Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-05-26
DR.. A. w. Crawford.

The Oil City Derrick of May 16, inst.
contains biographical sketch of some of
the early pioneers in. the oil industry of
Western Pennsylvania, Among them we
find an account of the part taken by Or.
Alexander Crawford, so well and favorably
known to the people of our county The
Doctor represented Butler County IN the
Legislature in the years of 1896, 1891 ana
1858. and although at present residing IN
Emlenton, Venango county. yet was al
ways recognized as one of our leading,
most respected and most enterprising eln
zens. He was appointed by Pre- ident
Lincoln to represent our country as It's
consul at Antwerp, Belgium. This was
in 1861, shortly after the discovery of oil.
His efforts at Antwerp greatly aided IN
making that city one of the principal mar
kets of the old world for the export of our
oil. The balance is narrated by the Der
rick as follows:
"At the time DIR. Crawford arrived in
Europe, such thing as universal cheap
illuminant was unknown. Gas was used
| in the principal cities, but the people OF
Antwerp depended mainly upon rape seed
oil-and this for all general purposes was
| the light of the country. 1t was very ex-
| pensive article and only the very wealthy
could afford to use it. The poorer people
| all vent to bed in the dark 1t is difficult
| at this period of time to realize the state
| of affairs with respect to lighting iacllltles
| that prevailed a little over 80 years ago.
| In riding from Brussels to Antwerp the
entire country was wrapped in total dark
ness afLsr uignLfan. Not q light yes I" be
seen anywhere after leaving the towns, ana
| it was like passing through some unlnnao-
| tied section of the west after dark. But
| instead of no people, all about you was the
thickest populated portion OF the earths
| surface.
A few gallons of American refined had
appeared in Antwerp previous to DIR. CraW-
| ford's arrival, but it was regarded more as
| an object of curiosity than as presenting
any real solution to the illuminating
| problem. One of the leading firms, how
ever. soon began to make inquiries about
| this new American product and Or. CraW-
| ford was found to be the man VINO could
| give them Just the information they de-
sired. He was from the very part or the
country where the new lllumlnant was
| produced.
The upshot of the whole matter was
that DR.. Crawford put them in communi-
| cation with firm of American shippers,
which led to an order of 40 barrels by Aug.
| Schmitz q Son, Antwerp dealers. The
new article had tremendous prejudice to
| overcome and few co1ld be found willing
| to experiment with it. The exporters,
however, succeeded in finally disposing OF
their stock of 40 barrels of oil, and it yield
ed them net return of 40 francs. 1t rap
idly won its way, however, for from this
humble beginning of 40 barrels in 1861,
the following year witnessed demand Tor
| l, 800, 900 gallons. By 1868, thanks to the
efforts of DR.. Crawford, it had come large
ly into use, and S ince that time has be-
come staple article OF commerce.
DR.. Crawford served as consul at Ant
werp until 1866 when he returned home
and began q successful career as an oil pro-
Queer Two years ago he moved from mis-
old home at Kensington in Butler county,
across the river to Emlenton, where he
now resides. The doctor is modest gen.
tleman who regards the great work he was
instrume ntal in accomplishing as of very
ordinary account. He is only proud OF
| having done his duty as an American cltl-
zen, but the men engaged in the oil bust
ness are not unmindful or unappreciatlVe
of the fact, that he was in at a critical
point in the commercial development oi
the cheapest illuminant the world has
ever known. and that its successful intro
duction into Europe is largely due to bis
endeavors."