The herald., 1894-07-26
THE OIL QUESTION VENTILATED,
Arguments Pro and Con Before
the City Council.
The Output Now $50 Barrels Per
Day.
rho Com plants About the Development
Of OIL In the Second Ward Are
Aired in the Csuncil-The
OIL Mons side.

Yesterday was Held DAY on the oil
we'll question in the council, and the
lobby and gallery were crowded with in
terested spectators from the oil district.
The council assembled in special SEES
sion at o'clock with President iced in
the chair, and everybody present WAS in
vited to step inside tho rail and turn
themselves loose In an oratorical way on
the merits and dement's of the oil de.
yelopment out on the hills in the Second
ward.
The first speaker was Judge Cheney
who paid
JUDGE cHENEY's PLEA.
Judge Cheney-I do not appear ~ paid
counsel but az . resident in the oil re.
gion. am here representing nearly all
the property owners on lockwood street,
between Lake Shore and Belmont ave-
nue., and We are, think, unanimous in
desiring that either the oil wells be
stopped-those 1 mean which are de-
stroying the usefulness of other property,
or that we have the same privilege that
our neighbors have of sinking wells on
our own lots. Either there is perman.
emit oil production there or there is not |;
If there Ia we want it. il there il not the
nuisance will soon stop Of it's own fall
ure.
We built our houses there to live.
but we can't live there in comfort or
safety, and We are willing to bear with
the annoyance and nuisance il we re-
ceive in compensation therefor the
privilege OF boring for ourselves.
can't sleep. l can't read, can't
study on account of the unnecessary
noise. Why should you draw an arti.
fetal line in the middle of the street
and say that ON one side man may do as
they please in boring for oil, while we
poor people ON the other aide must bear
the ruin of our property for residence
purposes and at the same time cannot
use it for what it is worth.
All we ask for is common Justice.
Nothing can warrant such annoyance
except that it is Q great benefit to the
fair play. We are willing our neighbors
should do what they are doing if we can
also. 1t is q simple matter to regulate
the manner of boring and pumping oil
wells, and if the council desires to do
anything, they should direct their at
tentlon to it.
John Burns-Thers has been good
deal Of hardship inflicted on the people
in that dis trict who own home worth
$1,000. 1t must be hardship for poor
man to have his property quadru pied in
value by q neighbor striking oil which
would increase the value of his property
thousands of dollars. do not believe
there should be any liner to bound the
oil district.
President Teed-would you open up
the whole city for oil development
WANTS NO RESTRICTION.
Mr.. Burns-Yes, cir. wherever oil can
be found. Eastern manufacturers have
been kept out by the high price Of fuel,
and with cheap oil we will bring hum
dreds OF manufacturers here. II the
oil isn't there they will quit sinking
wells. There are men in this city who
are using oil % fuel and yet oppose this
oil development.
Charles Perkins-At the present time
the oil district with three new wells
which struck oil is producing $50 bar
rels of oil every "a hours, valued at
$l5,0 900 per month. Lots have increased
from $1,000 to $4,000 in value. and lot
owners are dawing $2.75 per day to 500
per month. Tho cost of oil has been re.
duoed from $2.10 to $1.45. 1t will aoon
be 81 per barrel, and then we can talk
to outside manufacturers who won't
come here with coal at 50 per ton. This
oil has been examined by q leading
chemist, and he reports that it contains
80 per cent of lubricsting quality and it
seems almost crime to use such val
liable product for fuel. The oil dis
trict is 1000 feet wide and, + think IL
miles long. There ia no need for smoke,
as the smoke can be consumed. This
oil district has been godsend to many
people who were caught in the last days
of the boom. They have a chance to
get something out of their property.
The putting out Of 800 barrels OF new
oil every "a hours has stirred up the
opposition of outside oil people. If you
give MS 80 days We will be producing 500
barrels day, and will then build re-
finery, and will then have cheap fuel
and be able to produce refined lubri.
eating oil which today sells at IS so per
barrel In Philadelphia. Applause.
t. S. Casey-Ths smell of the oil from
the slush puddle is something awful,
and il any other property owner would
maintain the gamo nuisance tha health