PETROLEUM: 347 A HISTORY OF THE OIL REGION OF VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. ITS RESOURCES, MODE OF DEVELOPMENT, AND VALUE: WITH A MAP, AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF OIL SCENES AND BORING IMPLEMENTS. BY REV. S. J. M. EATON, PASTOR OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, FRANKLIN, PA. "The rock poured me out rivers of oil." PHILADELPHIA: J. P. SKELLY & CO., 732 CHESTNUT STREET. 1866. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by J. P. SKELLY & CO., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylyania. STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY PREFACE. THIS work aims at nothing more than a mere popular description of the oil region, of the early history of petroleum operations, of the manner of boring oil wells, bringing the oil to the surface, and preparing it for use. As this region is attracting a large share of public attention it has been thought proper to devote a few pages to its ancient history; by way of illustrating its changes, a brief chapter is also added, bringing down its history to the period when modern oil operations commenced. As there is much curiosity abroad as to the manner of boring deep wells in the rock, and pumping from great depths, these processes are detailed with great minuteness and particularity. The chapter on the origin of petroleum, although claiming little originality, is presented with much diffidence. From the circumstances of the case, we are not likely soon to pass beyond mere theory in the matter, and, with the light we yet have, that presented seems (iii) the most plausible and consistent with the facts exhibited in boring and pumping. It was manifestly injudicious to attempt to give the number and production of each well in given localities, for what would be true to-day would be unreliable next week, as the development in new wells is constantly changing the features of particular localities. Consequently a general view is given, in order to arrive at general results. The design of the work is set forth on its title page—a history of the oil region of Venango county, Pennsylvania. It is not by this designed to ignore the existence of petroleum in neighboring counties, in this or in other States; this is admitted, and it is also anticipated that other regions still may and will develop large resources of oil; the design is to discuss the matter in its bearings on this region, where we find the evidences of its earliest development, and where, as yet, its largest resources have been brought to light. Grateful acknowledgments are due to gentlemen who have aided in collecting materials for this work, and thanks are hereby given. The Oil scenes in this volume are from photographs by A. D. Deming, an enterprising artist of Oil City, Pa. FRANKLIN, Pa., November, 1865. |