Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-20
FIRST REFINED OIL.
Crude Petroleum Was Distilled in
Pittsburg During 1859.
M'DONALD'S STUBBORN FIGHT.
SiStersville Has a Ro0m and Land Com.
mands Good Bonuses.
WEST ELIZABETH GAS TERRITORY

The great majority of men now engaged
in the oil business can recollect when the
tallow candle was the illuminant of the
masses. They can also remember when
people, who could afford to burn lard oil,
dirty, disagreeable compound, were
considered pretty well to do. Crude
lamps that would not now be
tolerated in a cabin were in use in the
homes of the then elite, and in the larger
cities poor quality of manufactured gas
could be had at a price which placed it
among the luxuries of the earth
Not over 80 years has elapsed, but in that
time the petroleum producer has given to
mankind a cheap, clean light as superior
to what his forefathers ever dreamt of as
ried and transported where electricity can
not be generated and will therefore always
be valuable.
There are few who know when crude
oil was first refined. In 1859 several
barrels of petroleum, or Seneca oil
as it was them called, were
shipped to Pittsburg on a raft from Colonel
brakes well near Titusville. S. M. Kier,
of Pittsburg, who was then. engaged in re-
fning an illuminant from shale oil, re-
ceived the petroleum sent by Colonel
Drake. In a few weeks he had reduced
it to refined state, and re-shipped it up
the Allegheny river by boat to Titusville.
High Price for Refined Oil.
1t was then placed in the hands of r. d.
Fletcher, now resident of Titusville, who
sold the first gallon of oil refined from
petroleum, on December 30, 1859, to Jona-
than Watson, for S1.25
Not many months elapsed before it came
UFt1 = h Il
of Titusville, but on account of
the imperfect lamps then in vogue it took
years to introduce it to the country at large
The lamps were made of tin and burned
round wick, similar to those used in burn
ing the raw crude Glass lamps were finally
invented, and sold at 81 and 81 25 each.
Glass chimneys were 90 cents and wicks
cents each.
Since then refined oil has been shipped to
almost every port in the world and is used
by all nations, under all climes and by all
classes of people. The tallow candle has
been placed in the same category as the
snuff box, the spinning wheel, the old oaken
bucket, and the horse car. In q large
section of the United States natural
gas is now in general use. Pennsylvanians
were not the first to use natural gas as
might be enormously believed, for CEN
turies ago the willy Chinee noticed it escap- |
ing from crevices in the earth and soon |
made use of it. They stored it in silken |
tanks, and piped it long distances through |
bamboo poles, using it both as an illumi- |
nant and for heating purposes.
Production Still Keeping Up.
The most noticeable feature of the Nc |
Donald field Yesterday was the fact that it's !
production remained at 90, 900 barrels.
A number of the old wells were agitated |
and three new ones were placed on the list |
Of those making more than 20 barrels |
an hour. These were the Forest |
Oil Coppanys No, on the E.
we'll, and the others were Guffey,
Murphy & Galey's Nos. and on the Sam
Sturgeon farm, which were stirred up and
mad a combined output of % barrels an
hour. The Forests No. 3 on the E.
Wright had been put down as good for not
more than 800 barrels day, but deeper
lrilling yesterday brought it up to almost
3 barrels an hour.
Information was received in Pittsburg
asst evening that Knox & Co. s No. 1, ON
he John Scott farm, located about three
niles southwest of Mcdonald, was in the
op of the fifth sand and had made several
lows. At last accounts it was reported to
'e filled up 1900 feet. 1t is one farm
lortheast from the Pittsburg Oil Company's
'enture on the Reed property.
The Forest Oil Cornpany's No. 1 on the
4. Wright was drilled deeper yesterday and
S still doing over 100 barrels an hour.
heir No. on the John NJ. Glenn farm is
ot through the sand, and they are hopeful
f striking another pay. Agnes Kemp No.
, back of Oakdale, belonging to the Forest,
through the 1O0-foot sand.
Instead of being in the Gordon sand on
he McConaughly farm, southwest of Nc
,onald, Haymaker & Co. are fishing for a
sring of tools at 1000 feet.
Jumbo We'll apparently Dry.
Harris & Co. S well at the Jumbo mines,
mile west of Mcdonald, was reported last
vening to be in the Gordon sand u feet,
18th no showing of oil. 9
The Steubenville Oil Company's well on
lie Bow lot at Willow Grove is due to +
each the Gordon sand by Thursday.
Guffey & Queen got the shot off yesterday
their No. 1 on the 81. II. Wetmore farm |
nd Guffey, Jennings & Guffey's No. 1 on
lie Mrs. McMasters farm, has developed a ,
rong gas vein in the hundred foot sand
Guffey, Queen & Guffey have started to 4 !
rill at their No. 3 on the 81. II. Wetmore, |
I'd at Nos. 2 and 3 on the Samuel Wet
ore. They haye their first casing in their {
o. on the Nancy Bell, and their No. ! /