and others made !
colossal fortunes thereby, but the Standard 1
lsdnt been born and the surplus was only | !
Oo, 900 barrels in October. =
NOT A GREAT YEAR
There wasn't much of note in 1861 There q
Fere some large wells gotten. however The :
Y Yoodford, EKhert and Phillips wells ceased I
lowing in May. Crude at the wells was "a q
barrel in May. Secretary Chase recon- a