History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 161

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

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The credit of the discovery of natural gas in Findlay, appears to be largely due to one man -Dr. Charles Oesterlin. Gas was known to be in the ground from the first settlement of the County. In digging wells, cisterns, or sewers ; and in springs and rock crevices, inflammable gas had been found for 50 years. This gas was absorbed by the water of wells and springs, which thereby were rendered unpleasant or unfit for nse. Explosions frequently occurred in sewers and cellars from accidental ignition of accumulated gas; and its presence was looked upon as an evil to be endured, or a nuisance that could not easily be abated. In Prof. Winchell's report upon the geology of IIaneock County, in 1872, mention was made of the interesting fact, that Jacob Carr had, for a number of years, lighted his house on Main Street with gas col- lected from wells on his premises. Dr. Oester- lin had long been interested in this gas phe- nomenon, and had time and again endeavored to interest his fellow-townsmen in the matter, but without success, until the introduction of gas at Pittsburgh had caused that City's won- derful growth to become familiar to the news- paper-reading public. In the early summer of 1884 he succeeded in interesting a few of his fellow-citizens in his plans, when $4,000 was raised with which to drill for gas. A site was selected about a mile East of the Town, upon land owned by Dr. Oesterlin, where he had, for many years, noticed a strong odor in the midst of a little grove. Ten or twelve years before he had caused a small hole to be dug there, and had inserted in this an empty barrel, with a piece of tile-pipe in the top. 'The gas collected in the barrel, and when lighted at the end of the pipe burned freely and continuously for weeks.

In drilling the well, "pockets" of gas were encountered at 516, 618, 640, and 718 feet depth; but the main body, or reservoir, was not reached until the drill had sunk 1,096 feet, and then it was discovered in Trenton lime- stone, four feet below its upper surface. The gas came with force enough to run an engine when turned into it, instead of steam. When lighted from a stand-pipe, an immense flame shot up with a deafening roar and was visible 10 or 15 miles away. The flow of gas was not measured, but was estimated to be about 250,- 000 cubic feet daily, issuing from the stand-pipe under a pressure of 390 to 400 pounds to the square inch.

Another well was drilled early in 1885, and the history of the pioneer well was repeated in almost every particular. The gas was at once turned into the City mains. In drilling the third well, the gas-bearing rock was found a few feet lower, and the capacity was found by measurement to be 80,000 cubic feet per day. The fourth well was drilled 1,200 feet before Trenton rock was reached and was found to yield several times as much gas as the largest already drilled. For the first time Findlay had now secured a fairly vigorous flow of gas. An anemometer measurement taken at this tiene showed that 1,296,000 cubit feet was escaping each day. Very soon oil began. to appear with the gas, and in the course of a few months the well was producing four to five barrels of oil daily, while the flow of gas was reduced, and in two years it was valued more for its oil than for its gas.

By the first of April, 1886, there had been drilled 17 wells in and immediately around Findlay. Two of these were failures. All of the others were productive, 11 yielding dry gas, and four yielding gas and oil. Of the 1I wells vielding gas alone, one became the wonder of the country. The " Karg Well," which was completed January 20, 1886, gave a measured yield of over 12,000,000 cubic feet daily; and until the discovery of the "Simons Well," in the Bloomville field, it was the largest gas well in Ohio.

The composition of the Findlay gas, as de- termined by Prof. Howard, is as follows :

Marsh gas (fight earburetted hydrogen) 92.61

Olefiant gas 0,30

Hydrogen 2.18

Nitrogen 3.61

Oxygen 0,34

Carbonic acid 0.26

Carbonic oxide 0,50

Sulphuretted hydrogen

11.20

100.00

In 100 cubic feet there are 125 grains of sulphur. 1ts specific gravity is 57. Hence, 1 cubic foot weighs 318,98 grains.

As a fuel, it is estimated that

1,000 cubic ft. of gas is worth, coke being $2.50, 9.4 cts. 1.000 coal being $1.20. 3.9 cts.

One ton of coal is equal to 31.055 cubic feet of gas.

The rock- pressure in the first wells registered 400 to 450 pounds; but in later times this was reduced to about 375 pounds. All wells reach this mark when closed-the large wells in a short time, the " Karg" for example, in 1} minutes; the smaller wells requiring, perhaps, hours. The same line of facts obtain in other Ohio gas fields. The large and the small pro- ducers meet together on a common ground, so far as pressure is concerned.

From these successes in Findlay every am- bitious Town in Northwestern Ohio was inci- ted to send down the drill and see if this wonderful product was not lying under its

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

fields, only awaiting the advent of the drill that it might be made known. It so happened that Bowling Green, which quickly saw the value of Findlay's discovery, was successful in finding a moderate supply of gas; while Lima, Allen County, was next heard from in finding oil. The record of the drilling at Bowling Green shows an almost exact corre- spondence with the records of the Findlay wells. The first vigorous well was secured about one mile South of the Town -- one with capacity of 1,000,000 feet per day. Two miles farther South, at Portage, another good supply was found at about the same time.

A large addition was made to the gas field in May, 1886, by the discovery of gas at Bloomdale, Wood County, seven miles west of Fostoria, 10 miles Northeast of Findlay. Tren- ton rock was reached at a depth of 1,115 feet. The Bloomville field occupies the East side of Henry Township, a large part of Bloom Town- ship, Wood County, and the Southern portion of Perry Township. It begins at North Bal- timore and extends to the water-tanks, six miles West of Fostoria. In this section the largest well is the "Simons," which yielded 12,000,000 cubic feet of gas from the casing the day after the well was completed. The largest well in the Northern Ohio field is that in Van Buren, Haneock County, drilled by Conroy & Johnson, which, six weeks after the flow was struck, yielded 15,000,000 cubic feet of gas every 24 hours.

It was very soon a fact, that hardly a farm in Hancock and Wood Counties had not been explored by the drill. Here a gas well was building up a Town-there an oil well was paying a large daily revenue to its owners. A new class of men became known to the com- munity-men to lease or secure the right of drilling on the farms. They would agree to drill a well within a certain specified time, and give one-eighth of the product to the owner; or, if they failed in this, would pay a yearly rental for the privilege of having control of the farm. Wonderful wells were discovered, only to be eclipsed by others more wonderful. Land that had been considered dear at $50 per acre for farming purposes, sold at $500 per acre, and even at $1,000, because of the discovery in the neighborhood of oil or gas. The derrick of the drill was seen on every hand, and though immense sums of money were sunk in failures, the successes were frequent, and occasionally so exceedingly profitable, that at this date the work of drilling is going on with increased vigor.

The gas field may now fairly be said to be well defined; yet, there may be equally as great surprises in store in the future as were in the past. No wells of very large capacity have been yet discovered in Lucas County. Drill- ing at North Toledo, Java, Sylvania, Air Line Junction, in Toledo, Monclova, and White

Honse, have discovered only " dry holes." The Waterville field has produced wells with large capacity, but as yet not equal to the larger wells in Wood and Hancock Connties. The results in Ottawa, Sandusky and Williams Counties are similar to those in Lucas. Gas has occasionally been struck, but only in comparatively small quantities, and the wells are of but local importance.

The discoveries made in gas and oil in North- ern Ohio were of intense interest to the people of Toledo. Each new well discovered seemed to be bringing these treasures of nature closer to her borders, and to offer greater hopes that the drill would soon prove that gas was within her limits. If these hopes should be realized, it meant wonderful growth for the City. What was seen of the effects of natural gas in Pitts- burg, would be seen on even larger scale in Toledo. Her natural advantages were supe- rior to those of Pittsburg in every point. She had superior Railroad connections, and was a better center from which to ship ber wares, and was better situated for raw materials. Pittsburg's great advantage, heretofore, had been, first, her cheap coal, and then her natu- ral gas; but Toledo, with gas beneath her, might boldly enter the field and bid for manu- factures, against not only Pittsburg, but against the Union.

Steps taken toward testing gas deposits were very slow. Everybody wondered why someone did not put the drill in motion, but no one seemed ready to put his own money in the venture. The first to begin the test, was Hor- ace S. Walbridge, of the Maumee Rolling Mill Company, East Toledo. He proposed, as the matter was largely one in which the whole City was interested, the Common Council pay a part of the expense of the experimental work. If gas was discovered in paying quanti- ties, the money so advanced to be refunded to the City. This was agreed to, and in the fall of 1885 drilling was started near the Rolling Mill. At a depth of 660 feet, gas was struck in small quantities, and the well shot. The in- crease was so slight that drilling was continued to 1,490 feet, where small amounts of gas and oil were found, and the well was again shot with dynamite. The result was failure, and at 1,500 feet the drill found salt water. A second well was drilled in the vicinity with similar result. The drill found very hard limestone to the depth of 550 feet; then slate (hard and and soft) to 1,490 feet, the rock at that point being like flint. Matters rested here for some months, but many projects were suggested. It was felt that the failure in East Toledo simply proved that the locality chosen was an un- favorable one, and that the question was still open.

In the spring of 1886, a Company, consist- ing of C. A. King, D. R. Locke, J. F. Kumler, Henry Kahlo, M. J. Enright, P. H. Dowling,

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FUEL.

and others, organized under the name of the Citizens' Natural Gas Company, of Toledo, for the purpose of drilling for gas and piping the City. Contracts were made for drilling a well at Air Line Junction, that ap- pearing to be, from surface indications, a favorable point. The result of drilling was anxiously awaited, and the well was abandoned at a depth of about 1,600 feet.

After this experience there was disinclination for farther trials, and negotiations were opened by which the Company sold its charter, City ordinances and franchises to Col. Lemert, of Bucyrus, and Ex-Gov. Charles Foster. These gentlemen were successful in inducing the Standard Oil Company, of Cleveland, to become interested in the project with them, and the North western Natural Gas Company, of Toledo, was organized on the charter purchased from the Citizens' Natural Gas Company. Of this Company Charles Foster was elected President ; J. E. Wilkison, Secretary and Treasurer; H. S. Corwin, Superintendent; and John H. Doyle, Attorney.

In August, 1886, five Toledo citizens-James Blass, Wm. H. Maher, J. D. Cook, John Cum- mings, and Milton Taylor, organized the Toledo Natural Gas Company with a capital of $100,- 000, and secured the passage of a City ordi- nanee permitting them to drill for gas, to pipe the Streets, and to furnish gas to consumers. The Company elected Milton Taylor, Presi- dent; John Cummings, Vice President ; Wm. H. Maher, Secretary; and James Blass, Treas- urer. These gentlemen had no intention of drilling for gas within the limits of Toledo, but to pipe it from the Wood County gas fields.

After the discovery of oil in these fields, the oil men of Pennsylvania had hastened to Ohio and began leasing land and drilling for oil. When, instead of oif, the drill disclosed gas, the result was serious disappointment. They had no way of utilizing this product, and so large a share of their leases was proving gas- land, they began to search for an outlet for gas, by which they might realize something for their drilling and leases. Toledo was naturally the point to which they turned, when it was seen that no gas was found there. In this field, representing a syndicate of Pennsylvania Oil Refineries, were T. J. Vandegrift and F. H. Aiken, of Jamestown, New York. Communi- cation was opened with the Toledo Natural Gas Company in January, 1887, and a basis arrived at by which the syndicate they repre- sented would unite with the Toledo stockhold- ers and pipe gas from Bloom Township, Wood County, to Toledo. The Company reorganized, electing L. H. Smith, of New York City, Presi- dent; John Cummings, Vice President; W. F. Crane, Secretary and Treasurer ; J. A. Lam- bing, Superintendent; and James M. Brown, Attorney.

Two Companies were thus in the field. The Northwestern had also secured franchises from the Cities of Fostoria, Fremont and Tiffin, and began piping gas from the Bairdstown district -first to Fostoria, reaching there carly in the Winter of 1886-7. Fremont was the next objective point, gas being turned on there in the early Summer of 1887. Early in the year iron pipes were sent to Toledo and distributed along the streets, much to the delight of the citizens, who impatiently longed for natural gas. One morning in March this feeling of gratifica- tion was still further heightened by seeing four or five hundred men, with picks and shovels, begin to tear up Tenth Street, from Jefferson to Adams; and these followed by other gangs to lay pipes in the trenches. These were the advance guard of the Northwestern Company, and from that time onward through the Sum- mer, men were at work piping the Streets of the City. It was noticed that the Northwestern Company began its work at Monroe Street as its Southern limit, and from there went always North. When the Toledo Company began to distribute its pipe, it was seen that it made Monroe Street its Northern boundary, and from there piped Southward; so, it was claimed, that a division of territory of the City had been made, so that there would in reality be no com- petition in prices.

During the Summer both Companies em- ployed large gangs of men, probably 1,500 in all, at good wages, and the work of laying pipes progressed rapidly. The trenches were three to four feet deep, just enough to avoid action of heat and cold in contracting and expanding the wrought iron of which the pipes were made. The joints were made tight by iron thimbles ; and the whole work, under skilled overseers, was done rapidly.

While this was being done in the City, other gangs were laying the main pipes from the gas field to the City. The Toledo Company bad chosen its route by way of Perrysburg, crossing the Manmee River on the County bridge to Maumee, and thence direct to Toledo; its main line being 36 miles long. The Northwestern Company laid its main line direct from Bloom- dale, Wood County, to East Toledo. crossing under the Maumee River, and coming into the City at the foot of Oak Street ; this main line being 34 miles long.

Great was the joy of the people of Toledo, when, in August, 1887, the City being crowded with strangers in attendance on the Republican State Convention, a standpipe, 120 feet high, erected on the corner of St. Clair and Madison Streets, was lighted, and the brilliant sheet of fire from natural gas shot toward the heavens. It was an eventful night for Toledo, and men went home congratulating each other npon the glorious dawn of prosperity that natural gas assured them.

801

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

During all these months, there were many who believed that the question of gas being under Toledo had never been fully tested. They claimed that the well at Air Line Junction proved nothing-not even that gas was not there, for the drill was taken out be- fore salt water was reached. The Toledo Gas and Oil Development Company was organized to drill in the vicinity of Toledo until the ques- tion of gas was settled beyond doubt, and then work towards the known gas fields. Such Company was composed entirely of Toledo men ; shares were $20 each ; and work was begun in the Summer of 1887, by sinking a well at Manhattan. Small pockets of gas were dis- covered at various depths, and were the occasion of much hope to all concerned. A small amount of gas was found at a depth of' 500 feet; but the drill eventually went into salt water, and the well was a failure. Another was soon begun in the same section ; but again the drillers reached salt water and found no gas, except traces. It then seemed demonstrated that natural gas, in paying quantities, was not to be found under the City, and after April, 1888, further attempts in that direction had not been made.

Gas was turned in the pipes by the two Com- panies August 10, 1887. The main pipe of the Northwestern Company is 10 inches in diame- ter and 34 miles long. The average rock- pressure at the mouth of the wells is about 390 pounds to the square ineh. By frietion, &e., this is reduced to about 200 pounds at the City limits.

To produce proper combustion, the gas is largely mixed with air, and the appliance at the mouth of stove or furnace connection is so perforated that the gas takes in many times its bulk of air. This appliance is called a " Mixer," and the rate of charges is based upon the size of the Mixer in use. These prices are given in detail below, but for the purpose of comparison and explanation, it may be said, that the sav- ing in cost in an ordinary heating or cooking stove, over hard coal at $5.00 per ton, is esti- mated at 25 per cent. With furnaces the saving was much greater, ranging from 30 to 50 per cent .; while for public buildings and factories it was equally large. In addition to this saving on the cost of coal, factories did away with the large expense of handling fuel and einders, and with their firemen. The task of piping buildings was such that probably not over one-

fourth of the City used gas in the Winter of 1887-88. The Gas Companies brought gas free to the curb, beyond that the consumer paying for piping. This was an expense ranging from $20 upwards, and deterred many from the use of the new fuel.

Below is the schedule of prices under which gas was furnished; a discount of 10 per cent. being made on these rates, if paid monthly in advance :

The No. 5 Mixer is commonly used for domestic purpos .s.

Rates for heating hotels, stores, halls, etc., not in- cluded in the following schedule.

Annual contracts are payable in six monthly in- stallments, commencing with the date of connection, between November 1stand May 1st, and continuing to April 1st, and commencing again at November 1st, if necessary to complete six monthly installments. If connections under annual contracts are made after May Ist, but previous to November 1st, then such monthly payments shall begin November 1st and continue to April 1st.

Half rates on grates and open stoves where boilers or furnaces are used for heating.

The following rates will be charged for fuel gas :

FOR COOKING.

Nov. 1 to May 1. May 1 to Nov. 1.

No. 7 Mixer

$2 78

$1 66 .

No. 5

2 22

1 39

No. 3

1 67

FOR LARGE COOKING STOVE.

No. 9 Mixer

3 33

FOR HEATING.

No. 7 .- 1st Mixer, per month, $5 00 Per year $30 00

4 44

26 64

3 89

23 34

4th

3 33

19 98

5th

2 78

16 68

6th

:22

13 32

No. 5 .- 1st.

3 89

23 34

$ 33

19 98

2 78

16 68

4th

2 22

13 32

5th

1 66

9 96

6th

1 39

S 34

No. 3 .- 1st

1 66

FURNACES.

Per Month.

Per Year.

'A" Mixer, 21 inch fire pot.

$6 95

$41 70

"B"

8 66

51 96

9 44

56 64

"חיי

10 00

60 00

11 66

69 96

"F"

13 89

83 34

PART XIV.

ARCHITECTURE.

CHAPTER 1.

PUBLIC AND BUSINESS BUILDINGS .- RESIDENCES. - ARCHITECTS.

IT would be impracticable, in the very limited I space now available in this volume, to give anything like an extended - much less a full- statement of the progress of architectural de- velopment in Toledo. The most that is now practicable, is to refer briefly to a few of the earlier and more recent structures.

Elsewhere is given a view of the first Ware- house in Toledo (built in 1817), in connection with " No. Five Wabash Elevator." In like contrast are given the pioneer School-house, in which was held the first session of a Court in Lucas County, and the present Central and Manual Training School building.

In different parts of this volume, inciden- tally occurs more or less of record of early busi- ness and residence buildings. From a some- what detailed statement by Richard Mott of the advance reached when he came to Toledo in 1836, (prepared in 1872, for Knapp's History of the Maumee Valley), we make the following extracts :

My personal knowledge of the Maumee country dates from the 1st of March, 1836. I arrived there after a three days' ride by stage from Columbus. The Black Swamp was frozen hard and we had an easy ride through that then dreaded region. Willard V. Way, then, as now, a resident of Perrysburg, was the only other passenger in the stage, our three days' as- sociation making us pretty well acquainted, by the time he got out at Spatlord's, where we changed horses, and I came on alone to Toledo, reaching the " Toledo House " late in the afternoon.

The road from Maumee wound along through the woods, near the bank of the River, and not far from the present River Road. The forest extended to the South bank of Swan Creek-no improvement being on that side, nearer than George Knaggs' farm, after leaving Port Miami. At Swan Creek, a road had been eut, commencing where Henry Brand's Brewery now is (147 St. Clair), and descending along the site of the bank to about opposite Superior Street, where was a bridge-carried off by a freshet a few weeks later. For some years afterwards, the Creek was crossed by a seow ferry boat, large enough to carry a single team. This ferry was kept by Harrison Crane, father of Charles A. Crane, of East Toledo.

Adjoining the Toledo House, was the store of W. J. Daniels & Co., in which, at the time, Roswell Cheney, Jr., and Daniel McBain were clerks. Cheney remained in Toledo, and died in 1845.

Over the store, reached by outside stairs, was a large room occupied by Emery D. Potter (since Judge) as a Lawyer's office. This office was much resorted to by the Judge's friends, who wished to write or transaet business, all of whom were heartily wel- comed by him-pens, ink and paper, and a seat at his long table, thrown in. It was, in fact, the most at- tractive loating place in town. Occasionally, in the evenings, a Debating Society met there. Besides Judge Potter, Peter Palmer (now living in Lockport),

Daniel McBain, Calch F. Abbott, and Josiah G. Mur- fre, were prominent in this organization. Joshua R. Giddings, and Benjamin F. Wade, came in the Spring, and took part in some real estate purchases. Wade did not stay long, but Giddings remained a long time, and took an active part con amore in the Debating So- ciety. Later in the Spring, Edward Wade also came, and opened a Law office in company with Richard Cooke. The carly settlers will recollect Cooke as a Lawver of much promise, ent short by his untimely death, a few years later.

Nearly opposite W. 1. Daniels & Co., on part of the lot where Ketcham, Bond & Co. now are (36-38 Summit Street), was another frame store standing alone, over the door of which was the sign of A. Palmer & Co. This old building remained til: 1859. when it was pulled down to make room for the block belonging to V. H. Ketcham.

Daniels & Goettel ( Munson H. Daniels and Henry Goettel) were doing a large business in a wooden building, on the corner of Perry and Swan Streets. During the year, they put up two three-story brick stores, on the corner of Monroe and Summit Streets. and, in the Fall of 1836, moved into the corner one. These stores were burned October 16, 1860, and are replaced by the present Lenk's Block, erected in the Spring of 1861. A row of buildings stood on the Northwest side of St. Clair Street, built by Coleman 1. Keeler, Jr., where is now the American House (St. Clair, opposite Perry), but extending further South, and across the alley that runs between the new Police Station and Kelsey & King's Pork-house. The usually traveled road into the Port Lawrence end of the town was through this Alley, and under the wooden areh-way of Keeler's row. This Road continued nearly to the present site of the African Church, then more toward the North, passed over the rear of Austin Scott's property, corner of Monroe and Michigan Streets ; thence crossing Monroe Street, it passed over the ground where J. H. Whitaker's house is-then along in front of Judge Potter's resi- lence, and in the same direction over the rear of Calvin Barker's and Horace Holcomb's grounds, and just clearing the corner of Dr. White's house, on Madison Street, continued in a direct line to the present road in front of Judge Fitch's mansion.

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 161

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408