The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-21

Copyright 1897, the S. S. Mcclure Coz.
1t IS related of a discouraged pioneer
Resident of what afterward became IA
nous as the oil Creek oil regions of
Pennsylvania that his interest was suf-
nciently awakened by reports, which
reached him in some way, of possibly
rich deposits of coal oil across the Cana
dian border, to cause him TO leave Oil
Creek and repair to Canada. 1t is not
surprising that a resident of the then
undeVeloped Pennsylvania oil regions
should have been easily drawn else
where. The regions were a wilderness.
The chief arena of the subsequent oil
activities, the Oil Greek valley. from
Ttusville southwark to the Allegheny
river, or TO the present site of Oil City,
distance of about 20 miles. was pracu-
callv uninhabited Titusviile was little
numbering village, whose chief industrial
and commercial interests consisted OF
the saw mill and general store of Brewer.
Watson & Co. A river tavern, where the
Allegheny raftsmen stopped, marked the
site of OH City. Back from the creek
and river hills were scattered the log
cabins of the hardup but healthy pioneers:
whose hardships were the trying ones or
all settlers in wilderness regions, ana Tor
Wkom substantially the only means OF
raising their tax money was by periodical
trips for extra work to the lCmbering and
rafting regions
It is not a matter of wonder, therefore.
that the disheartened settler of whom the
Incident referred to is related was so
easily attracted to Canada. One of the
Objectionable features of the farm he left.
according to- the story. was the ooZlng OF
Il greenish scum to the surface oil the
streams. so much that at the point where
his horses and cattle drank II was neceS-
sary to construct a surface dam. in order
that the animals might drink without be-
ing compelled to dip through the noXiouS
deposit floating on the surface OF the
water. This floating substance was OF an
oily nature and long had been USED IN
the war paints. rites and medicines Of the
Indians of the regions. from whom ii de-
rived it's name-Seneca oil. No thought,
however. of the immensely of the supply
or of the multiplied uses to which 1t
might he put was entertained by any
one. The oily wealth the restless settler
sought in Canada failed to materiallze
at that time Meanwhile. in the form of
The despised scum oozing from the old
oil creek farm ne had deserted, it was
making the effort nature afforded to force
upon the world more fitting recognition
OF the volume and value of 1t stored in
the hidden natural reservoirs from which
it came.
FAILURE OF FIRST EFFORTS.
This oil found its way to the surface at
various points along the creek flats.
notably in the vicinity OF the lumber
mill of Brewer. Watson & Co, perhaps
mile south of Titusville. Eventually
high value was put upon ii for medicinal
purposes, and the gathering OF 1t-prlncl-
pally by the process of soaking 1t from
the water with blankets-became quite
profitable business. 1t also had limited
use as lubricant. and a more limited
use as an illuminant in its crude state.
In 1852 DR.. F. B. Brewer, son of Ebenezer
Brewer of the firm mentioned, TOOK
bottle of the oil TO Professor o. p Hub
bard of Dartmouth college, at Whlch m
stitution DR.. Brewer had been stu
dent Professor Hubbards verdict was
that the product was valuable, but
would not be found in sufficient quantities
for commercial purposes. Some OF the OIL
was also left with Professor Dixie crosby
of the same college Like Professor Hun
bard he was impressed with the value
of the product and later sent his son. A
H Crosby to Titusville to make further
investigations In 1854 George H. Bissen
of the firm of BisSell & Evaleth of New
York lawyers and promoters OF STOCK
companies mining and otherwise, took
a health trip to New Hampshire, and
while there renewed an acquaintance with
Professor Crosby. The oil subject was
brought up by the latter. Bissell became
interested and the result was the forma-
Pennsylvania Rock Oil company. capt.
talized AT 100000 in shares of SO each.
and made up mainly of New York and
Titusville representation
The basis of operation was a piece OF
land secured from Brewer Watson x
Co. taking in the oil spring near the
mill This company was not success,
except perhaps in the stock-placing
Three years later. primarily through
the efforts of James NJ. Townsend,
New Haven Comm investor in the stock
of the original company, there was
REORGANIZATION in the name of the Sen
eca Oil company. The land of the Penn
ROYALTY to the new organization. The
latter sought to develop the property by
means of trenches and other crude
methods but was unsuccessful At this