This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864 edition. Excerpt: ...Hanlon wells, on Oil Spring Run, near Petroleum, Wood County, West Virginia. From the lower well, near the open itig of the gorge on the railroad, to the upper well, is a distance of nearly half a mile; and scattered irregularly along the hollow, "between these two points, are some twenty-five wells, of which fourteen or fifteen are now in operation. The wells, with one exception, are all pumped by a single steam engine, this plan having been found much more economical than the employment of a small engine for each well. The pumping apparatus is therefore operated by a long line of wooden levers, or pump rods, with necessary branches, coupled through together in line, and commonly known in the vicinity as the " telegraph." The arrangement is extremely simple, and perhaps the cheapest and most serviceable that could be used under the circumstances. We will attempt a description of the plan: --A long line of oak posts about twelve feet high, coupled together in pairs, and about four inches apart, extends in a straight line along the valley, north and south from the engine house. A continuous line of scantling about five inches in breadth, and varying from three" inches to an inch and a half in thickness, according to position, is strongly coupled together at the joints by bolts passing through the ends of the scantling and splice planks. This line of levers, or exaggerated " pitman timber," is suspended at a nearly uniform height between the rows of posts, by a series of iron rods, about four feet in length, which permits it to vibrate freely. This line passes through the engine house, and receives its reciprocating motion from a direct attachment to the engine. As the greatest power is required in those...