USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 114
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During the decade of the forties the Catholic laity of Pittsburg assembled and issued a formal protest against the passage of the proposed bill to vest all church property in trustees instead of in the bishops, as had been done by the Catholic Church from time immemorial. In April, 1845, there was incorporated an Aid Society of the Pittsburg Annual Conference, for the support of disabled ministers, their widows and orphans. In June, 1846, the Alleghenian stated that "the burning of a theater in Canada, whereby nearly 100 persons suffered death, was intended by the Almighty as a warning to all persons to avoid the theater." The Journal thought the imputation that God was responsible for that holocaust
(f) Gazette, October 21,1840.
(g) Gazette, August 9, 1841.
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was too much to believe, and asked how about the bursting of the gas apparatus in a church here where several men were killed? Was the latter a warning for men not to go to church? The Alleghenian recommended the passage of a law declaring theaters a public nuisance and the performance of Shakespeare's "Othello" a criminal offense.
In February, 1846, a society calling themselves The Christian Union was organized, the object as stated being to glorify God by practical inculcation and observance of the Christian doctrine that we manifest our love of God by doing good to our fellow mortals in peace and brotherhood. The origin of this society was somewhat indefinite. At the time it was organized Messrs. Van Arminge and Stevenson were the principal speakers and advocates of the move- ment. No doubt the organization was one of the many reform movements in the domain of religion that were promulgated about this time. Rev. Hugh M. Kirkland became prominent here during the forties by preaching on the streets and by advocating many reforms and innovations in old religious practices. In 1846 he made it his special duty to expose the alleged fallacies of the sect calling themselves The Christian Union, and in his advertisement he said "of himself and in the course of his sermons he will incidentally refer to other abominable heresies which have also crept into the Christian Church in America. He added that this discourse would be delivered in front of the new Courthouse."
"While we have more than a hundred churches rearing their imposing fronts upon every thoroughfare of our city, while immense sums are lavished osten- tatiously upon mission schemes, and all that part of religion which is capable of parade is patronized to an unreasonable extent, not a hospital opens its doors to the homeless stranger who is sick and worn. The poor wretch who has been deprived of the light of reason is consigned to the prison, because in this pious city of Pittsburg there is no asylum to receive him. Is not this neglect too grossly inconsistent? For shame's sake, if no nobler motive will answer, let this reproach be wipcd away from the character of our city" (h).
The Swedenborgians, or, as they were otherwise known, the New Christian Church, were organized about this time. Rev. D. Powell was the Sweden- borgian minister in 1846. He held services in Rcv. Dr. Todd's seminary on Federal Street near the bridge, and continued to lecture each evening for a week on the doctrines of that denomination. Large crowds assembled to hear lıim. In December, 1849, strong efforts were made by representatives of the new school and the old school Presbyterian churches to unite them, but without success.
In 1849 Mr. Kirkland, who had been previously arrested for the same offense, was again apprehended for disturbing the peace and sentenced to a short term at "Mount Airy." During the forties he caused the city authorities great annoyance by the large and disorderly crowds which he collected on the streets, despite orders to the contrary, and to which he delivered violent dis- courses, criticising severely the existing forms of worship and employing language not fit to be heard. Joseph Barker was his associate in these prac- tices. In 1849 the question of whether it was better to rent pews or sit pro- miscuously in the churches was broached and discussed by the congregations. The Methodist Church in Allegheny had for some time adopted the method of promiscuous sitting, and great satisfaction had been expressed over the use , of this method. The Methodist Church to some extent adopted this plan, but most. of the other denominations, particularly the stronger churches, continued to adhere to the pew method.
In October, 1849, Rev. Mr. Reiss, otherwise known as the "bearded
(h) Commercial Journal, June 24, 1846. The number of churches was overestimated.
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prophet." a somewhat illiterate man though a fervid, eloquent and natural orator, adopted the course of Mr. Kirkland and preached often to large and noisy assemblages on the streets. He likewise encountered opposition from the city authorities.
In 1851 a great wave swept over the country, succeeding the wonderful performances of the Fox sisters of Rochester, New York, in securing spiritual rappings and other manifestations. The wave struck Pittsburg and soon spirit- ualistic societies were formed. Ere long mediums were developed here, seances were held and in other ways the new faith manifested its ways and works. It is difficult at this day to realize the excitement which these spirit manifestations caused. It was new then; had never been investigated, and the feats performed were so marvelous that they seemed supernatural and miracu- lous. Much excitement was caused here in 1851 when the mediums of the spirit- ualists announced that the spirit of Freeman Dunn, a condemned murderer who had suicided in jail, had communicated with them, had admitted being in hell and had described his awful sufferings.
In August, 1851, Mr. Kirkland was again arrested for violating the ordi- nance concerning street preaching, and after conviction was confined in jail in default of the $20 fine. He seems to have been an entertaining orator, for large crowds invariably gathered to hear him. Joseph Barker, who was mayor of Pittsburg in 1850, was an enthusiast on various reforms and likewise continued to violate the city ordinance prohibiting the assemblage of disorderly crowds on the Sabbath day. He defied the authorities and was even a participant in one or more riots, upon which charge he was finally convicted and sentenced to jail. The jury recommended him to the mercy of the court. While still in jail he was elected mayor of Pittsburg and was released by the sheriff before his pardon was received from the Governor. Newspapers throughout the country commented upon the extraordinary spectacle of electing a crazy man to the office of mayor of Pittsburg. As a matter of fact Mr. Barker was far re- inoved from insanity. He was an enthusiast and a reformer, and, in fact, a man of unusual ability. He anticipated many reforms which have been carried into effect in recent years. He was a moralist and did not spare any organization which seemed to stand in the way of social and moral reform
In the spring of 1853 a large meeting of all denominations of Christians was held in Allegheny to form a Sabbath-school Association. The city was divided into districts and every family was visited, and the names of all children were recorded, and the fact ascertained at which church they attended. A city missionary was chosen under whom these investigations were made. In five weeks 864 families of Allegheny were visited, of which 498 were Roman Catholics. It was ascertained that 157 families attended no Sabbath-schools.
In 1854 it was observed by the newspapers that there had not yet been organized here a Young Men's Christian Association similar to those existing in nearly all the other large cities of the country. Correspondents of the news- papers urged the importance of the establishment of such an association. Ac- cordingly in the spring of that year a large meeting was held in the Rev. Mr. Passavant's church and the association was duly organized with Mr. Bryan president and Mr. Totten recording secretary.
During the fifties the churches in this vicinity took strong action in opposi- tion to the encroachments of slavery. At the time of the passage of the Kansas- Nebraska Bill in 1854 the following ministers of all denominations met and protested against such proceeding by Congress: Francis Herron, D. Elliott, John S. Pressly, D. H. Riddle, H. W. Lee, D. L. Dempsey, W. M. Paxton, J. G. Brown, A. D. Campbell, James Rodgers, A. M. Bryan, W. F. Lauck, T. S. Travelli, W. D. Howard, Samuel Fulton, P. M. McGowan, R. Gracy, T. B.
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HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
Wilson, J. L. Reed, William Douthett, William Annan, James Robinson, C. Cooke, E. W. Dickinson, James R. Smith, I. N. Baird, Richard Lea, Louis I. Conrad, Joseph Banks, C. W. Quick, John Douglass, J. F. McLaren, E. P. Swift, H. Miller, S. Williams, M. W. Jacobus, N. West, Jr., A. W. Black, T. J. McIlhinny, J. C. Sinclair, J. Dallas, D. E. Nevin, J. M. Smith, J. R. Agnew, B. M. Weddell, Charles Avery, John Nevin, A. T. McGill, S. R. Taylor, D. R. Kerr, John Kerr, G. K. Ormond, D. Bacon, G. D. Archibald, James Allison, W. B. McIlvaine, Samuel Kerr, Joshua Hart and William McCombs. During those years, when the subject of dividing the Union was so often dis- cussed with great seriousness, it was common to hear in the churches of Pitts- burg eloquent and patriotic sermons for the preservation of the Union.
It was during the fifties that two important objects for which the Catholic Church contended may be said to have been settled. The Catholics urged their right to have Catholic church property placed under the legal control .of bishops of the church as had always previously been done instead of deeding the same to trustees for the benefit of the church, and the second was their right to the proportionate share of the common school fund to be used by them in main- taining their sectarian schools. They were defeated in both of these objects. In 1855 the Young Men's Bible Society celebrated its thirty-seventh anniversary. During 1854 one hundred and fifty live members were added to the society.
Early in 1854 the Bull of Pope Pius IX. concerning the immaculate con- ception was declared by the Protestant newspapers of Pittsburg to be blasphe- mous. The Catholics resented the proceedings of the Protestants, and for a time the old war was renewed. In January, 1855, the newspapers remarked that there were in Pittsburg, Allegheny and vicinity in round numbers about one hundred church organizations. When Pittsburg first began to be called the "City of Churches" is uncertain. It is not improbable that the term was first applied soon after the great growth from 1831 to 1833, inclusive. At any rate, this city was spoken of as "the City of Churches" until late in the fifties, when Baltimore succeeded to that title, and after the war Brooklyn succeeded Baltimore. In March, 1855, the eleventh annual report of the Allegheny Ladies' Tract Society revealed a prosperous condition of affairs. In November, 1855, the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church held their annual conference in Christ church on Penn Street, and the following Sunday all filled the pulpits of several of the local churches. On June 24, 1855, the Catholic cathedral was dedicated, the services being conducted by Archbishop Kenrick and the dedi- catory sermon being preached by Archbishop Hughes. The First Presbyterian church was dedicated April 30, 1855, by Rev. W. M. Paxton, pastor. Late in 1846 the Pittsburg Conference Tract Society was organized. Previous to June 1, 1855, agents of the society had visited 17,756 families and had found 7,710 without pastoral care. They had circulated tract pages to the number of 2,327,- 228; volumes to the number of 20,816 and pages circulated 8,527,128. In August, 1855, there were fifty-two churches in the city of Pittsburg, twenty-three in Allegheny and nine in Birmingham, South Pittsburg and Temperanceville as follows: German Reformed, 2; Disciples, 3; Independent Welsh, 1; Reformed Presbyterian, 6; Associate Presbyterian, 2: Zion of Evangelical Association, I; Bethel, 2; Catholic, 7; Episcopal, 7; New Jerusalem, 1; Methodist, 25; Presby- terian, 9; Associate Reformed Presbyterian, 5; Cumberland Presbyterian, 3; Universalist, 1; Baptist, 5; Lutheran, 4; total, 84. The number of additional congregations without church buildings proper increased the total number of congregations to about one hundred. In December, 1855, there were in this vicinity four churches and four Sabbath-schools for colored people. They owned two brick churches-one in Pittsburg and one in Allegheny. The col- ored population of the cities at that time was about 3,500. During the winter
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of 1857-8 the Young Men's Christian Association distributed 23,000 bushels of coal previous to February 18th, and other supplies in proportion. During the year 1857 there joined the association twenty-two associate and thirty-three active members, increasing the whole membership to about 300. At this time the society library consisted of about 260 volumes. The receipts for 1857 were $682.71, and the expenses $680.28. The society was greatly aided by the Young Ladies' Relief Association of the Seventh Ward. The Allegheny branch of the Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1857 with a membership of sixteen. At the close of the year the membership had increased to 215. At the fourth anniversary meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association in January, 1858, R. C. Totten was elected president.
In March, 1855, the fourteenth annual report of the Ladies' Tract Society of Allegheny showed that during the previous year there had been circulated 42,000 English and 16,200 German tracts. The report showed that seventy persons had been engaged in distributing the tracts in this vicinity. There were also circulated 17,500 English Messengers and 4,400 German Messengers. In 1858 Mrs. F. R. Brunot was president of the socicty, Miss M. Herron vice- president, Mrs. R. S. Hays secretary, and Mrs. Dr. Trevor treasurer.
In the spring of 1858 this vicinity was visited by one of the greatest revivals in the history of the city. In many instances business was suspended and rc- vival services held in the forenoons, afternoons and evenings. Nearly all the churches received great accessions to their membership. The churches were taxed to their utmost capacity to accommodate the crowds that assembled to receive the benefit of the outpouring of blessing. The Gazette of March II, 1857, said: "Thc Daily Prayer Meeting .- The movement in this community is un- precedented. The Central church was so densely crowded yesterday at noon- an hour taken out of the middle of the day-that very many could not obtain seats. The most fervent spirit of devotion pervaded the large congregation. All denominations of Christians unite as one to carry on the movement which the spirit of truth seems to have begun." In May, 1859, the nineteenth biennial con- vention of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church was held in Pittsburg, twenty-four synods being represented from every State in the Union. The Commercial Journal of May 20th, said: "This convention is one of the largest and most imposing religious bodies that has ever assembled in our city. It embraccs men of finc abilities and much learning as divines and we observe an unusual number of D. D.'s among them."
In 1859 the Allegheny Bible Socicty distributed 1,785 volumes and in 1860 they distributed 2,382 volumes. At the reading-rooms of the society forty-three newspapers and eighteen magazines were kept on file. In January, 1861, Hon. D. Ritchie was president of the society, and in January, 1861, they held their twenty-first anniversary meeting. In January, 1862, the forty-fourth anniversary meeting of the Young Men's Bible Society was held. In January, 1865, the Pittsburg and Allegheny Ladics' Prayer-book Society issued its twelfth annual report. At this time Mrs. T. M. Howe was president.
The growth of the principal church organizations in this vicinity since the war is as follows by semi-decades: Baptist-1865, 10; 1870, II; 1875, II; 1880, 12; 1885, 15; 1890, 19; 1895, 26. Episcopal-1865, 10; 1870, 10; 1875, 12; 1880, 14; 1885, 17; 1890, 19; 1895, 21. Lutheran-1865, 9; 1870, 10; 1875, II; 1880, 18; 1885, 16; 1890, 26: 1895, 36. Methodist Episcopal-1865, 27; 1870, 27; 1875, 28; 1880, 33; 1885, 31; 1890, 37; 1895, 47. Presbyterian-1865, 39; 1870, 36; 1875, 45; 1880, 51; 1885, 64; 1890, 63; 1895, 74. Rcformed Presbyterian- 1895, 6. German Reformed-1865, 1; 1870, 1; 1875, 1; 1880, I; 1885, 7; 1890, 3; 1895, 5. Methodist Protestant-1865, 6; 1870, 6; 1875, 10; 1880, 12; 1885, 10; 1890, 8; 1895, II. Jewish Synagogues-1895, 7. Reformed Lutherans-1875,
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HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
IO; 1880, 7; 1885, 7; 1890, 10; 1895, 10. Free Methodists-1895, 4. Congre- gationalists -- 1885, 3; 1890, 4; 1895, 4. Christian-1895, 9. African Metho- dists-1875, 6; 1880, 7; 1885, 6; 1890, 7; 1895, 7.
Pittsburg and Allegheny are now, as they ever have been in the past, well supplied with churches and the means of religious instruction. There were in the two cities in 1897, 361 churches, as follows: African Methodist Episcopal, 8; Austrian-Hungarian, 1; Baptist, 25; Christian, 9; Church of God, I; Church of the New Jerusalem, I; Church of Christ, I; Congregationalist, 4; Cumberland Presbyterian, 2; Disciple, 1; Evangelical Lutheran, 36; Evangelical Association, English I, and German 6; Free Methodist, 3; Free New Church, I; Independent Evangelical Lutheran, I; Jewish Synagogues, 7; Methodist Episcopal, Pitts- burg 31, Allegheny 15; Methodist Protestant, II; Presbyterian, Pittsburg 27, Allegheny 12; Primitive Methodist, 1; Protestant Episcopal, 23; Reformed Church of the United States, English 4, German 1; Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints, I; Reformed Presbyterian, 6; Roman Catholic, Pittsburg between rivers 33, South Side 17, and Allegheny 22; Spiritualists, 2; Seventh Day Adventists, I; United Presbyterian, Pittsburg IS, Allegheny 14; United Evangelical Protestant, German, 10; Universalist, 2; Unitarian, I; Welsh Cal- vinist (Methodist), I; total 361. Theosophical Society, I; Psychical Research, I.
The Young Men's Christian Association seems to have become extinct during the war. On November 26, 1866, another society was organized and was incorporated in July, 1869. At the end of the first year of its existence there were enrolled about 600 members. Since then the membership by de- cades has been as follows: 1877, 750; 1887, 1,520; 1897, 1,917. Its handsome home on Seventh Street was crected in 1883 at a cost of $100,000, all of which was raised by subscription and paid before the opening day in April, 1884. During the thirty years of the existence of this association it has had but three presidents and three secretaries, as follows: Presidents, Oliver McClintock, H. K. Porter and J. F. Robinson; secretaries, Thomas H. Cree, Robert A. Orr and J. B. Griggs. Four branches of the association are now in prosperous con- dition in Lawrenceville at Forty-third and Butler streets; in East Liberty at Penn and Center avenues; in the Pennsylvania Railroad Department at Twenty- eighth Street and on the South Side at Twenty-first and Sidney streets.
The first Society of Christian Endeavor was organized in 1882, in the North Avenue Methodist Episcopal church; the second was organized at the Butler Street Methodist Episcopal church in 1884; others were rapidly formed, so that by 1890 nineteen societies were in existence in the two cities. In 1895 there were approximately seventy-two societies with a membership of over 5,000 in the two cities and vicinity. The Young People's Christian Union of the United Presbyterian Church for the United States was organized in Alle- gheny, on April 30, 1889. There were present 181 delegates from twelve dif- ferent States. Upon its organization bere the Union had a membership of 507. The membership in 1897 was 4,957. The Young Women's Christian Associa- tion of Pittsburg and Allegheny was organized in November, 1892, with fifteen members. The association was well sustained from its commencement and continued to grow rapidly. On October 31, 1897, it had an enrolled member- ship of 1,655. The following was the membership of the local churches accord- ing to the census of 1890: Catholics, 56,916; German Evangelical, 10,657; Presbyterians, 7,184; other Presbyterians, 4,882; Methodist Episcopal, 6,701; other Methodists, 1,242; colored Methodists, 1,684; Lutherans, 4,868; Protes- tant Episcopal, 3,545; Regular Baptists, 2,256; Jews, 1,250. Adventists, other Baptists, Congregationalists, Disciples of Christ, Evangelical Association, Re- organized Latter Day Saints, Reformed, Unitarians and Universalists were represented by small congregations with probably a total membership of not less than 1,000. Thus the total membership exceeded 100,000.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
GENERAL VIEW OF MANUFACTURES AND COMMERCE-A FEW ITEMS SPECIALLY PRE- SENTED-THE OIL AND THE GAS INDUSTRIES-IRON AND STEEL-A REVIEW OF BOAT BUILDING-COMPARATIVE TABLES FROM THE CENSUS REPORTS-THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF PITTSBURG AND ALLEGHENY COMPARED- IMPORTANCE OF THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL PRODUCTS-STATIS- TICAL TABLES SHOWING THE WONDERFUL ADVANCEMENT OF
ALL KINDS OF INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS-THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE-THE TRADE OF THIS VICINITY REVIEWED.
Previous to the breaking out of the Rebellion the manufacture of tobacco was carried on in Pittsburg to a limited extent only. After the fall of Fort Sumter the manufacture received a great impulse and advanced with enormous strides. The cutting off of the Virginia product and the great advance in price stimulated the industry to an extraordinary degree. Previous to the war there had been but ten tobacco factories here, as follows: Built by Reese R. Jones in 1824; George Weyman in 1825; W. and D. Rinehart in 1828; James A. Maguire in 1832; J. W. Taylor in 1840; C. and H. Oyer in 1850; E. Megraw & Co. in 1850; D. O'Donovan in 1852; Johnston & McDonald in 1854; Martin Huyl in 1857. In 1861 there started in the business R. & W. Jenkinson and Wilson Hays & Co .; in 1862, John Grazier, George Sheffler & Co., James Murphy, John Fullerton, Wieman & Co., E. Gleason & Co., William Patterson; in 1863, Mitchell & Brother, P. Legonlon & Co., John Grazier, J. J. Abeitz, Andrew Shaub, Neison & McGinnis, Murtland & Connor and C. Parr; in 1864, R. & J. H. Elton, John P. Hornish, L. Bishop & Co., McCollister, Baer & Co., P. H. McKenna & Co., W. H. Edmond, John Nath & Co., Daniel Haggerty, Byrne & Boyle, Haggerty, Johnston & Co. By January, 1862, six firms in Pittsburg and Allegheny were engaged in the manufacture of chewing tobacco. In Sep- tember, 1864, there were thirty-eight tobacco factories here, employing over 800 hands, whose wages aggregated nearly $6,000 per week. During the month of May, 1864, there were manufactured by these firms 219,374 pounds of tobacco, upon which they paid a revenue of $31,245.60. There were here at the same time nearly as many more factories engaged in the manufacture of cigars. Since that date the manufacture of tobacco has been well represented in this city.
The existence of coal oil in Western Pennsylvania has been known since the first settlement. It is a well established fact that the Indians knew of its existence and used it for various purposes for many years antedating the appear- ance of the white settlers. Soldiers on their way to Fort Pitt previous to the Revolutionary War are known to have stopped and bathed their joints with Seneca oil obtained on the Conemaugh River. Numerous evidences have been found that families in the wilderness collected such oil in their respective neigh- borhoods, usually from the surface of the water where it bubbled out of the ground. During the early history of the country it was called Seneca oil, for what reason is not certainly known, though it is supposed to have taken its name from the Seneca nation of Indians. This origin of the name is usually considered satisfactory. The existence of this oil on Oil Creek is mentioned in the Navigator of 1810; it was said to resemble Barbadoes tar. In 1819 John
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HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
Gibson, in boring for salt water on the Conemaugh River, near Georgetown, struck a very pure article of Seneca oil at the depth of 207 feet, about one barrel of the oil flowing from the well per day (a).
During the thirties and forties the crude oil was kept for sale in the various drug stores of Pittsburg and Allegheny. In 1851 S. M. Keir advertised it under the head of Rock oil, for the cure of various diseases, particularly rheumatism. As early as 1851 several persons began producing the oil for commercial pur- poses, but were handicapped for the want of some method of refining it. The number of workers continued to increase, and within two or three years several companies were formed. The produce placed upon the market by Mr. Keir was partially refined by him for the first time, and was much superior to the ordinary article placed upon the market. The second refinery in the United States was erected in the First Ward, Allegheny, by W. Mckeown in 1857. The Drake well was sunk in 1859, and from that time forward the development of the oil industry was phenomenal. The oil trade of the Allegheny River to Pittsburg in 1859 was 7,037 barrels; in 1860, 17,161 barrels; in 1861, 94,102 barrels; in 1862, 171,774 barrels. By February, 1865, the num- ber of oil companies in Pittsburg and vicinity was sixty-three, with a total capital of $21,610,000, and some ten or twelve other companies were being formed. At this time the production was near 30,000 barrels per week. The esti- mated value of the oil trade for Pittsburg for the year 1863 was $8,599,224. Pittsburg was the natural outlet for the oil products. In 1860 there were several refineries here; in 1861, seventeen; in 1862, twenty-six; 1863, forty-one; in 1864, forty-six; in 1867, fifty-eight. By 1876 they had decreased to twenty-nine, and at the present time, 1898, the local interest is practically dead. Those who passed through the oil experiences during the war will never forget the extra- ordinary excitement that prevailed. The experiences were precisely similar to what they would have been had gold been discovered instead of oil. Immense fortunes were made in an hour; on the other hand, great fortunes were lost in the same length of time. Hundreds of the citizens of Pittsburg were enriched by their connection with the oil industry. The greatest difficulty in the early history of the trade was means of transportation. Gradually the railroads supplied this deficiency. In recent years the various smaller interests have been consolidated in the Standard Oil Company, which may now be said to have a practical monopoly of the trade. While it cannot be said that Pittsburg has produced, yet inasmuch as it has served as the original market whence the oil supply was distributed, the trade alone gave an extraordinary stimulus to other industries in the city.
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