The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1901-05-04
OIL WELLS
A lit OF History from an old
Reprint.

One OF the most remarkable
trades, suddshly sprung up into
Importance in modern times, is
that in oil obtained from sub
terranean sources.
1t is now known that Oil-bearing
mineral beds exist III various parts
of America. as well as in the older
continent: but the richest deposit
hitherto discovered is in the Unit
ed States. in Nenango county, at
a spot in Pennsylvania not far
from the point Of junction Of that
state and New York state with
| Lake Erie. Oil had for many years
been seen floating on the surface
OF the water of a well near Titus
vile: it was taken mp by absorption
by means of lianneI, and applied
to medicinal purposes. DIR. Brewer,
in 1858, suggested that it might
possibly be used for lubricatins and
for illumination; and in the follow
inc year was formed the Pennsyl
vania Rock Oil Company. This
Company languished until 1898,
when Colonel Drake, manager OF
the Company. and Mr.. Bowditch,
resolved to sink a well purposely
for oil. They were amply reward
ed, for oil was pumped up at arate
varying from 400 to 1000 gallons
daily. The news being spread
abroad, Adventures quickly came
TO the district, which obtained Che
names of Oil Creek and Petrolia
and they experienced every degree
of fortune from utter failure tt
splendid success. BY 1860, it was
known that oil existed beneath
100 square miles of country, at {
depth varying from 20 to 5Oot
feet. In 1861, the first large
flowing well was struck-that is
"A well up which the oil rose 81
profusely as to flow over the sur
face, yielding 1000 barrels (of A
gallons ,each) per day. NO mimi!
enterprise had ever offered sucl
sudden fortunes. A well costing
few thousand dollars might yiel'
t from 100 to 1000 barrels of OF
fdaily with no expense for pump
+ ling. The Noble well yielded, i
little more than one year, 10000
barrels of oil. The Sherman flow
ed 49, 200 barrels in about tw
years
At first the.unccrtainty i'll thi
trade Was something extraordinary
On one occasion, a we | was bore
with the usual centerbit to a col
siderable depth without any oil b.
ing found. On withdrawing til
. bit, and putting in the rimer {
trimmer to widen the holes a vel
, was struck at the side. The y
: had just missed the vein, and I'll
well would have been a failure la
not the orifice been enlarged Til
incident gives meaning to phIas
much used in America-that
striking oil Another well W;
bored, flowing a large amount
oil; but by the time the owner hi
built tanks to collect it, the oil III
altogether disappeared. The dee
est well sunk in the district, mo
than 1000 feet, yielded no oil whs
ever; and altogether only 1j-p
cent. of the borings were success
full.
When the oil began to be Sc
II lage quantity to New York al
other towns, the cheapness of pri
led to its application as lampo
> and in many other ways the j
: creasing demand brought the pri
} up again to IA reasonable figure
Petrolla; and the price induced t
sinking of new wells. SIN
villages rose into large towns, wi
hanks, hotels, and wealthy Poop
A all, however, begrimed with G
Titusville, which had 243 inha
q tants in 1856, rose to nearly 80
at in 1870. Oil City has now becol
- a town Of a great Importance. Z
FIJI new Oil Exchange is a handsol
w. building, providing amply for
a ut | -