11/02/2026
This is a 1861 publication called "The Mecca Oil Commercial", which we have transcribed for your convenience. It's fascinating reading about the progress of the oil wells and the discovery of Mecca Oil as a premium lubricator for machinery!
Mecca Oil Commercial–April 13, 1861
William Ritezel, Editor & Publisher
Sent Gratis
The commercial is sent to hotels in New York, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Philadelphia, and other chief points for filing in their reading rooms. Persons who have oil lands to lease or sell would do well to [illegible]
–Prices for Oil–
We are happy to learn that more firmness characterizes the oil market. As the Mecca oil becomes known as a lubricator, so is the demand, for it increasing, and though prices bear up. Sales of Mecca [oil] have been made at 80 cents in Pittsburgh within a week, and at Cincinnati the price is 25 cents; at Cleveland 22 cents per gallon, and if holders will not believe all that buyers tell them as to the downward tendency of the oil, they will do well enough. We have heard of a sale recently at the wells at 17 cents, the buyer taking it to the railroad at his own charges. We advise all the miners to be cautious, be a little firm, and they can realize 20 cents at the well as readily as 17 cents. We advise all not to sell at a sacrifice.
–Oil Movements–
Owing to the bad state of the roads, the receipts at Warren Station, of oil from Mecca, for two weeks past, have been late. Only about 150 barrels have been brought in. We are assure that it is about all two good horses can do to draw the empty wagon over some portions of the road. The receipts of oil will therefore be light, until teaming becomes more practical.
The number of barrels of oil shipped from the station, for the two weeks ending the 11 inst. [of this month], was 244.
–A Good Test for Mecca Oil–
Messrs. C.B. Darling & Co., blacksmith and machinists in this town, have a fan wheel making 3700 revolutions per minute, on which they have used the best lard oil; but only last week cut out a shaft. They then put on the Mecca Oil from Asper, Chew & Co.’s well, and it has worked admirably. It keeps the journal [bearing] cool, and free from any indication of calling. This is the best test yet heard of. They have run a week on a pint of oil. They use the oil as it comes from the well.
[Note: The context of “calling” in the above paragraph is an old phonetic, colloquial spelling of galling, or chafing/rubbing. The machinists were running a high-speed fan wheel at an incredibly fast 3,700 RPM. They had been using high-grade lard oil (the standard animal-fat lubricant of the era), but the extreme friction generated enough heat to cause metal-to-metal rubbing, leading to a seized shaft. The crude petroleum became highly celebrated across the nation because it was naturally heavy, thick, and far superior to animal fats for lubricating heavy or high-speed machinery.]
––––
William F. Fields has struck a good show of oil on the Dille farm, about 1/2 mile south of the Asper well. The depth is about 60 feet. He intends to put in a pump immediately.
–Mecca Oil Ahead–
We learned that the Virginia oil has been accumulating in Cincinnati until two houses there have 2700 barrels. Not long ago Mr. McKinnon of Pittsburgh sent 200 barrels to Sheiffelin Bro’s & Co., to be sold at any price. That house made diligent inquiry for buyers, seeing and corresponding with all the leading refiners, and they could not for it. We have also been informed that producers in Pennsylvania have lubricating oil at the wells for ten cents per gallon without purchasers. The reason of this is perfectly plain. The refiners had bought largely at high prices during the winter.
The New York Kerosene Co., paid since July last January last $75,000 for oil in PA alone. They had also bought 3200 barrels in Virginia and have stopped buying. Other refiners came to the oil regions and bought largely. They have thus supplied themselves for most of the summer; and besides this season for the sale of refined oil has closed, but little being required for summer use. Some refiners have stopped their works for the summer. This is a dead lock on the light oil, miners; and is the point to which the dealers intended to bring them. They will not be able to buy at about one-third of the price they have been paying. While this is the state of the light oil market, the Mecca is steadily advancing until it stands at the head of the market as to price and demand.
–Put Up Your Oil With Care–
We would advise all oil men to be cautious in putting up oil. Don’t barrel from the tank into which you are pumping. Draw your oil into a tub or tubs to stand for separation before you barrel. However well it seems to be separated, yet after standing, more water will escape, and if hastily barrelled, a large amount of water will be separated and stand at the bottom of the barrels, all of which, when sent to market, will be deducted from your account of sales, and besides this loss, there will be the freight on your water. If you run your oil through your vats into an oil receiver, you can also pass it through a strainer and get out any dirt, or foreign matter, there may be floating upon the surface of the oil. If you take extra care in putting up oil, you will find it to your advantage in the price after it once becomes known. Put up your oil with care.
––––
Robert Walker & Co., have found a good well on the land of Asper, Chew & Co. Depth 60 feet
––––
We learn that Judge Birchard, N.O. Humphrey, and S.M. Carter, Esquire, have contracted for 3 acres of oil lands, on Mr. Levi Sutliff’s tract, at $600 per acre.
–Sale of Oil Lands–
for the weekend ending April 11th, entered in the recorders office.
–Cowdery & Craft to S.A. Durand, et al., Westfield Co., N.Y. 2 acres $500–Mecca
–Alex, Dilly to Felnagle & Crumb, of Mahoning County, 2 acres–$200 Bazetta
–Calgary & Craft to Watson Whitfield, et al., 1 acre $225–Mecca
–John Andre and wife to Gideon Kaufman and John Lapp Sen., Lancaster County, PA 25 acres $2000–Mecca
–Peter Bush to Samuel H Andrews, 5 acres–Bazetta, bonus, 1/4 of the oil.
–JC Calgary, to Masons & Goucher, 1 acre,–Mecca, $50, bonus 1/3 of the oil.
–Andrews &Wagner to Everhart & Allen, PA, 1 acre–Mecca, bonus $300 for all the oil.
–Headley & Carlisle to Jackson & Geddes, 30 acres–Bazetta, 1/4 of the oil.
–JL Case to Orrin Thurber, Pennsylvania, 50 acres–Mecca (on the creek), 1/3 of the oil.
–Oil at Newton Falls–
On last Friday afternoon we learned that a good show of oil was struck at 160 feet from the surface. Several important discoveries have been made in the Drilling of this well, which may be important to the geologist. The formation must down to be hard, course sandstone for 100 feet or more, evidently the water formation. At 99 feet a crevice was struck from which issued as strong flow of gas. So strong was a discharge as to spout above the mouth of the well several feet. Here it was at the first smell of oil was found. From this point for 60 feet the sand and shell rock alternated. At about 150 feet a harder layer of the sand rock was found, and as the drill went through it a crevice with struck containing a strong vein of salt water. The water is very strongly impregnated with salt and was found, upon heating, to crystallize before coming to the boiling point. Two quarts of the water, brought up with a sand bucket, over 100 feet through water, was below down and produced about two ounces of salt.
From the crevice containing the salt water, the drills went nearly 10 feet through a soft slate or shell rock, and as a formation attenuated to sandstone, oil was found. The drills went into the course, gray sandstone about 2 feet and a good show of oil is found – supposed to be sufficient to warrant the putting up of a steam pump. The oil is lighter than the Mecca oil. The well is drilled on the land of Daniel Johnson, by a stock company, in about halfway between the two villages, Mr. Johnson is the manager of the concern.
––––
A small oil refinery owned by Mr. Ryder and Mecca was burned on Saturday last night.
–Oil Men Abroad Last Week–
Mr. Straight of Cincinnati, one of the members of the old, substantial house of Straight, Deming, and Co., was here looking for oil shipments. They have been dealing in our oil only about three months, and in that time they have sold about 1000 barrels, at $.25 per gallon with paper barrels. Mr. Straight made arrangements with two shippers, and perhaps more for shipments to meet the increased demand of their house. During the same week, Mr. John Wales, of the old Drug House of Scheiffelein, Bros., & Co. of New York, was here looking after the oil interest. That house we learn has an arrangement with Messrs Asper, Chew & Co. They have also been handling the oil of Thompson, McClure and Co. They have made arrangements to handle large amounts of the oil.
We also learned that this week a railroad man from Cincinnati visited this region with a view of buying 100 barrels of oil for railroad purposes. He visited the wells on Tuesday last. He intends to buy at the well for 15 cents a gallon if he can, if not, he proposes to put money into the hands of an agent here to buy for him. We trust no one will be so foolish to sell it so ruin us a price.
Others of late, have been looking for oil. Messrs. Asper, Chew & Co. have, we learned, received a letter from an old oil house in Philadelphia, asking consignments of oil to be sold as a lubricator.
––––
Oil men, don’t be afraid of glutting the market. Mecca oil has nothing to fear from other oils, for none of the light oils can compete with it as a lubricator; and the Canada oil has such an offensive odor that it never can be used as a substitute. The railroads of Ohio were require 150 barrels of oil per day for the purpose of lubrication. All can see at a glance at the railroads in the United States alone will be able to use all that can ever be produced. Put down your wells and put the steam pump at work. Don’t be afraid that you can’t sell. You can get 50 cents per gallon before one year.
––––
The subjoined extract was inadvertently omitted, last week, from the article of J.F. Asper, Esq., on the subject of refining Mecca oil. We publish it, in this issue, as it was a material part of the article.
The next matter of moment is, can the Mecca rock oil be refined with profit? It is true that it needs more care and labor to refine it then to refine the other oil; it may be possible that the upright stills will not do it successfully; at all events, the wrought-iron stills are not strong enough to stand the high test required; but in the cast iron still of sufficient thickness to run up the heat to 1500°, if required as as well as as in it a still such as is used by Messrs. Houston & Smith there is no difficulty. The lighter oil is runoff very readily, producing a light fluid, similar to the burning fluid of the drug test, and almost as explosive; indeed it is explosive, unless the nap is extracted. Several instances of explosion and carbon oil lamps are on record, and in one instance, a lady lost her life. The Mecca requires more heat and a longer time, it contains but a small portion of naptha and produces a better burning oil than any other.
If it produces 50% of burning oil, it is profitable. Take 20 barrels, which at present prices would cost $160; the labor, chemicals, and loss on barrels will be, say $25, making $185. At 50%, the product would be 400 gallons, which at 50 cents per gallon (lower than the average market price, 60 cents is fair average) is $200. The lubricating oil is $25 more, making a profit of $10. If the average price is $.60 per gallon, a profit would be $80. But take the test as made by Houston & Smith M – gentleman of candor and truth – they say they make 16 barrels burning oil out of 20 barrels, the profit on which at 50 cents per gallon is $132.
–From the Western Reserve Chronicle–
Mecca Oil–A, NO 1
The following letter from William G. Darr, Esq., giving an account of a new process of distillation to which Mecca oil has been subjected, and the result of the experiment, will prove both interesting and gratifying to those who are engaged in the oil business, and to the public generally.
––––
Pittsburgh, April 5, 1861
Messers Editors – Knowing that you feel as strong an interest in the success of the Mecca wells, as I do; that you wish to have the intrinsic value of the oil ascertained; that you have visited refineries for that purpose, and have seen the product from them, and as that product is, at present the indicator of the relative value of oils for burning fluid, and as much as our oil men are dependent upon the refiners (and without appeal) to fix the price for oil, I send you the following facts in regard to a patent just taken out for refining rock oils, which I feel is worth thousands of dollars to Mecca because of the difficulty supposed by many refiners, to belong to Mecca Oil alone. The refiners of this city can hardly be induced to purchase Mecca Oil, those who have, failed to refine it, alone. The account of the product of Stewart & Graul’s Refinery, built on purpose – is a total failure compared with what I have seen – as proof of which, let the following account taken from your valuable paper of 28th ult. (last month) and the test as witnessed by myself, show. Stewart & Graul’s Refinery with three stills, refines 50 barrels. In one week, or six barrels, a day, yielding a little more than 50% of illuminating oil of 35 to 33 special gravity in 25% of excellent lubricating oil, of 25 to 30 special gravity which would be from 20 barrels., 37 1/2 barrels., Averaging about 33 special gravity. I do not know the size of the styles of Stewart & Graul’s but we suppose them to be 1200 gallon stills. Then one still of 1200 gallons, will turn out 16 2/3 barrels per week or two 7/8 barrels per day. If the stills are large or smaller, it will only relatively interfere with the final result. Under the patent to which I refer one 1200 gallon still will refine inside of 12 hours– with one distillation, and yield 1080 gallons – of 37 specific gravity. With a second distillation of a result will be 960 gallons, or 80% at 41 to 41 1/2 special gravity – so you can see, Mr. Editor, at a glance, the comparison of one week work – crude oil, 27 refined 41 1/2, and also refined 37. Three stills of 1200 gallons each: one week, old process 50 barrels. Crude 27 barrels, 37 1/2 barrels, 33 special gravity.
New process, 60 barrels crude, 27 barrels, 45 barrels, 37 special gravity. Now at the same refinery as above, two stills of 1200 gallons each – 25 barrels to a still, we could turn out every week, (counting five) days) 100 barrels or 20 barrels per day, a 41 specific gravity, so that in one week, under the new process, with two stills of 1200 gallons each, we could make, every week, 270 barrels of oil, of 37 Beaume. Those are facts witness by myself. The still used is a small one. Any further information and relation there too, can be had on application to me. W.G. Darley
–From the Cleveland Herald–
Petroleum Or Rock Oil
J.S. William, Esq. – Dear Sir: – as the inquiries you make in reference to petroleum or “rock oil,” are similar to many others I have received within the past two months, I gave your letter a public answer in a brief in general way. The knowledge of the substance is not now in geology or in history. It is contained in the sedimentary rocks of all ages in all countries. In Asia, bitumen of natural or geological origin issues from rocks in many places, and has been used from the earliest times for numerous useful purposes, but principally to form mortars and cement. The stone structures of an ancient Ninevah were laid in a bituminous mortar.
At the southern extremity of the Dead Sea, near S***m and Gomorrah, bitumen exists in large masses, and is procured from pits sunk for that purpose.
On the Caspian Sea, and near Rangoon, in Persia, and the island of Trinidad, in the West Indies, on the coast of California, and in Texas, or large exudations of this fluid. In France, Syria, and Wisconsin, and in localities too numerous to mention, it forms a considerable part of the strata, ranging from 5 to 20%; from which it is extracted by breaking the rocks in pieces and heating the fragments.
Where the bitumen bearing rocks are of an open texture, or have fissures or openings between the layers through which water may flow readily, “Oil Springs,” may exist.
Other rocks containing petroleum in valuable quantities, do not discharge it, because they are not sufficiently porous or fissured, to allow it to flow out. When exposed a long time to the atmosphere, it thickens by absorbing oxygen; by the evaporation of the more volatile parts, becomes darker colored, and takes the more of mineral pitch, and sometimes of asphaltum.
In their original state in the rocks, all mineral bitumen are chemical compounds of hydrogen and carbon, ranging very much in the relative proportions of these elements. They are confined to no geological horizon, but existing greater or less percentage in shale, sandstone and limestone; in strata as recent as the tertiary, as ancient as the Lower Salurian.
The principal oil bearing bed of “Oil Creek” Pennsylvania is of the age of the Devonian, or “Old Red Sandstone,” and belongs to the Portage groups of the New York survey. It is a course grained sandstone, and extends into Ohio, where it is called the “grindstone grit”, but is a less thickness than in New York or Pennsylvania.
The well at Mecca and those in the Mahoning Valley, are in this bed. In Canada, the producing wells are in a much lower stratum, which Dr. Newberry considers to be below the Hamilton and Marcellus shales that constitute the shore of Lake Erie from Cleveland to the mouth of Huron.
In Virginia copious oil springs exist in the wells of the Coal Measures. Near Chicago and [illegible] no rocks of the Upper Silurian era are charged with bitumen.
Almost every enquirer like yourself wishes to know if this material is not derived from mineral coal. It is universally diffused through the clay shales of the coal bearing rocks, and other shales, but it is not there generally in a free or liquid state; and these rocks being close grained or impervious to water, it cannot be extracted from them by pumping.
I do not know of any wells that draw petroleum from beds of coal. It is obtained, so far as I know, from sandstones, either slaty or a porous and open grain, the proper conditions being as in other cases of a mechanical kind.
The oil bearing beds of Venango and the adjacent counties of Pennsylvania are from 300 to 500 feet lower still.
In the Mahoning Valley and in Medina County, the oil producing sandstone or grindstone grit is from 200 to 300 feet below the lowest coal seam. It underlines a large portion of the western reserve. It does not follow that an oil bearing stratum will produce oil and valuable quantities throughout its whole extent, for there may not be everywhere enough of it; or the mechanical conditions may be wanting. In fact, of wells, only a few rods or a few feet from each other, one may be productive in another of no value. Success is therefore more often the result of good luck than a skill.
A surface show is valuable, so far is it indicates the presence of petroleum and the rocks beneath, but actual trial is necessary to determine the value of a location, often approximately.
As the process is an exhaustive one, wells to be permanent should not be near each other.
Where are the oil bearing stratum is overlaid by an impervious bed, like the argillaceous shale, the supply is likely to be more permanent, other circumstances being the same, then if it comes to the surface or has a slight covering.
Where it is necessary to sink 150 or 200 feet to reach the oil bed, the chances of a continuous flow will therefore be increased.
In the Lake Shore counties east of Vermillion River, the strata which produces petroleum in Canada, lie so deep, and the prospect of finding in them the right conditions is so small, that I would not advise an individual to undertake the work. At Cleveland, I should not expect to reach those beds within 350 feet of Lake level, to test the ground would require a depth of 500 feet. The Pennsylvania and Mecca sandstone is here 200 feet above the lake; at Berea, Elyria and Amherst a little less.
The Pennsylvania and Mecca sandstone is here 200 feet above the lake at Berea, Elyria and Amherst a little less. The Pennsylvania and Mecca sandstone is here 200 feet above the lake at Berea, Elyria and Amherst a little less.
Since this material is a general component of the sedimentary rocks, I see no more difficulty in accounting for its presence than for the other components of the same rocks, such as clay, lime, and sand. The simplest and most philosophical solution of its origin appears to me one which will apply to all the materials of the same strata. Their presence of all mineral matters due to original creation since when it has undergone changes, most of which occurred by reason of its chemical affinities – oxygen and hydrogen united to form water – carbon and oxygen to form carbonic acid. Carbon and hydrogen combine in numerous proportions, forming inflammable gases in bituminous compounds.
Oxygen and calcium form lime, and carbonic acid and lime constitute limestone, a large proportion of which is consolidated gas. So of other alkali, oxide and earths.
And thus referring to its origin, I must inform you that I am only expressing my individual views, and not those generally received by scientific men, who attribute all bituminous matter in the rocks to ancient vegetation.
Yours respectfully,
Charles Whittlesey, Cleveland, April 10, 1861.
–Can Mecca Oil Be Refined?–
The following certificate speaks for itself. The product, counting the gauging of the barrels, is 73% burning oil. Deducting water, the result is 82%. No lubricating oil was made. No better burning oil than this is made. Next: can Mecca oil be refined with profit? Read this certificate and answer.
This is the certify that we have treated a lot of oil from the Well of Messrs Asper, Chew & Co. and found that it is refined readily, making a large percent of burning oil. There was, in the lot, 20 barrels, gauging 667 gallons. It was a lot put up in the winter, and we found 25 gallons of water, leaving 592 gallons of oil. From this we made 185 gallons of burning oil, burning without smoke, and makes a brilliant light. It does not gum or char the wick. Their crude oil is perfectly free from grit, dirt, or sediment, and is the best oil we have yet seen. In the crude state, it stands at 27 degree Baumé, and is an excellent lubricating oil.
We have no hesitation in saying that we can make 80%, a burning fluid of the best quality from their oil. We use the cast-iron still, and find no difficulty in bringing the crude oil up to a proper standard.
Bazetta Refinery
April 10, 1861, Stewart & Graul
––––
During the past week, the musical taste of Warren has been gratified with two concerts by Miss Juvenella and Miss Celestia, young American ladies of talent and beauty, who sing as but you can sing, come from once they may. They travel in company with their father, Captain H. Tinker, an agreeable, whole souled gentleman.
For the attentive and business-like agent, Mr. J.C. Hull, we invoke the courtesies of the men of the press wherever he goes. Hull understands his business, and makes lasting friendships by his frank and agreeable deportment.
