The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-19

II mas Deen SAID country IS rlcn IN
proportion TO its mineral wealth: in
that respect, the United States sur.
passes all others, and Pennsylvania
any state in the union. The discovery
of petroleum for Illuminating purposes
has been of incalculable benefit to the
human race. for during the past thirty
years and more 1t has added at least
one-eighth to each and every day. of
the civilized inhabitants of the world.
The earliest history speaks of pet,o-
leum and its various uses, but it was
left for Samuel w. Kier. of Pittsburg,
in 1S49-50 to discover its value as an
illuminant; and from a small refinery of
forty gallons day it has grown to be
one of the most gigantic industries the
world has ever known, extending ever
across the great Sahara desert in Africa
to the remotest corners Of the earth. 1t
has made many multi-millionaires; bu.
be 1t said to the credit of the Standard
OIL company that it has never taken
undue advantage of its ability to in
crease the cost to the consumer; that
1t pays it's labor the highest wages. and
that there has never been a strike, to
my knowledge. among it's employees.
OIL IN CRUDE FORM.
AS taken from the earth petroleum
Is of dark brown color. which, by re-
tlected light, appears greenish. 1t is
about as thick as thin molasses, get
ting thicker in cold weather, but never
freezing. 1t is a hydro-carbon of
peculiar penetrating odor which differs
largely in the different fields. General.
ly its odor Is Of naptha, which 1t con-
tains, but that which comes from the
vicinity Of Lima, o., smells like mix
ture of burning sulphur or rotten eggs,
and is even found after a brief period
in the refined product. For long time
the oil from that region was successful
ly used as fuel: 1t contains a smaller
proportion OF lamp oil. but the demands
for the latter are in excess Of the
amount produced and its use for fuel
has been discontinued.
THE FIRST WELL.
The first we'll was drilled near Titus
Vile, Pa, in August, 1850, by Colonel
Drake, and oil and gas were found at
sixtynine feet from the surface, and
yielded what at that time was a phe-
nomenal quantity, 400 gallons per day,
though by deeper drilling since, single
we'll has thrown out over 1000 barrels
day, equal to 100000 gallons.
Pithole, Venango county, was the
center OF early active operations, and
the experience of people during these
days Of excitement would rival the tale
of Monte Cristo or the Arabian Nights.
In May, 1865, Pithole was laid out and
six months later it had 500 houses. so
Of which were hotels, three of which
cost in constructing over $4,000 apiece,
and its postoffice was the second in the
state. In one instance $4,000 was given
for the privilege Of drilling a well on a
single one-half acre of land; specula-
tion was rife, men carried as high as
$4,000 in their pockets and slept on
the floors of hotels, and many people
formed companies and sold lands they
never possessed to gullible buyers; and
the capital stock Of companies in that
year reached $600,000,000. Reaction fol-
lowed in 1S67-GS. and machinery that
cost $2.5O0 to $4,000 sold for $25 to $50;
but good business men made money and
saved it. One well alone earned for it's
owners over s30OO,0OO. But, alas, poor
Pithole! Now you would need trusty
guide to locate it.
THE PIPE LINES.
During recent years the surplus oil
has been stored in large tanks holding
$4,000 to $4,000 barrels, torn down and
built up as the fields changed and ten
years ago there was nearly 10000, 900