USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including > Part 33
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As a class these superintendents were gentlemanly, whole-souled men, whom it was a pleasure to meet, and many a pleasant time has the writer had with them. It was through no fault of theirs that failure was due, save in few cases, to accomplish the impossible tasks delegated to them. Men of varied attainments to whom the term cosmopolitan well applied, they rendered good service to the oil country by extending its development in a few years to a greater extent than would have otherwise been possible in a quarter of a century.
The stock companies kept up a steady boom in the oil country until the close of the war in 1865. During this time lands were sold for almost fab- ulous prices. In fact it proved to the oil country like the flow of the fabled Midas stream. Others have since reaped the rich fruits of the harvest thus sown.
The close of the civil war in the spring of 1865, and the consequent re- sumption of real values, caused the downfall of the oil stock companies, at least those that were founded on a speculative basis, and these were in the large majority. They came down "like a pile of bricks." Before the close of 1865 scores of deserted wells and engine houses only were left to mark the spot that shortly before had been the scene of busy operations. Then came the tax gatherer and sheriff to render the last rites to departed hopes. Engines and boilers, the original cost of which had been from fif- teen hundred to twenty-five hundred dollars were sold under the hammer for fifty dollars, and other machinery and tools for junk prices. Finally the lease or land vanished at the succeeding tax sales.
In the meantime a highly enterprising lot of thieves had been developed. To these gentry the removal of an engine and boiler, tubing, drill rope, tools, bull-wheel, sampson-post, and derrick was the work of a single night. A well authenticated story is related where a pumper on a working well who had occasion to visit a neighboring boiler house, almost in sight, and ab- sent but for a short time, rubbed his eyes in amazement on his return when
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
he found that his engine and boiler had vanished. Following the wagon trail to the nearest railroad point he found his property loaded snugly on a flat-car, duly ticketed, and ready for shipment. The collapse of the oil companies was followed by a season of business depression throughout the oil country that had its effect during the years that followed.
The mode of transportation of the oil in any quantity by the first petro- leum gatherers was doubtless by the canoe or dug-out, by means of which he skimmed along the surface of Oil creek and the Allegheny to the nearest trading point where he could dispose of it. Drake, who followed, found barrels necessary to store it in, and wagons to haul these to the nearest shipping points. This continued for the first years, until the production increased, and then flat-bottomed boats were used upon Oil creek and these were freighted with the oil, both in barrels and in bulk. As the necessity for facilities for more rapid shipment increased, in order to get the oil to Oil City so that it could be shipped to Pittsburgh, artificial freshets or rises of water in Oil creek were resorted to. These were called pond freshets.
It had long been the method adopted by lumbermen in order to get their logs to the main. boom or pond of their mills, and the manufactured lumber from thence to the main streams, to dam up at stated times all the tributary branches. These dams, and there was a succession of them, had a sluice-way to let the logs and lumber through. When a rise of water was desired this sluice-way was closed by a board gate called a "splash." When the dam thus formed was filled with water and logs, or lumber rafts, the splash-gate was cut loose and the logs and lumber were thus conducted until the main stream was reached, when they had the benefit of the addi- tional water to float them on their journey.
A similar plan, only on a larger scale and with more system, was requi- site. The early oil shippers systematized the pond freshet by the appoint- ment of a superintendent, and a minister of the gospel at that, Reverend A. L. Dubbs, who had full charge of all the arrangements. The shippers, by a pro rata assessment, paid for the use of the water. Certain dates were fixed for these freshets. The superintendent then arranged with the mill owners on the upper waters of Oil creek for the use of their water. Previous to the day of the pond freshet the boats were towed by horses to the shore opposite the tanks of the different wells. The water had in mean- time been brought by the process described to the main dam, which was located at a point opposite the present acid works, just below Titusville. At the time fixed on, the splash of the sluice-way was cut and the water flowed into the creek. The volume of this body of water was generally suf- ficient to make a rise of from two to three feet over the ripples or shallow places.
The boatmen stood by their lines, ready to cast loose their loaded boats, when the time to do so arrived; and here is where sound judgment was
.
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THE PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT.
required. The loaded boat would outspeed the running water. To cast loose too soon on the first rush would be to run the risk of grounding the boat on the first shallow place, where it would be battered to kindling wood by those coming after it. Such accidents often occurred, and not unfre- quently resulted in a general jam of boats in which the boatmen lost their trips and boats, and the shippers their oil. As the average rate of boat freights from the wells was seventy-five cents to one dollar per barrel, and the value of the boat from one hundred dollars to five hundred dollars, this was a serious loss.
An active pond freshet was a sight worth seeing. When the flood had reached the lowest shipping points on the creek, the boats commenced to cast loose upon the surging stream, directing their course by means of the broad sweeps or oars on the bow and stern of the boats. The noise of the rush of waters, the flash of oar blades, the babel of loud voices more in pro- fanity than blessing, the boats gliding swiftly along, those laden in bulk flashing back in rainbow hues the sun's rays, presented features that would set an artist wild with rapture.
Going swiftly on, if no untoward wreck of stranded craft or jam was met with, the short journey of about ten miles for the most distant points, past banks lined with derricks and spectators, by head-lands, islands, and sharp curved bends, it was only a journey of a few hours to the mouth of Oil creek. Making anchorage along the river front, the oil was transferred from the smaller creek boats to the larger ones used for river transport.
To the creek resident pond freshet days were a boon. In his best clothes, if he chose to take the chances of a wreck, or in working garb, if he did not, he jumped gaily on a passing boat and came down to Oil City to have a few hours of such recreation as the busy city then afforded, and his usual place of resort was the warehouses or steamboat landings, the old Petroleum house and other hotels.
Wrecks involving serious loss to both oil and boats were of not unfre- quent occurrence. Indeed, it was rare to have a pond freshet without loss. The amount of oil brought down on a pond freshet averaged generally from twenty to thirty thousand barrels. When they could be had this was the cheapest mode as well as the most reliable of getting oil from the wells to Oil City. The cost of the water for a pond freshet was from three to five hundred dollars each.
The oil fleet of river and creek boats in the best days of this trade, as near as can be estimated, was fully two thousand, comprising all the known varieties of river craft, from the large metal or compartment boat with a freight capacity of twelve to fifteen hundred barrels, to the diminutive "guiper " of fifty barrels capacity. The empty boats were towed back from Pittsburgh by the steam tow-boats or by horses.
To supplement this was the wagon train of the oil country. In the best
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
season this numbered from four to six thousand two-horse teams and wagons. No such transport service was ever seen outside of an army on a march. They were drawn from all portions of this and of the adjoining states. In the palmy days of Pithole General Avery, a cavalry commander of renown during the war, organized a regular army train and found it a source of profit.
In the days mentioned the traveler in the oil country was seldom out of sight of these seemingly endless trains of wagons bearing to the nearest shipping points their greasy freight. Five to seven barrels constituted a load, and in view of the general condition of the roads this taxed the strength of the best team. The rate of wagon freights ranged from one dollar and fifty cents to four dollars per barrel, or even more, according to distance. From this it can be seen how slow and unreliable a mode of transportation it proved, and how utterly inadequate to meet the require- ments. When a wagon broke down the teamster dumped the oil on the roadside and there it generally remained to await his leisure. The removal of even a thousand barrels of oil from the wells to the shipping points not unfrequently consumed so much time that the shipper in rapid fluctuations of the market failed to realize more than enough to pay the wagon freight.
The following tables of transportation rates per barrel for oil from Pit- hole to New York in the years 1865 and 1866, when the modes had been greatly improved, will give the reader some idea of the improvement that has followed. In December, 1865-
Transportation from Pithole to Miller Farm, per barrel. $1 00
Barreling, shipping, etc., at Miller Farm, per barrel 25
Freight to Corry via Oil Creek railroad. 80
Freight from Corry to New York. 3 50
Total
$5 55
In January, 1866, the cost of getting a barrel of oil from Pithole to New York, was as follows:
Government tax $ 1 00
Barrels, each. 3 25
Teaming from Pithole to Titusville. 1 25
Freight from Titusville to New York. 3 65
Cooperage and platform expenses. 1 00
Leakage 25
Total. $10 40
In 1862 the first experiment of a new and which has since proved the best and cheapest mode for oil transportation was had. A two-inch iron pipe was laid over the hill from the Tarr farm to the Humboldt refinery on Cherry run, then just completed, a distance of three to four miles. A small rotary pump was used to force the oil through the pipe. The result was a success, though the best engineers and scientists had pronounced
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THE PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT.
the plan an impossibility on account of the friction to be overcome in such grades as would have to be adopted. The cost and difficulty of obtaining the iron pipe delayed the introduction of the new scheme of transportation for a time. Still later George Van Syckle laid a pipe line from Miller Farm, which connected with the Oil Creek railroad at Titus- ville. A line was then constructed to Pithole, via Shamburg, and still other lines from Pithole to Titusville via Pleasantville. Lines were also laid from Pithole to Oleopolis, along Pithole creek, at Franklin, and other points. Cast iron pipe was at first used in the larger lines. The rotary pumps used being of light forcing capacity, relay stations had to be placed at short intervals. The pipe made was unequal to a high pressure and the knowledge of making reliable joints had yet to be learned. But the new method was the best yet devised. It was not only cheaper, but the shipper was insured against loss, the pipe line taking the risk between the points of destination.
It was soon found that distance and grade could be overcome by the force of the pumps-it was only a question of power. At first oil was hauled from the well tanks to the stations, or "dumps," as they were called, of the pipe lines. In the course of time pipe connections were made with the tanks and then direct with the wells. The subsequent growth of the pipe line system, with its network of thousands of miles of pipe connecting with each of the producing wells in the various fields in different states, and the hundreds of miles of six and eight-inch pipe lines from the oil fields to the seaboard and to the great cities, with its perfect system of construction and its telephone and telegraph systems, taxing large factories to the utmost to meet the demand for the wrought iron pipe, which is now wholly used, is so familiar to the present reader as to need no comment. To show the perfection this branch of the oil business has reached it may be mentioned that only one pump is now used to force the oil through the eight-inch pipe laid from Lima, Ohio, to Chicago, a dis- tance of over two hundred miles. The capacity is ten thousand barrels per day, and it requires sixty-five thousand barrels of oil to fill the pipe for the entire distance. The pump used weighs one hundred tons, and was made at the National Transit shops at Oil City. The wrought iron pipe now in use is tested at the factory by pressure gauge to two thousand pounds to the square inch, and when in use is subjected to a pressure of eight hun- dred to twelve hundred pounds. The pipe stands this pressure, and the cases of its proving defective are more rare than one would conjecture. The average velocity at which the oil is forced through the pipe is about three miles an hour. The weakest points are at the joints where the pipe is coupled together. The limit of perfection has about been reached by the coupling now in use ..
Shortly after the advent of railroads into the oil country new methods of
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
transporting the oil were devised. The first method was to load the oil on box cars in barrels. A car used for this soon became unfitted for any other purpose. To remedy this at first a couple of forty-barrel wooden tanks were securely fastened on a flat car, and these were loaded by means of pipe racks on the side of the tracks direct from the pipes laid to tanks. Iron tanks were next substituted of the same capacity, and then boiler tanks, made of boiler iron, reaching the full length of the flat car constructed especially for the purpose, were the last and best improvement. The railroad and pipe lines superseded the boat and wagon modes of transportation, and the perfection of the pipe lines has later rendered the transportation of oil independent of railroads and all other known modes of transport.
In the earlier days of petroleum development the oil veins or crevice had a tendency to become clogged up with a substance resembling paraffine (which it was in fact), which materially interfered with the production. Concentrated lye and the most powerful alkalies failed to effectually cut or dissolve this stubborn grease. Then benzine was tried with good effect. This proved for a time a boon to the refiners, as there had been no special use for that article, and it was a drug on their hands. But their joy was of only brief duration. The benzine was sold to the producer for about one dollar per barrel. He administered it to his wells in liberal allopathic measure. Twenty to thirty barrels was an ordinary dose for a well. This became so frequently mixed with the oil pumped from the well that the refiner stumbled on the fact the benzine he sold to the producer for one dollar he was buying back and paying therefor the market rate for oil, from three to four dollars a barrel. The refiner being only human, reasonably objected to a deal so much to his disadvantage, and the mode and doctored oil became unpopular.
During this time parties had been experimenting with explosives that it was thought would more effectually accomplish the desired result. The principal of these was the then newly discovered substance known as nitro- glycerine.
In explosive force this substance, composed of proportionate parts of pure glycerine, nitric and sulphuric acids, is the most powerful known. It was theorized that if a sufficient amount of this could be placed at the bot- tom of the well and be there exploded, the clogged veins in the rock would be so loosened up by the fracture thus made, that the supply of oil would be materially increased. After a great amount of experimenting a trial was made and the result surpassed expectation. Several parties claim the dis- covery, but the first to bring the new explosive into general use was the late E. A. L. Roberts, of Titusville, Pennsylvania, who had his discovery duly patented. This gentleman organized a company known as the Roberts Torpedo Company, and commenced the manufacture of glycerine and tor- pedoes and established agencies and magazines all over the oil country.
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THE PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT.
For years this company had a complete monopoly and realized millions of dollars from it. Through his agents the wells were torpedoed, and the use of these became general in all the oil fields.
The mode of operation is simple as well as effective. A tin cylinder or shell as it is called, holding from ten to one hundred quarts of the explosive is filled, tightly fastened at the top and weighted at the bottom, is lowered into the well, which has been properly prepared by means of a stout wire attached to a reel to the proper depth, where by an ingenious contrivance it is fastened. Upon the top of the shell is fixed a cap of fulminate that con- nects with the glycerine. When all is ready the operator drops in the well an iron weight known as the "go-devil." This explodes the cap and gly- cerine when it strikes. The result is a dull sound of explosion followed by a column of oil, water, and spray that shoots up to the height of the derrick. After the water and oil have settled back the tubing and other machinery is replaced and if the well does not flow the work of pumping is resumed. In only rare cases have the wells thus treated failed to respond with an in- creased production, not infrequently in amount to more than pay the ex- pense in a day or even in a few hours.
So large were the profits of the nitro-glycerine business and so simple its manufacture that Roberts found as much difficulty in restraining others from infringing on his patent as "Uncle Sam" does to protect his revenue from the illicit distillers of "moonshine" whiskey. A class of reckless men, known as "moonlighters," manufactured the glycerine and torpedoed the wells at cheaper rates than those of the monopoly, and for a few years these operators transacted a profitable business. Their operations were made at night, hence their name. In his light buckboard, to which was attached a. pair of fleet horses, the " moonlighter" would visit a well over rough roads, his cans of nitro-glycerine fastened to his vehicle, to most inaccessible places, torpedo a well, and before daylight be safe from pursuit. It was a dangerous business, yet strange to say but few if any of those engaged in it met with any accident. To show the utter recklessness of this class the following is an illustration: At St. Petersburg the Roberts Company agent had a large cast iron safe made for the safe keeping of his nitro-glycerine. The "moonlighters" broke into this with sledge hammers and carried off the entire contents. This disregard of fatal consequences can be the more readily realized when it is known that the substance is exploded by a very slight concussion. The breaking up of the " moonlighting" system was only brought about after long and costly litigation.
This explosive substance is one of the most dangerous and subtle known. After being made it is stored in a cool place where it is congealed or frozen, and so kept until wanted for use. It is placed in cans after being thawed out, taken to the well, and there placed in the shells. Though every pre- caution has been used, yet the accidents, always fatal, from its premature
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
explosion, number a long roll of victims. The result of these accidental explosions was novel as well as sad. All that was visible was a large hole in the ground, and of the victims, whether men or horses, some fragments of clothing and flesh on the surrounding trees or bushes. As to the exact causes leading to such explosions only conjecture could be formed, the witnesses being blown into minute fragments. The accidents generally happened when the unfortunate victims visited the magazines to get their supply of nitro-glycerine. The only notice given of the disaster was the sound of the explosion, often heard for miles, and creating havoc in the immediate lo- cality. And this was all that was ever really known of it.
One of the most noted in the many cases was that of " Doc." Haggerty, a teamster, near Pleasantville, in December, 1888. Haggerty was employed to haul nitro glycerine to the magazine. His wagon was loaded with one thousand four hundred pounds of glycerine when the explosion occurred. He was seen at the magazine, sitting on his wagon, about twenty minutes before the accident. The wagon and team were blown to atoms; of Hag- gerty not the slighest trace could be found. The unfortunate man held a five thousand dollar life policy. The insurance company refused payment on the ground that no remains of the alleged dead Haggerty could be pro- duced, taking the view that he is still alive, a consummation that no doubt would be pleasant to the deceased. But there is no doubt that Haggerty is very, very dead. The only plausible theory of annihilation in this case was that the heat generated by the explosion was sufficiently powerful to insure instantaneous combustion of the body.
The latest explosive, known as "Americanite," is claimed to be equally as powerful, and absolutely safe.
Natural petroleum gas, or as it is generally termed, natural gas, was found from the beginning in all the oil wells in more or less quantity or volume. It was the motive power that forced the oil to the surface in the flowing wells, and assisted the pumping ones. To the mind of the writer it is to the oil as the blood is to the human system, the life principle, and with- out it the oil, as blood in the body, would become an inert and useless sub- stance. Although in existence coeval with the oil, it was known for years before it became practically utilized. Its utilization in the past few years has revolutionized the fuel system of the local field, and it is now one of the commercial wonders of the age.
Natural gas came into general use as a fuel and illuminant in 1873. It was found at a considerable depth below the usual oil sands, though in a somewhat similar sandrock, in a pure state, unmixed with any appreciable amount of oil. Since the date mentioned it has come into general use as fuel for manufactories and for heating dwellings. The existence of vast fields of it throughout the Pennsylvania oil fields, in Ohio, Indiana, and other states has been satisfactorily determined. In Pittsburgh its most
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THE PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT.
extensive utilization has been made. In the immediate vicinity of that city it has been found in vast and seemingly inexhaustible supply. In February, 1888, it is stated that more than twenty-seven thousand three hundred miles of mains were used in piping natural gas. In Pittsburgh alone at that date five hundred miles supplied forty-two thousand six hundred and forty-five private houses, forty iron mills, thirty-seven glass houses, seventy-three foundries and machine shops, and four hundred and twenty-two industrial establishments. At present date it is safe to infer fully double the above estimate.
It can be piped long distances by the pressure direct from the wells. This is about three hundred pounds at the starting point, and this pressure is the only force that has yet been used. Wherever had, its use is greater, and it is of more value than the oil. As to its duration, who knows? The pressure diminishes in a well, and a new one has to be drilled, just as the petroleum supply has had to be kept up, yet after thirty years of constant development, and perforating the earth with over sixty thousand oil wells, the supply of oil is found to be enough for export to all parts of the world, for home consumption, and some millions of barrels of a surplus that is being steadily increased.
For heating houses natural gas is the greatest luxury ever bestowed on the race. It has all the advantages of a wood fire, is free from ashes or dirt, is safe, and can be started by the turning of a stop-cock and the appli- cation of a lighted match. In the manufacture of iron and glass it has been proven better than any other fuel, beside being cheaper. For illu- mination it is nature's lamp and burns without a wick. There will be no need to return to coal for fuel for years to come in such centers as have been developed. The vast oil deposits of Ohio and other states, the value of which for fuel has been so well established, in case of the failure of natural gas, are on hand to take its place and may prove to be even better. The capitalization of the gas stock companies of Pittsburgh at this time foots up fully thirty million dollars.
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