Annals of Cleveland

Oil | Petroleum

Parents: Oil /

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Abstracts: 13

Abstracts

1429

Cleveland Morning Leader, 25 January 1864 (16 inches) ~ See original
p.4, col.3 ~ View at ChronAm

1429 - L. Jan. 25:4/3 - There are 20 oil refineries in Clevela.md employing
over 100 men. They consume 4,000 barrels of crude oil per week at a
market price of $28,000. They produce weekly 3,000 barrels of refined
oil and benzol, which has a government tax of $4 per barrel, yielding a
revenue of $624,000 a year. Crude oil is run into tanks, then piped in-
to a still and distilled. From this benzol first appears, then distil-
lates oil. The distillates are run into an agitator, where they are mixed
and stirred with sulphuric acid till they becume sweet. Finally they
are washed with water and alkalies, and placed in "bleachers" ready for
the market. (16)

Index terms:

*Petroleum

1430

Cleveland Morning Leader, 2 February 1864 (4 inches) ~ See original
p.4, col.2 ~ View at ChronAm

1430 - L. Feb. 2:4/2 - Alexander Wilson and Company's oil refinery is the
most enterprising in the city. They possess the largest stills and best
condensing pipes. Their oil is of the best quality, almost odorless and
colorless. The firm manufactures 40 barrels of oil per day, paying the
government $160 revenue on this amount. They employ 15 men. . (4)

Index terms:

Alexander Wilson and Co. (oil refiners)

1433

Cleveland Morning Leader, 31 August 1864 (2 inches) ~ See original
p.4, col.2 ~ View at ChronAm

1433 - L. Aug. 31:4/2 - A new oil company has been established under the
name of the Cleveland Cherry Walley Oil co., capitalized at $100,000.
B. F. Peixotto is president; C. Koch, treasurer; and Edward Budwing, sec-
retary. Charles Bratenahl, R. C. Yates, and S. Mann are directors. (2)

Index terms:

Brat enahl, Charles; Budwig, Edward; Cleveland Cherry Walley Oil co.; Koch, C.; Mann, S.; Peixotto, B. F.; Yates, R. C.

1434

Cleveland Morning Leader, 25 November 1864 (9 inches) ~ See original
p.4, col.2 ~ View at ChronAm

1434 - H Nov. 25:4/2 - In a letter to the editor, "E" tells of his ex-
tensive tour of the oil region in Washington county and adjoining coun-
ties of the southern part of Ohio. "Wells are bored with as much certain-
ty of obtaining oil, as wells for water are sunk in other localities..."
(9)

Index terms:

Ohio; Washington county, O.

1435

Cleveland Morning Leader, 29 November 1864 (ed; 8 inches) ~ See original
p.2, col.2 ~ View at ChronAm

1435 - L. Nov. 29; ed:2/2 - The oil fever, if managed correctly, unlike
other fevers, is an excellent thing to have. It is a fever which instead
of laying you out bed-ridden, and with a seething brain, puts new vigor
into your system. You can enjoy the sweet delusion that you are among
financial nahobs, giving away thousands of dollars to friends and the
poor. It is a sweet disease to have. It disrobes poverty of its grimness,
and makes present suffering endurable. (8)

No index terms.

1436

Cleveland Morning Leader, 29 November 1864 (ed; 19 inches) ~ See original
p.4, col.3 ~ View at ChronAm

1436 - L Nov. 29; ed:4/3 - Attention of speculators from all parts of the
country has been turned toward Cuyahoga county as affording excellent "in-
dications" for oil. The oil excitement has broken out in East Cleveland,
Rockport, and Independence. It is also reported that excellent indications
of oil have been found in the ravine cf Tinker's creek in Bedford township.
In Parma they have also been struck with the oil fever and have sunk a
well, but the unlucky diggers instead of striking oil struck rock. "We
seein pre-doomed to an immense oil excitement, and it behooves our citizens
to bear in mind the probability that it will not prove successful and to
resist all teudency to undue excitement." (19)

Index terms:

Bedford, O.; Cuyahoga county; East Cleveland; Independence, ().; Parma, O.; Rockport, O.; Tinkers creek, O.

1437

Cleveland Morning Leader, 13 December 1864 (ed; 2 inches) ~ See original
p.2, col.3 ~ View at ChronAm

1437 - L Dec. 13; ed: 2/3 - Cleveland has begun to take an interest in the
oil industry and though not far advanced as yet, promises to be active.
Several companies have been organized. (2)

No index terms.

1438

Cleveland Morning Leader, 17 December 1864 (33 inches) ~ See original
p.2, col.2 ~ View at ChronAm

1438 - L Dec. 17:2/2, 3 - In a letter to the editor, J. H. R. writes of his
trips through the oil fields. Excitement almost to the point of insanity.
reigns in Pennyslvania, especially in Meadville, Oil City, Franklin, and
Titusville. The disease "oil on the brain" is rapidly spreading. Some
have been lucky enough to realize handsomely on their investments. This
has been the means of stimulating tens of thousands into the belief that
they will be as fortunate. Petroleum interests in Pennsylvania are passing
through a period of speculation rather than a period of development. The
oil fever rages so high that many are tempted to buy lands without seeing
or really investigating them. Land laid out in water colored drawings,
with pumps and flowing wells carefully put down at appropriate distances,
are often very different from the land in reality, but eager speculators
have often invested their money in these water colored lands, which on exam-
ination, proved to be many miles from oil-producing territories. The oil
business is in its infancy and every day new discoveries are made as good
as the old. - (33)

Index terms:

Franklin, Pu.; Meadville, Pa.; *Oil City, Pa.; Pennsylvania; Titusville, Pa.

1439

Cleveland Morning Leader, 19 December 1864 (31 inches) ~ See original
p.2, col.3,4 ~ View at ChronAm

1439 - L Dec. 19:2/3,4 - In a letter to the editor, J. H. R. says that the
eagerness to make money, by buying and selling of oil lands at advanced
prices, is looked upon as being detrimental by men who actually have the in-
terests of the oil trade at heart. Men are anxious to speculate by buying
and selling lands, but do not want to develop them, because selling of lards
at advanced rates is a certain source of profit, attended by none of the
risks of actual development. The maps and sketches of the oil country now
drawn are inaccurate, but a large and detailed atlas of the oil regions
will be published in January, in New York.
The oil boom has been the means of starting a new branch of business in
drafting and sketching, which is followed by a number of lawyers at various
places. In regard to investing in oil stock there are various things to be
considered. It is true that many people have made from fifty to two thou-
sand per cent on their investments, but it is also true that just as many
have lost money. (31)

Index terms:

New York

1440

Cleveland Morning Leader, 20 December 1864 (25 inches) ~ See original
p.2, col.2 ~ View at ChronAm

1440 - L. Dec. 20:2/2, 3 - In a letter to the editor, J. H. R. says: The oil
business in Pennsylvania has become so extensive that petroleum furnishes
a medium of exchange with foreign countries which was lost in cotton, which
was kept off the market by the rebellion. Oil already competes with the
iron and coal industry of the state. Figures show that petroleum promises
to take precedence over the iron and coal industry within the next year. It
is estimated that four or five million barrels have been produced, though up
to this time there have been no statistics to show the actual amount. (25)

Index terms:

Pennsylvania

1441

Cleveland Morning Leader, 21 December 1864 (44 inches) ~ See original
p.2, col.2 ~ View at ChronAm

1441 - L Dec. 21:2/2, 3 - In a letter to the editor, J. H. R. says: The
character of the people in the oil regions is an unfailing subject of study.
The working population of these people is composed of yourg men. Although
much wealth has been accumulated in these regions, it is remarkable that so
few crimes have been committed. In fact, about the only scoundrels are the
legal ones.
It is much cheaper to procure oil than coal, iron, copper, lead, or gold.
Four men can put down a well in two months if they work night and day. No
department of industry offers such great rewards at so little expenditure
of labor. The boring for oil is mostly a matter of chance, and it is often
more unsuccessful than successful.
We have no confidence in the theory that oil is being manufactured spon-
taneously within the bowels of the earth. The facts prove the contrary.
The theory which regards oil as the distillate of marine plants at an age
prior to the coal formation would seem to imply that it is to be found as
wide-spread and inexhaustible as coal itself.
In certain districts, probably in the southeast border of the great sea,
where marine plants were carried by wind and water in immense quantities,
oil will be found in greater abundance than other places. This region will
be found in eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, West Virginia,
Kentucky, and Tennessee. Here is a field of enterprise that stands open to
thousands whom the war has paralyzed. By keeping clear of all manner of
sharks, and pushing the work bravely on, many a man will yet realize an
immense fortune. (44)

Index terms:

Kentucky; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Tennessee; West Virginia