The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-11-22
PETROLEUM.
Excitement Reigned When Penn
sylvania Struck Oil,
Boom Cities Whose Sites Have
Again Become Farms.


standing this, the exports rank fourth
II the list for value, and are surpassed
only by cotton, breadstuffs and pro-
visions. For the year ending June 80,
1864, the total exports were $4,000.
300 gallons. Five years later they
had increased TO 100, ,O0O,O gallons,
in 1874 TO 300, 900, 900 gallons, and in
1891 to 700, 900, 900 gallons. A larger
percentage of the oil product of the
country is sent abroad than of any
other product except cotton. The re-
iuction in the price of petroleum is
quite as noteworthy as the increase in
production, quantity and expectation.
A gallon in bulk cost in 1861 not less
than fifty-eight cents, in 1892 not
more than three and half cents, or
hardly one-seventeenth of the old
price.
Pipe lines aggrcgating $4,000 miles
length have been laid, and 1000 tank
,ars have been built, which, if forming
l single train, would extend sixty-five
niles. Besides these cars and num-
Der of bulk sailing and other vessels,
ifty-nine bulk steamships are now
employed in transporting the oil to
foreign countries.
The value of the Pennsylvania oil
wells and land is estimated at more
than SS7,0O0,00O. Sixty-fve million
dollars more must be added to cover
the value of the plant employed in
producing crude petroleum. This
valuation does not include the pipe
lines, tank cars, the great fields of
tankage, the costly reiineries, docks
for expectation, nor the feet of bulk
vessels carrying the product to foreign
shores. The estimate of total capital
required for the production, manufac-
ture, and transportation of petroleum
and its products is not far from S3O9,-
200, 900.
Professor Bolles finds numerous in
cidents connected with the discovery
and development of the petroleum in
dustry, from the drilling of brakes
famous well in 1858 to the later gush-
ers. brakes success ushered in a
period of almost unparalleled excite
ment, surpassed only by the Califor-
nia gold fever. The president of the
company was notified by telegraph of
the discovery, and not forgetting his
pocket before spreading the intelli-
gence he quietly bought up most of
the stock. Western Pennsylvania in
the next few years was the scene of in
describable activity and speculation.
Numerous wells were sunk along Oil
creek, French creek, and the Ale
ghany river. Adventurers flocked
from all parts Of the country, and
what was once an unbroken forest was
soon transformed into camps and towns.
Many of the wells yielded nothing,
others lasted but short time, while
some produced enormous quantities of
oil. As the producing fields changed
the population shifted with the fields,
and the towns that had sprung up
from the wilderness as by the touch of
the magician's wand vanished almost
as quickly as they had come. Pithole
City, for example, in 1865 was the
largest post Office, except Philade.-
phia, in the state. 1t has now entirely
disappeared, and the site of the city
has become farm.
During the first two years after
Brakes success the search for oil was
restricted to the territory around
Titusville. The drills were then tried
On the Allegheny river, and its shores
yielded an abundant quantity. Until
this time all the oil had been raised
from the wells by pumps. A new sur.
prise was now in store for the pro-
ducers.
The first flowing we'll was struck in
February, 1861, and yielded 800 bar
rels a day. 1t flowed for fifteen
months. This surprise had not spent
itself wheA the Phillips well was struck,
shooting forth ten times as much oil
per day as the first we'll. This was
soon followed by the Funk we'll, which
matched the Phillips in productive
ness, yielding 5000 per day. The No
BILE well yielded as much, while the
Sheridan yielded 1900 barrels per day.
1t is stated, on good authority that the
Noble produced SO, 900, 900 worth of
4 A 4.