Findlay City (part 4 of 28)

The '^Findlay Caravansary" was opened on this corner by Maj. 1 attei-^ son in the spring of 1834, and was the only tavern in the village that sold no intoxicating drink. Whenever a thirsty traveler called in to '"wet his whistle," the Major would point to a well just outside the door and pohtely say ' ^ There' s plenty of pump- water, sir. I do not sell whisky, ' ' from which quaint expression he became widely known as "Old Pump- water,' a name that is an honor to his memory and a monument to his zeal in the cause of temperance. In September, 1840. he traded his tavern to Samuel Leard for a farm in Washington Township, but the latter soon afterward sold it to John Reed a pioneer of Portage Township. Mr. Reed continued the old name for a 'short time, and then changed it to -Reed's Hotel." He was suc^ ceeded in the business by his brother, Eli S., who ran it until the spring of 1852, when he rented the house to George H. Crook, who remained till January, 1853, and Mr. Reed again took possession. Early m 18o4 he becran the erection of the fi-ont portion of the present three -story brick which he opened for business the following December. In January, 18oJ, Guntner & Woodworth leased the house, and were succeeded by E. H. Cowles in February, 1862. Mr. Reed died during the three months' service in 1861, while commissary of the Twenty-first Regiment In March. 1853, Samuel Renninger purchased the property and opened it as the " ' American House. ' ' Mr. Renninger conducted the hotel for several years and then rented it toE. B. Belding, who changed the name to the -' Belding House. ' In the fall of 1874 Jasper Constable succeeded Mr. Belding; next came Stewart Sprague, who changed the name to the '-Commercial Hotel." In December, 1878, Mr. Renninger sold the property to C. H. Dietsch, who ran the hotel nearly eight years, erecting a large addition thereto during his proprietorship. In March, 1886, J. W. Humphrey, of Jamestown, N. Y., leased and took possession of the hotel. He began at once extensive changes and improvements, and it is now far superior m appearance and convenience to what it has ever been before, He also changed the name to the "Humphrey House," and is fast winning a fair share of the traveling trade. The house contains about fifty rooms completed, and is firstclass in its service and appointments.

The site of the Joy House has been occupied by a hotel during a period of forty-six years. In 1839-40 an Irishman named John McCurdy erected a two-story* frame on this ground and soon afterward sold it to Henry Lamb, who in the latter year opened it as the '"White Hall Tavern. Mr. Lamb carried on this tavern until near the close of March. 1849, and the building was burned down on the 31st of that month immediately after the Lambs had moved out. The ground remained unoccupied until the spring of 1854, when the Findlay Joint Stock Hotel Company purchased it, and commenced the erection thereon of the present three-story brick structure known as tho Joy House Block. The building was not completed until the fall of 1856, when it was opened by S. T. HefPner as the "Dixon Hotel," in honor of Daniel Dixon, one of the principal stockholders in the company, and a leading citizen of the village. The south part of the present hotel was purchased in June, 1859, by George H. Crook, of the Joint Stock Hotel Company, who changed the name to the ' ' Crook House, ' ' and ran it until the spring of 1865. Stewart Sprague then bought the furnishings and leased the building of Mr. Crook, and carried on the hotel biisiness for five years. In the spring of 1870 A. & D. Joy, who had been running a hoi el in Carey for many years, piu-chased the property, and at once changed the name to the "Joy House." Under their management the Joy House soon won the larger share of the hotel trade, and it has retained this up to the present (April, 1886). The Joy3 lease the two upper stories of the north part of the block, which, together with the old portion, gives their hotel an accommodation of sixty-eight rooms. Most of the interior has been recently refurnished, the dining room remodeled and handsomely furnished in rich harmony of colors, and as a whole, the Joy House will compare favorably with the average hotel of the State outside of the larger towns.

The Sherman House is one of the pioneer hotels of Findlay. In October, 1840, John F. Ritter opened the "Green Tree Tavern" on the same site, and in 1 844 was succeeded by Abraham W. Schwab, who changed the name to the "Traveler's Rest." It was then a two-story frame, but seven or eight years afterward Mr. Schwab erected the corner portion of the present structure, and opened the new hotel as the ' ' Schwab House. ' ' He subsequently made additions to the building, and carried on the business until his death in 1868. It was next kept by W. W. Siddall as the " Siddall House, ' ' and afterward underwent several changes in name and proprietorship, being called in succession the Franklin, Irvin and Marvin House. In 1875 T. J. Stackhouse bought the property, and opened it as the Sherman House, which title it has since retained. "This hotel contains twenty rooms, and Mr. Stackhouse is the present proprietor.

The American House was opened in the fall of 1840 by Jacob Rosenberg, who was then sheriff of the county. It stood on the site of the First National Bank, and previous to its purchase by Mr. Rosenberg in June, 1840, had been the court house. He remodeled the interior, and converted the old temple of justice into a place of entertainment. Mr. Rosenberg died in October, 1844, and his widow conducted the business until her marriage to Jacob Carr, about four years afterward. The latter changed the name to " Carr' s Hotel," which he carried on till the winter of 1862-63, when the site was purchased by "William H. Wheeler, who erected thereon the present three-story brick, known as Wheeler's Block. The old frame was moved to its present location, immediately north of the Presbyterian Church, where it has since been occupied by Mr. Carr' s family as a private residence.

Among other old-time places of entertainment were the " Rising Sun Hotel' ' and the Bigelow House. The former was built by Daniel Erb on East Main Cross Street, and in the spring of 1837 was purchased by Garret D. Teatsorth, who carried it on for quite a long period. The Bigelow House was opened by T. B. Paden in September, 1851, in the old twostory frame yet standing on the southeast corner of Main and Sandusky Streets, and now occupied by L. A. Baldwin as a commission house. It was started to take the place of the -'White Hall Tavern," burned down a couple of years previous, and was kept by Nathan Miller and M. Shisler in 1853 and 1854, respectively, who succeeded Mr. Paden, but it was closed about the time the Dixon Hotel (now Joy House) was opened for business.

The Central and Biu-net Houses are the latest ventures in the hotel line. The former, located on the west side of the public square, was built by Abraham W. Schwab many years ago for store-rooms, and first opened as a hotel by George Grouse about 1870-71 . He was succeeded by James L. Henry, and after a few years the property was sold to the Grange, who opened a store therein. Upon the failure of that movement it was again sold, and finally came into possession of Samuel D. Houpt. He fitted it up as a hotel, and in 1 888 leased it to John Ritter, who opened it as the ' ' Central House." C. P. Vail succeeded Mr. Ritter in July, 1884, and has recently fitted up the house in a very enterprising manner. The Burnet, now owned by Samuel Renninger, is located near the depot of the Lake Erie & AVestern Railroad, where a restaurant was started by C. H. Dietsch shortly after the completion of that road to Findlay. The hotel accommodations of Findlay are fully ample for the present wants of the village, while its many elegant restaurants surpass those of any other country town in Ohio.

The old log grist and saw-mill, built under the supervision of "Wilson Vance, by Vance & Cory, in 1824, was the first manufacturing establishment erected in the county. These mills stood on the site of the-present Carlin flouring-mill north of the river, and were a great blessing to the first settlers. As there has been some difference of opinion as to the year these mills were built, we herewith append the evidence of Mrs. Elizabeth Eberly (daughter of Benjamin J. Cox) and Job Chamberlin, the only pioneers now living who have any personal knowledge of the circumstance. " We removed," says Mrs. Eberly, " fi-om Fort Findlay to the Maumee in 1823, and the mill had not yet been commenced, but was built the year after we left. The race, however, was dug out while we wei-e there, but that is as far as the work progressed })rior to our removal. ' ' Mr. Chamberlin, who came in February, 1822, agrees with the statement of Mrs. Eberly, and in his "Personal Reminiscences," wa-itten in 1874, gives the following account of the building of the mill: "Father hadTjrought flour and meal enough to supply his family one year. Hon. Joseph Vance had promised to erect a mill the next season, but it was not until about two years and a half afterward that Messrs. Vance & Cory, the original proprietors of Findlay, built a little log mill about the place where Carlin' s mill now stands." These statements would make the year 1824 as the date the old mills were erected. In 1828 James McKinnis and Reuben Hale rented the mills of Vance & Cory, and ran them about a year. Early in 1834 they were bought by John Campbell, together with fifteen acres of land. In the tax list of that year the mills are valued at $900. Campbell tore down the old log building in the winter of 1834-35 and erected a frame mill, which he ran till the spring of 1837, when the property was purchased by S. & P. Carlin. Several years afterward the Carlins rel)uilt the mills, and they have been rebuilt once more since that time, making the present mill the fom-th one on that site. The saw-mill was operated up to within a few years ago.

In 1832 Henry Shaw built a horse-mill on West Front Street, upon the south part of the lot now occupied by the "Church of God," Bethel, to supply the inhabitants with corn meal, when Vance's mill failed on account of low water or some other cause. It was a two-story building, the grinding being done in the upper story, which was reached by an open stairway, and the horse-power was below. James Teatsorth bought this mill of Mr. Shaw about 1836, and ran it several years.

The first flouring-mill in the village was built by Martin Huber, John S. Julien and John Engelman, the last two mentioned being yet residents of Fiudlay. They purchased a lot on the south side of Sandusky Street, immediately east of Eagle Creek, in May, 1 845, and began the erection of a mill. It was completed and first operated December 25, 1845, and was named the ' 'Eagle Mills, ' ' which title it has ever since borne. This mill has always been operated by steam, and was one of the first steam mills built in the county. Soon after the mill began operations Martin Huber died, and in May, 1846, the proj^erty was purchased by Benjamin Huber, who owned it nearly twenty years. In the fall of 1865 the mill was sold to E. M. Norwood and Milton B. Patterson, who disposed of it in February, 1867, to William W. McConnell. The following November Parish W. Rockwell purchased an interest in the property. McConnell & Rockwell ran the mill until March, 1879, when David Kirk assumed control. In the fall of that year the property was sold at sheriff's sale and purchased by the creditors of McConnell & Rockwell, from whom Mr. Kirk and Mrs. William W. McConnell subsequently l)ought it. The mill was furnished with Ellis rolls in 1883. and on the Ist of Januaiy, 1885, Mr. Kirk became sole proprietor by the purchase of Mrs. McConnell' s interest. The Eagle Mills are now first-class in their appointments, and are averaging 125 barrels of a superior grade of flour every twenty- four hours, though having a capacity of 150 barrels. Mr. Kirk has his own gas-well, which supplies fuel and light for the mill, and thus a saving of $2,000 per annum is accomplished.

The Hancock Mills, now owned and operated by John Parker, was built by his father, Jonathan. In the summer of 1857 the latter erected a steam planing-mill on Lincoln Street, in the southwest part of the village, and in the autumn of the same year began an addition for a grist-mill, which commenced operations in the spring of 1858, under the name of the ' 'Hancock Mills." These mills have ever since been carried on; first by the father, and afterward by the present proprietor, though the planing-mill was abandoned eight or ten years ago. The present capacity is fifty barrels every twenty-four hours.

The pioneer saw-mill of the village was connected with the old log water grist-mill built by Vance & Cory in 1824, and it was continued up to within a few years ago. The next saw-mill was built by the Carlin brothers, on East Sandusky Street, on the west bank of Eagle Creek, the power being supplied by that stream. This mill was started about 1835, but did not last very long.

In 1846 Jonathan Parker, Abraham Daughenbaugh and William Taylor built quite a large steam saw -mill north of the river and east of Main Street. After some years Mr. Daughenbaugh sold out to his partners, and Albert Parker and Patterson Taylor, sons of the two remaining proprietors, subsequently succeeded to the ownership of the mill, the latter afterward disposing of his interest to Mr. Parker. J. C. Powell finally purchased the property, and continued to run the mill until its destruction by the explosion of the boiler, March 10, 1874, since which event it has not been rebuilt.

In 1880 S. C. Moore erected a saw-mill on Main Cross Street, in East Findlay, which he sold in January, 1883, to S. & I. S. Moore. This mill was burned down in April, 1886, but immediately rebuilt by the Messrs. Moore. Six men find steady employment here most of the time, the product averaging about 4,000 feet of hardwood lumber per day during nine months of the year. In June, 1884, S. C. Moore established his present hardwood lumber mill near the track of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, in North Findlay. George D. Plotner obtained an interest in the mill in December, 1885. They employ six hands and average 4,000 feet of lumber per day.

The fanning-mill factory established by Hiram Smith in 1835, on East Main Cross Street, was one of the earliest and most important indiistries of Findlay. Capt. Smith had previously carried on the same business at Waterville, on the Mauniee River, whence, in 1835, he removed to Findlay. He manufactured mills here for several years, employing a number of hands in his factory, but finally engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in 1851 removed to Oregon.

Small wagon and carriage factories began to be established at quite an early day, thoiigh very little new work was turned out during the earlier years of settlement. Philip Shockey opened a wagon shop on East Main Cross Street in 1834 or 1835. He also manufactured plows, but his principal work was repairing during his residence here. In 183D John Schneyer started a wagon shop on West Main Cross Street, on the site of Mrs. Sarah Carlin's residence, where he carried, on business about nine years and then removed to the south bank of the river, where the old brewery now stands. In the winter of 1848-49 he gave up the manufactm-e of wagons and started a brewery, which will be found mentioned further on in this article. Jesse George, Simon Wilhelm and William Kirtland manufactured wagons and plows, and also did some foundry work, on Soiath Main Street, as early as 1844-45. Koons & Snyder opened a wagon and carriage factory on West Crawford Street in 1848 - iO. Snyder soon retired and the firm became E. P. Koons & Co. The Koons family continued to run carriage shops in Findlay up to within fifteen years past. Eli Beach conducted the same class of business, first on Main Street and subsequently on West Crawford, from 1855 until about ten years ago.

Daniel Buck erected a small frame wagon shop on the north side of West Main Cross Street in 1859, and in 1801 took into partnership Stephen Seyfang, and in 1866 Adam Reimund joined the firm. The shops were enlarged in 1868, and in 1875 they were moved to the south side of the street, where the present two-story brick was afterward erected. In September, 1884, Mr. Seyfang died, and Buck & Reimund have since continued the business, which has grown from very small beginnings to its present respectable proportions. It is the leading carriage shop of Findlay, and gives steady employment to fifteen hands. All classes of wagons, buggies and carriages are turned out by this firm, their annual sales of new work aggregating from $15,000 to $20,000.

The carriage factory now operated by A. W. Ray, on West Main Cross Street, was established some twenty- six years ago by Karr & Sprau. Many changes have since occui-red in its ownership, John M. Ferguson, Philip B. Mori'ison, S. C. Moore, George Heck, J. L. Linnville, William Biggs, Charles Fritcher, A. W. and J. K. Ray and L. Fitzpatrick having all been connected with tho proprietorship of this factory up to 1877, when A. W. Ray became sole owner. Eight hands are employed in this shop and a good class of wagons, carriages, etc.. is manufactured.

In September, 1879, E. L. Kridler opened a wagon and carriage factory on East Crawford Street. William Ramey obtained an interest in the business, in 1881, but sold out to his partner after about eight months, and the latter continued alone until the spring of 188(3, when Charles Radebaugh purchased an interest. The firm of Kridler & Radebaugh employ eight hands and do a business of about $8,000 per annum.

Several years ago James P. Kerr started a carriage shop on West Crawford Street, which finally went down. In February, 1885, Markle, Mullholand & Co. opened a carriage factory in the same place, and have since been doing a successful business. Seven hands are working in this shop, and a good grade of work is turned out.

The old Jackson foundry was established about 1 848, by Smith, Vandenburg & Nye, on East Crawford Street. Jesse Wolf succeeded them in 1849, and was soon afterward joined by Simon Wilhelm, who, in April, 1851, purchased more ground and enlarged the business. In July, 1855, Augustus Sheffield bought the foundry, and in the fall of 1857, sold it to Jesse George. In March, 1858, the latter formed a partnership with Simon Wilhelm and Jesse Wolf, under the firm name of J. George & Co. , who named their foundiy the " Findlay Foundry and Machine Shop." We find their first advertisement in the Jeffersonian of March, 1858, in which they say they have established said business ' ' at the old foundry on Railroad (Crawford) Street, lately occupied by A. Sheffield. They advertise to manufacture steam-engiues, plows, cultivators, grain-di'ills and several other 'kinds of foundry and machine work. In November, 1859, Wolf & Wilhelm purchased, for $8,000, the foundry established and then operated by Augustus Sheffield, on West Main Cross Street. The shops on Crawford Street were abandoned and the name transferred to the Main Cross Street foundry, which is thus its lineal successor.

In September, 1857, Augustus Sheffield purchased ground on the south side of West Main Cross Street, and built a brick foundry and machine shop thereon. He sold out to Jesse Wolf and Simon Wilhelm in the fall of 1859, who removed from their old location on East Crawford Street to the new shops. Wolf & Wilhelm ran the foundry until 1863, when William France obtained an interest (the firm name remaining as before), which he held about a year. In 1864 Robert S. Mungen purchased Mr. Wilhelm' s interest, and the firm then became R. S. Mungen & Co. Louis Adams entered the firm in 1865, and Adams, Mungen & Wolf continued aboUt one year when Mr. Wolf retired. Adams & Mungen carried on the business until 1867, when Mr. Wolf again became a partner, but the following year sold out his interest to Vincent H. Coons, while Cyrus Vail bought that of Mr. Adams. The interests of Messrs. Vail and Mungen were soon afterward purchased by Mr. Adams, and the firm of Adams & Coons ran the business until 1872, when the former retired. James T. Adams, Newton M. Adams, John W. Davis and William L. Davis, now entered the business, and the firm of Coons, Adams & Co. was organized. A large brick addition was made to the shop in 1878, and a fresh impetus was given to the business. Upon the death of William L. Davis in 1880. his interest was purchased by the remaining partners. In January, 1883, the Adams brothers and Joseph

Village Of Flndlay

Kevis bought out Vincent H. Coons and John ^\\ Davis, and the firm then became Adams Bros. & Co. The Findlay Machine Works manufacture portable and stationary engines, circular saw-mills, etc., and give steady employment to twenty-two hands. In the spring of 1886 they erected a two-story brick addition, in the rear of the old shops, to meet the growing demands of their business.

The Eagle Foundry and Machine Shop was established in 1871 by W. K. Marvin on East Front Street, in a two-story frame building which he had fitted up for the purpose. In 1882 the present two-story brick was erected and the firm of W. K. Marvin & Sons formed, Russell and Demy Marvm being the junior members of the establishment. Portable and stationary engines, saw- mills and all kinds of mill gearing and castings are turned at this foundry.

Yocum & Hollowell started a small foundry about eight years ago in East Findlay, in the building now occupied by the hoop factory. It, however, lasted only a short period and made no mark in the manufacturing line.

The manufacture of furnitvu-e was one of the earliest industries of the village, some of the very first settlers carrying on that business. Frederick Henderson, Paul Sours, John Adams, Hugh Newell and Jesse Wheeler were all engaged in the manufactui-e of furniture during the earlier years of Findlay' s history. Later furnitiu-e-makers were Campbell & Hefflick, Jacob Lohr, Heiiry Porch, David Rummell, Amos Nye, Moses Bullock and Isaac Baker. Mr. Rummell is the only one of the number now in the business, though he has not manufactured much fm-niture for many years

Charles Dietsch & Son began the manufacture of furniture in 1860 on West Main Cross Street. In 1870 the firm became A. Dietsch & Co. , and so remained until 1883, when it was changed to the Dietsch Bros. A fi-ame building was first occupied, and this was used until 1876, when a substantial brick factory was erected on the old site. The Dietsch Bros, employ ten hands, and their business averages about $10,000 per year. This is now the only furniture manufactory in Findlay, and the work turned out is firstclass in every way.

Edwin S. Jones opened a tan-yard on East Front Street in 1828. In 1831 he sold out to Edward Bright, who was joined by Allen Wiseley in the business. This tannery passed through several ownerships, and was finally purchased by G. C. Barnd, who ran it some years ere abandoning the business. Another tannery was opened by Christian Barnd about 1832, west of the park, which was carried on by him and afterward by his son G. C. for a considerable period.

A log distillery was built in 1812-13, on the site of the East Findlay engine house, by John and Benjamin Hershy, of Wayne County, Ohio. They ran the business about four years and then gave it up as non-paying. The only other distillery that has ever been built in this locality was by McConnell, Lewis & Stillings, in the spring and summer of 1857. It was a three-story frame and stood on the north side of the river west of the village. After about one year's operation the distillery was purchased by E. P. Jones, of Findlay, and H. F. Merry, of Sandusky City, who manufactured whisky for some time and then sold out to Louis Adams. The latter took in W. W. McConnell, and the business was carried on by them until after the war closed, and it then went down.

In the winter of 1848-49 John Schneyer established a brewery on the south bank of the river adjoining Judge Cory's residence on the north He manufactured lager beer at this point until the spring of 1857 when he sold out to Joseph and Frank Kevis. In 1861 a branch brewery' was built on Chamberlin's Hill, where good vaults could be constructed, and it was run m connection with the main establishment until burned down in 1875 In the fall of that year Frank Zellers purchased the brewery and afterward erected the large brick yet standing, but in a few years he failed, and the business has not since been revived.

- iS^ Hancock Mills, erected on West Lincoln Street by Jonathan Parker m 185 t--o8, had in operation the first planing-mill in the village. A planer was run here until eight or ten years ago.

In 1859 Benjamin Huber and M.^'d. Miller put into the Ea^le Mills planmg machinery and also machinery for the manufacture of sash doors and blmds. This portion of the mills was run in connection with the flour ing department, first by Mr. Miller and afterward by D. C. Fisher until 1854, when the latter removed the machinery to a new building on West Crawford Street. ^

The extensive planing-mills of Shull & Parker, on West Crawford Street were established, in 1864, by D. C. Fisher and William H. Wheeler who purchased ground and erected a two-story frame and equipped it with the necessary machinery to manufacture sash, doors and blinds The firm of Fisher & Wheeler ran the business until 1868, when C. E. Seymour bouc^ht an interest, and the firm name was changed to D. C. Fisher & Co In 1869 John Shull bought out Mr. Wheeler, and in January, 1872, Mr. Fisher disposed of his interest to A\'illiam Anderson. The firm then became John Shull & Co. In the fall of 1872 Messrs. Anderson and Seymour sold out to George W. Myers and Samuel D. Frey, and on the 4th of September of that year the John Shull Lumber Manufacturing Company" was organized by John Shull, Samuel D. Frey, Henry Schwartz, Squire Carlin and Georo-e W Mv- ^^"' ,^,^^^iJ^ ^^Pit'-^l «tock of $50,000. This company conducted the business until 18 U, and were then bought out by John Shull and D. C. Fisher who under the firm name of Shull & Fisher, carried on until January, 1883 W F ' Parker then came into the business, and the firm of ShulJ, Fisher & Parker was established. Mr. Fisher died in October, 1885, and Shull & Parker purchased his interest. Sixteen hands are employed in these mills, and the combined Sao nnn '^^ j'^^^S ^^« business of the lumber yard, will annually exceed ^OU,UUU. All classes of sash, doors and blinds are turned out, and in fact everything in the building line usually manufactured in such an establishment.

- .p^^!',,^^"^^- & Bushon operate the only other sash, door and blind factory m thevil age. The mill was built in the summer of 1885, on East Front Street, close to the Eagle Foundry, and turns out all classes of such building material as come in their line. They are making a specialty of

. -^^.^ ^T^}!'^ ^^'^^'^ ^^^^ Handle Factory is one of the leading manufactm-ing institutions of Findlay. The business was established on West Sandusky Street, in the spring of 1872, by D. C. Fisher, John K. Wise Andrew Bushon, Henry F. Winders, John M. Hamlin and Samuel C. Moore under the firm name of Moore, Wise & Co. Mr. Fisher sold out in December, 18/2, and Mr. Wise died in 1878, both interests being purchased by the other meiabers of the lirm. Early in 1873 Mr. Bushoii sold to Messrs. Hamlin and Winders, and the establishment was soon afterward burned to the ground. The factory was at once rebuilt on a larger scale, and the business prosecuted with renewed vigor. Henry Hellenkamp bought Mr. Moore' s interest in 1S75, and in 1S'7S sold to Messrs. Hamlin & Winders. In April, 1884, Mr. Hamlin became sole proprietor through the purchase of Mr' Winders' interest. Staves and all kinds of farm-tool handles are the product of this factory, whose markets extend to nearly every part of the globe. Twenty-live hands are usually employed throughout the year, and the' sales amount to 180,000 per annum.

The Findlay Rake Factory was started by C. E. Seymour, Andrew Bushon and H. M. Vance, in North Findlay, in the spring of 1873. Vance & Seymour purchased Mr. Bushon' s interest in 1874, and the followino- year Mr. Vance sold out to P. J. Sours. The firm of Sours & Seymour continued until January, 1878, when Mr. Seymour bought out his partner, and thus became sole owner. In May, 1880, the factory was burned down, and the next month he began the erection of a two-story brick building on East Crawford Street, which was occupied the following autumn. In June, 1882, Lemuel McManness obtained a partnership in the business, and the firm has since been McManness & Seymour. From 12,000 to 15,000 hand-rakes are annually manufactured, and twenty-five hands find steady employment.

The Findlay Manufacturing Company was organized November 14 1873 with a capital stock of $30,000, by E. P. Jones, J. S. Patterson, James H. \\ ilson, ^^ . H. Haven, Charles E. Niles and D. C. Fisher. A two-story brick building was erected on West Crawford Street, and began the manufacture of planed lumber, fanning-mills and washing-machines. It ran only a few years, and was succeeded by a window -shade factory, and known as the '' Novelty Works;" but this was of very short duration. In the fall of 1879 the building was leased by Y. Bickham and Charles Wright, who commenced the manufacture of carriage bent- work. In January, 1881, Mr. A\'right bought out his partner, and ran the business until the spri'no- of 1882 when it ceased fm-ther operations. Mr. Jones, who owns the buifdincr has recently sunk a gas- well in the yard, and rented both to J. W. Smith for the manufacture and working of a metal said to be aluminum.

J. J. Bradner's fanning-mill and handle factory on the Lima road, was started m 1881, and is still in successful operation. Bee-hives and honeysections are also manufactured at this shop, where five hands find steady employment. ^

The Findlay Hoop Works commenced business in the spring of 188'^ on East Sandusky Street in East Findlay. This factory was established' by James P. Kerr, in the building formerly occupied by Yocum & HoUowell's foundry, which had been in operation only a brief time. Mr. Kerr purchased a portion of the machinery and the stock of the Findlay Carriage Bent Works, and removed them to East Findlay, where he began the manufacture of hoops and hardwood lumber. A saw and planing-mill is also operated m this factory, and eight hands are employed in the several branches of the work.

The Findlay Woolen Mill was established by William Anderson and -John D. McKibben in the old Presbyterian Church on East Crawford Street They purchased this building in May, 1858, and fitted it for the manufacture of woolen goods. Mr. Anderson bought out his i)artner four year^ afterward, and continued alone. On the 14th of A2:)ril, 18()5. the cornerstone of the large three-story brick building in East Findlay was laid with imposing ceremonies, as there wore thousands of people in town that day celebrating over the fall of Kichmond and the surrender of Lee's army. In the summer of 1865 Mr. Anderson sold the old property on Crawford Street, and the same year the new mill began operations. Mr. Anderson carried on the business with varying success until the spring of 1884, and was then succeeded by L. Rambo & Son, the present proprietors, who opened the mill for business in June, 1885. The mill is only run a portion of the year, and when in operation furnishes employment to about eighteen hands. Cassimeres, satinets, blankets, flannels and yarns are manufactured in this establishment, the capacity of the mill being about 50,000 pounds of wool annually.

The Linseed Oil Mill of McManness & Seymour had its inception in the summer of 1865, when James T. Adams, C. A. Croninger and William Anderson purchased the old frame woolen-mill on East Crawford Street and began to manufacture linseed oil. Mr. Croninger sold out to his partners in February, 1868. In 1873 Adams & Anderson erected the front portion of the present two- story brick. Mr. Anderson sold his interest in 1877 to Mr. Adams and Milton Taylor, who in 1880 tore down the old fi-ame church portion and replaced it with a brick structure. ' In June, 1882, Adams & Taylor sold the pro})erty to McManness & Seymour, who have since carried on the business. Six hands are employed in the mill, which has a capacity of 45,000 bushels of seed per annum.

Early in 1865 S. F. Gray, J. S. Patterson and Milton Taylor leased the old foundry on East Crawford Street, and fitted it up for a flax-mill. They, however, could not find a paying market for the product, and after a few months' trial the enterprise was abandoned. In 1870 the Delaware Bagging Company started a similar establishment in East Findlay, which was purchased in 1872 by James T. Adams and William Anderson. In 1877 the former sold out to his partner, who several years afterward gave up the business as unprofitable. The building is now occupied by some parties engaged in baling hay.

The harness and saddlery establishment of the Ruhl Bros., on Main Street, gives employment to a greater number of hands than any other factory now (April, 1886,) in operation in Findlay. The present business was started in the spring of 1876, by John S. and George W. Ruhl, and they have since grown into an extensive wholesale trade, one of the firm traveling "on the road" the greater part of his time. Thirty-nine workmen find steady work in the establishment, and their sales reach an aggregate of $60,000 a year.

The Barnd Limekilns south of the village were established by Elijah Barnd in 1871, and over 20, 000 bushels of first-class lime are annually burned in these kilns. From five to seven men are employed, and the business ranks among the leading manufacturing interests of the town.

In 1860 Martin Hirsher established a stoneware pottery in East Findlay on the Mt. Blanchard road. He gets his clay fi-om Akron, Ohio, and the Hocking Valley, and annually turns out about 30,000 gallons of stoneware. His ware has a good reputation, and his sales are principally confined to Hancock County.

1884, aud began the manufacture of masks in a small way in a room in tlie headquarters building on Main Street. By 1885 the business hadsogi'own that the firm purchased a two- story brick building on the south side of Main Cross Street, immediately west of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. The business is owned and operated by Oscar Kirsten and Christian Heyn, and fifteen hands are employed in the factory, which is the only one of the kind in the United States.

The John Shull Novelty Works is one of the recent additions to the business interests of the village. It had its inception in the spring of 1885, in its present quarters in the old Liitheran Church on West Crawford Street, where Mr. Shull began the manufacture, by hand, of ironing tables, etc. But the present works were equipped and started in January, 1886, and have since been doing a prosperous trade. Ironing tables, step and extension ladders, clothes racks, etc. , are turned out on a large scale, fourteen hands being now employed in the factory.

The works of the Brigg's Edge Tool Company is the latest and most prominent manufacturing institution of Findlay. To encourage the location of this factory in the village the citizens donated to the company four acres of land and a gas-well, north of the river and east of the Toledo, Columbus & Southern Kailroad, also $1,500 in money. The factory was completed and opened in the spring of 1886. The company say they will now employ fifty hands, and expect to finally increase the number to 100. The present buildings are good sized brick and fo-ame structm-es, and if the promises of the company are realized these works will prove a wonderful advantage to the material interests of Findlay.

The great development of natural gas is bringing a few more factories to the village. ' ' The Findlay Window Glass Company, of Bellaire, Ohio," was incorporated April 21, and has commenced the erection of buildings for the manufacture of glass in North Findlay, at the junction of the Toledo, Columbus & Southern, and Lake Erie & Western Railroads. Palmer & Arnold are erecting a large brick flouring-mill near the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad depot. Including the basement it will be four stories high, will be furnished with the roller process and have a capacity of 125 barrels of first-class flour every twenty-four hours. Several other manufacturing institutions are investigating the advantages which natuijal gas has conferred upon Findlay as a future field of operations, and some of them will x:)robably locate here.

The Hancock Coxmty Bank was organized June 22, 1847, under the act of February 24, 1845, as a branch of the State Bank. A banker named A. C. Stone came here from the East to establish the enterprise, and enlisted the following stockholders in the project: D. J. Cory, John Dukes, Dr. William H. Baldwin, W. J. Wells, S. N. Beach, H. L. Wood. Edson Goit, Dr. David Patton, Eli S. Reed, A. H. Hyatt, James Robinson, U. A. Ogden, James H. Wilson, Charles W. O'Neal, P. D. Bigelow, Frederick Henderson, William Porterfield, Calvin W. Seaver, Hugh Newell, W. M. Patterson, William E. Chittenden, Wilson Vance, Benjamin Huber, Squire and Parlee Carliu, Robert L. Strother, William Taylor and Dr. Bass Rawson, the capital stock being established at $100,000. Stone retra-ned to the East to settle up his affairs ere opening the bank; there got into financial trouble aud never came back. Thus ended the first banking enterprise of the village.

James Weldou, Charles Hedges, William S. Granger, David J. Cory, William Taylor and James M. Coffiaberry, directors, and Cunningham Hazlett, cashier. This bank lasted until the spring of 1857, and was succeeded by the ' 'Exchange Bank, ' ' C. Hazlett & Co. , proprietors, which, however, did not carry on business very long.

The Citizens' Bank, under the firm name of Ewing, Carlins & Co. , was established in the spring of 1854, and commenced business on the 3d of April. John Ewing, Squire and Parlee Carlin, Charles W. O'Neal, Louis Adams and Samuel Howard composed the tirm. In April, 1855, Mr. Howard retired from the firm, the following November Mr. O' Neal dropped out, and Mr. Ewing in April, 1856. Adams, Carlins & Co. continued to run the bank until December, 1808, when Paul Sours took the place of Mr. Adam^, and the firm became Carlins & Co. This bank was at that time the leading banking house of the county, and did a very large business. On the 17th of January, 1876, it was reorganized as the "Citizens' Savings Bank, " with the following stockholders: Parlee Carlin, Dr. Lorenzo Firmin, M. D. Sours, Lewis C. Carlin, James A. Bope, Squire Carlin, Dr. Bass Rawson, George W. Myers, Samuel D. Frey, D. J. Cory, William L. Davis, John W. Davis, Isaac Davis and Mrs. D. B. G. Carlin. Soon afterward Peter Hosier, Isaac Blaksley and Jacob Wagner were added to the list, while Squire Carlin dropped out. The advertised capital was 150,000, and a guaranteed security of $100,000. It was regarded as a soimd financial institution, as its stockholders embraced several of the wealthiest men of the county; but on the 25th of March, 1878, it went down in financial ruin. The board of directors at the time of the faihu'e were Dr. Lorenzo Firmin, president; D. J. Cory, vice-president; James A. Bope, secretary; Parlee Carlin, John W. Adams, Isaac Blaksley, Lewis C. Carlin and Jacob Wagner, with M. D. Sours, cashier. The cause of the failure was claimed by the officials to be the ' 'heavy liabilities' ' and ' 'scaly assets' ' of the old bank, which were unknowingly assumed by the reorganized institution. It was thought by many that the bank would resume business in a short time, but it never again opened its doors.

The First National Bank was organized in the spring of 1863, the original stockholders being E. P. Jones. Mrs. Frances Brainard, Charles E. Niles, Dr. Anson Hurd, Robert B. Hurd, William H. Wheeler, H. P. Gage, Henry Brown, Henry Byal and Miss Lucinda Suber. The following officers were elected at the time of organization: E. P. Jones, president; Charles E. Niles, cashier; Henry Brown, William H. Wheeler, H. P. Gage, Robert B. Hurd and E. P. Jones, directors. The capital stock was $50, 000, and authorized capital, $100,000. It began business in the summer of 1863, and has ever since been one of the safest and soundest financial institutions in northwestern Ohio. Messrs. Jones and Niles have been its president and cashier, respectively, since the bank was organized, and under their careful administration it has gone forward on a prosperous career, disbursing millions of dollars without any comparative loss during the twenty-three years of its existence. It now enjoys a reputation for strength and solidity unexcelled in this portion of the State.

The Hancock Bank was organized in May, 1867, by Croninger, Gage & Co. In November, 1868, the firm became H. P. Gage & Co. , H. P. Gage, Parlee Carlin and A. S. Julien composing the firm. In June, 1873, this bank was reorganized and incorporated as "The Hancock Savings and Loan

Association," with a capital stock of $50,000, by H. P. Gage, M. C. Whiteley, John D. Bishop, Dr. Charles Osterlen, William L. Davis and Aaron Blackford. By a decree of the court of common pleas of Hancock County, issued October 6, 1873, the name was changed to the "Hancock Savings Bank," and incorporated under this name three days afterward. Its authorized capital was placed at $200,000, with a guaranteed security to depositors of $100,000. It carried on an apparently successful business until the failure of the Citizens' Bank, when a ' ' run' ' was at once made upon it, and on March 28, 1878, it closed its doors. The stockholders at this time were H. P. Gage, Abraham Grabill, John D. Bishop, Richard Dukes, Dr. Charles Osterlen, Alfi-ed Graber and A. R. Belden, with H. P. Gage president, and Alfred Graber cashier. The bank suspended for ninety days, but an investigation revealed the fact that President Gage had squandered the funds in speculation, and business was never resumed. The successive failure of these two banks caused large financial losses to many people, and therefore wide-spread dissatisfaction, and under the pressure of the stigma attached to his name through the misuse of the bank's funds, Mr. Gage committed suicide.

The Farmers' Bank commenced business January 10, 1873, the firm being Seymour, Vance & Co. The owners of this bank were C. E. Seymour, M. W. Vance and H. M. Vance. P. J. Sours was cashier during its brief existence of about one year, when the firm mutually concluded to give up the business and then ceased operations.

The Farmers' National Bank is the successor of the Farmers' Bank, established January 1, 1880, by Peter Hosier, George W. Hull and J. G. Hull, with a capital stock of $60,000. Messrs. Hosier and J. G. Hull were president and cashier, respectively, of the old bank from its inception up to the close of its history, April 30, 1886. On March 30, 1886, the Farmers' National Bank was incorporated with a capital stock of $80,000 and an authorized capital of $160,000. The present officers of the bank are Peter Hosier, president; Milton Gray, vice-president; J. G. Hull, cashier; W. F. Hosier, assistant cashier; Charles Williams, teller; Peter Hosier, T. Carnahan, Milton Gray, Aaron Blackford, E. T. Dunn, John A. Scott, George W. Hull, S. D. Houpt and A. H. Balsley, directors. The new bank commenced operations on the 1st of May, and as many of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of the town are stockholders of the institution, it will doubtless continue to do a safe and extensive business. Its officers are successful, energetic and careful business men, which also insures sound financial management.

The "Findlay Savings and Building Loan Association" was organized October 12, 1867, bv John M. Hamlin, C. D. Ettinger, Charles E. Niles, J. S. Henderson, O" S. Langan, H. P. Gage, D. C. Fisher, J. S. Ballentine, Lewis Glessner, John C. Martin, W. A. Millis and C. N. Locke, with a capital stock of $500,000, divided into 2,500 shares of $200 each. In January, 1870, the capital stock was reduced to $200,000. The association was carried on successfully till the spring of 1878, when its business was wound up and it ceased operations.

The ' ' Findlay Building and Loan Association' ' was organized March 20, 1886, with a capital stock of $500,000 in $250 shares. The officers are F. B. Zay, i^resident; A. C. Heck, vice-president; W. F. Hosier, secretary; John Shull, treasurer; E. T. Dunn, attorney; P. E. Hay, R. A. McGeaiy,

Edwaril Dietscb. i\..W Ray, A. C. Heck, William Edwards and F. B. Zay, directors. These associations are in a certain sense banking institutions, and may properly be placed in the same class of business interests.

From the days when Findlay was a small village up to the present the ever popular circus and other traveling shows came at intervals to amuse and entertain the quiet lives of its inhabitants. One of the first, if not the first, of these was June & Turner's circus, which pitched its tent on "West Front Street in 1847. Of course, as circuses always do, this pioneer drew a big crowd. In Felu'uary, 1848, the theatrical company of S. E. Brown & Co, appeared to large audiences in the court house for one week. Melodeon Building was erected by James H. "Wilson this year (1848), on the site of the Carnahan Block, and contained the first public hall worthy of mention opened in the village. In August, 1851, Van Amburgh's menagerie, with the then famous elephant, "Columbus," exhibited in North Findlay. He came again in 1850 with the big elephant, " Hannibal," and pitched his tent in East Findlay. In 1855 Maj. Ward, a conjurer and ventriloquist, gave a tent exhibition on the public square which created a good deal of curiosity. Maybe & Go's, in 1856, was the first combined circus and menagerie that appeared in Findlay. The street parade which it gave was then a new feature and attracted much attention. A traveling company gave Uncle Tom' s Cabin in Melodeon Hall in 1856, and created a profound impression, as at that time the question of the abolition of slavery was at its height. Spalding & Roger's circus came to Findlay in August, 1857, and their steam calliope, drawn by forty horses, driven by one person, drew out a very large crowd to their tent, near Eagle Creek. Corbin & Co's "Hunters of the "\¥est," a sort of Indian combination troupe, showed here in October, 1857, and, with gaudy trappings, paraded Main Street. Yankee Robinson' s circus gave an exhibition in the village about this time, pitching its tent near Eagle Creek, between the Branch Railroad and Main Cross Street, where Spalding & Rogers had previously exhibited. In the fall of 1858, Prof. Winchell, one of the greatest ventriloquists and facial performers of his day, appeared in Melodeon Hall. He was also a good singer and performed to large and delighted audiences. Gulick's Old Folk's Concert Company gave one of their very popular entertainments in Melodeon Hall in the winter of 1858- 59. In the summer of 1 860, Dondley' s Theater Company, of Cincinnati, showed for a week in the court house, was well patronized and regarded with high favor. The foregoing comprise only some of the principal shows that appeared prior to the Rebellion. Wheeler's Hall was built by William H. Wheeler in 1868, and completed the following year, and was subsequently used for all classes of entertainments up to the o})ening of the present Davis Opera House, on Thanksgiving night. 1876. The latter was built by William L. Davis, John W. Davis and Martin L. Detwiler. It was commenced in 1875 and completed in the autumn of the following year. Though an occasional troupe or lecturer is well patronized by the peojile of the village, Findlay is not generally regarded by the profession as a good show town, and the gentlemen who have heretofore run the opera house, have therefore, made no money out of the business. Public places of amusement are, however, a necessity in every progressive town, and the Davis Opera House is sufificiently large to su]iply the present demands of Findlay in that direction.

The several bands that have existed in the village have been so closely identified with the amusement field as to deserve mention in this coanection.

The first of these was the Findlay Brass Band, organized by the Germans of the town in 1857, which lasted some three years. In 1858 the Schneyer Band broke off fi'om the German Band, bnt existed only about one year. The Citizens' Band was organized in 1859 by Charles Mains, and was m great demand during the earlier stages of the war. Some of its members went into the army, and it was reorganized by Prof. A\ ildman ni 1868, as the Findlay Cornel Band. About five years afterward the name was changed to the Northwestern Band, and in 1879, to the Opera House Band. This lasted about three years and then went out of existence. In the fall of 1882 the Union Band was organized but never amounted to anything, and February 11, 1883, it was reorganized by J. B. Markle as the Northwestern Band, of which organization Findlay has good reason to be proud. It contains eighteen instruments - brass and reed - and is generally recognized as the peer of any other band in northwestern Ohio.#

Chapter Xxxiii Findlay Concluded

Natural Gas in Hancock County-Its Discovery in 1836-riRST Natural Gas Found and Used in Findlay - Numerous Evidences of its Presence - Dr. Osterlen's Belief in its Plentiful Existence, and His Early Investigations of the Subject - The Gas on the Foster Lot Utilized by Jacob Carr - Oil Excitement in Findlay- - Attempts to Find Oil and Their Failure - Dr. Osterlen's Persistent Advocacy OF A GrexVT Natural Gas Deposit - Organization of the Findlay Natur\l G\s Company - The Men Who First Risked Their Money in THE Enterprise - The First Well Drilled, and Gas Developed in Paying Qu entities - To Whom the Credit is Due - Mains Laid and G\s Piped Into Findlay- Other Wells Put Down - Consolidation of THE Old and New Companies - SuBSECiUEXT Enterprises, and Number of Wells Now Drilled - Their Capacity, Product and Permanency - Later Companies in the Field - Description of the Great Karg \Yeli - Abundant Supply of Gas, its Superiority as Fuel, and Comparative Safety-- Cost to the Consumer - A Few Cases Illustrating Its Wonderful Cheapness - What Natural Gas Has Accomplished For Findlay.

'\rO event in the history of Findlay has given the town such a wide rep- JN utation, and conferred upon its people such material benefits, as the recent development of its great natural gas deposits. The history of natm-al gas in Hancock County goes back to the fall of 1836. when a small vein was tapped by Richard Wade while digging a well on his farm, on the southeast quarter of Section 6, Jackson Township, about two miles and a half south of Findlay. Plenty of water was found at a depth of ten feet, but the flow of gas was so strong that the well had to be abandoned, as the water was unfit for use. The escaping gas was subsequently conveyed from the well through a wooden box, to the end of which Wade attached a piece of iron tubing, and he would sometimes light it in exhibiting the phenomenon to visitors. Very little attention, however, was paid to it at the time, for the ample reason that the pioneers were then struggling to establish homes, and possessed neither the knowledge nor means to investigate the subject.

In the autumn of 1838 Daniel Foster, a brother of Jacob Foster, of North Findlay, put down a well on the lot now owned by Jacob Carr, on Main Street, in the village of Findlay. x4t a depth of eight feet he struck a very strong vein of gas, and had to suspend operations. Covering it over he placed a pump* tube, extending under his house from an opening in the well covering to the vicinity of the chimney, and then boring a hole through the floor attactlied a musket barrel to the pump tube, through which the gas was conducted to near the mouth of the open lire-place, and first used in Findlay. Foster utilized the gas to light his house, and his wife would often boil her coffee in the summer time on top of the gun barrel, and thus this primitive contrivance, first constructed as a curiosity, became a source of great convenience to the family. Soon after the discovery of gas by Foster, a well was sunk by Jesse George on the southwest corner of Main and Hardin Streets, a sycamore gum put down to prevent caving in, and a loose covering of piTucheons placed over the top. The water had a strong sulphuric taste, and the family soon began to amuse strangers by showing how the water in the well would burn. But an event finally occurred which gave them a wholesome respect for this strange fluid. While a party of young ladies were exhibiting the wonderful phenomenon to a Mr. Green, he jokingly thrust a torch into the well, when an explosion occurred, blowing off the covering and seriously burning the experimenter. John H. Morrison then decided to nail down the top, and thus prevent further accidents. Two days afterward Henry Byal and Anthony Strother came in from the country to examine the strange well, and inserteid a light under the covering. A loud explosion followed, blowing off the cover, which had been nailed down, and throwing both young men into the air. They were thoroughly frightened, and Mr. Byal, who is now a resident of Findlay, says: ' I have ever since had a very respectful opinion of the power which this fluid possesses. ' '

The well on Daniel Foster's premises gave an uni'emitting flow of gas, and would burn until forcibly extinguished. Few persons thought much of the phenomenon after its novelty had worn off, but it was useful to the Foster family, and a source of amusement to the boys of the village. Findlay peo})le bought wood for fuel, and lighted their houses with candles or whale oil, dreaming not of the strange fluid deep down in the bowels of the earth, where it had been stored by the great Creator, to be brought forth in due time l)y the developed skill and science of the nineteenth century. Within the limits of the village, north of the river, was a spring of water impregnated with sulphur, which tasted and smelled vilely. A lighted torch held above it would ignite the escaping gas, that burned with a blue flame, and threw out an intense heat. All these things were common knowledge and talk for many years, and similar indications of gas were found in scores of wells in different parts of the county, which were usually called "sulphur wells. ' '

Among the more thoughtful people of the county there was one man upon whom these natural ijhenomena made a deep impression at an early day, viz. : Dr. Charles Osterlen, then a young German physician, of Findlay. Being something of a geologist, he became earnestly interested, and, after careful investigation, concluded that underlying the village was a .great uat- ural gas deposit which could be developed by drilling through the supervening rock strata. The more incredulous people laughed at what they designated as "the Doctor's wild theories." some going so far in their ridicule as to intimate that he was crazy. During his investigations he discovered many strong indications of gas. all of which strengthened his belief still more in the plentiful existence of the fluid. In 1850, while passing by liobert S. Muugen's quarry, located in the east part of Findlay, the Doctor remarked to Mr. Mungen. "I smell gas very strong;" to which the latter replied, "Yes, I am almost suffocated by it." Dr. Osterlen at once mixed some clay and constructed a small hollow mound over a fissure in the rock, on the top of which he placed a wooden^ bucket. In a few moments he touched a lighted match under the edge of the bucket, which was followed by an explosion, throwing the vessel into the air. and the gas burned for a short time. Some yeai's afterward he observed on his farm, east of the village, a small patch of ground upon which nothing grew. He employed a boy to dig a funnel-shaped hole on the site, six feet deep, fi'om which the gas began escaping, and upon applying a match the fluid ignited andbiu-ned for several hours. Dr. Osterlen continued to advocate his belief in an underlying natural gas or oil-bed, which the foregoing investigations had developed into an absolute fact, so far as he was concerned, until many thinking men agreed with him. The subsequent discoveries of oil and gas in Pennsylvania and New York did much, no doubt, to strengthen his position and convince the most incredulous that there was a method in the Doctor's madness.

With the death of Daniel Foster, in 18-49 or 1850, the property upon which the first natural gas in Findlay was found and used by that gentleman, passed into other hands, and in the spring of 1868 was purchased by Jacob Carr, a dentist of the village, and previous proprietor of Carr' s Hotel, which stood on the southwest corner of Main and Crawford Streets. In speaking of the purchase, Mr. Carr says: ' ' When I bought the place, the tube and gun-barrel arrangement, which Foster had used to conduct the gas into his house, had been removed, and I found the water in the well so unpleasant to the taste that I dug a cistern, intending to run rainwater into it for family use. When the cistern was finished and lined with boards it would not stay in place, as the escaping gas would keep forcing it up. I removed the boards and digged deeper, until reaching the limestone rock, six feet and a half below the surface. I then found that the gas came up very strong throiigh the rock crevices, and I concluded to try and utilize it, as Foster had done years before. I made a sheet-iron pipe, larger at one end than at the other, and, placing the larger end on the bottom of the well, fixed a connecting pipe to the small end sticking out of the ground, and conducted the gas into the house, where I afterward used it for lighting and cooking. I subsequently had a mechanic construct a sheet-iron drum, about six feet in diameter and six feet deep, and used this as a gasometer in which to collect a supply for my own consumption." These evidences of Mr. Carr's ingenuity and thoughtfulness are still in his yard as when constructed, though he has not used them since the great development of natural gas, but gets his supply from the company' s mains.

In the meantime the development of petroleum in paying quantities in western Pennsylvania, in 1859-60, caused a flurry of excitement in Findlay over the supposed presence of oil-bearing sand underlying Hancock

County; and as the real indications of the existence of petroleum were but little understood at that time, every sulphurous odor and gaseous exudation from mother earth was looked upon as a sure precursor of oleaginous wealth below. Among the places Avhere the signs of the coveted fluid were supposed to be most strongly marked, was an old abandoned well on the north side of Sandusky Street east of Main, near the soiitheast corner of Frey & Son's drug store. This old well had long been dry, and was half filled with rubbish. But one winter morning in 1859-60, Daniel Dixon, an oldtime merchant of Findlay, since deceased, while passing by noticed a strong gaseous odor coming from it. The oil excitement was then at fever heat all over the country, and thinking that perhaps he had found a sign of the much sought for article, Mr. Dixon procured an iron bar and began forcing it through the debris. Through the opening thus formed the gas poured out abundantly, and raised the old gentleman's hopes to a point of enthusiastic anticipation. While thus engaged, a citizen of Findlay, now living, passed by and very naturally inquired the meaning of the vigorous probing of the old well. Mr. Dixon turned to the interrogator, and with a smile and a merry twinkle of his eye, replied, "It's oil. Squire, oil!" The next ' day Mr. Dixon had the old well cleaned out, and being a man of intelligence, soon found that the flow of gas resulted from natural causes which he did not understand. The matter caused no little excitement, however, and it was some little time before it entirely died out.

A well on the premises now occupied by D. D. McCahan, on South Main Street, which is strongly charged with sulphur, caused some excitement soon after Mr. Dixon's explorations. Several experts examined this well and pronounced the sulphurous condition of the water to be fi'om underlying petroleum. The same notions prevailed about the sulphur spring north of the Blanchard. Nothing was done, however, toward testing this theory and the matter was soon forgotten by the great majority of the people. A\'ith the light of recent developments we now know that the escaping natural gas was the cause of these petroleum evidences, and also that petroleum does exist under the superincumbent strata through which the gaseous odors were then pushing their way to the surface.

Early in 1861 a company was organized in Findlay, with the intention of prosyjecting for oil, in which the following citizens were stockholders: William H. AN'heeler, Robert S. Mungen, V. G. Baker, C. A. Croninger, Albert Langworthy, David Goucher, H. P. Gage, E. M. Burkle, William Mungen, J. B. Horn & Co. , William Vanlue, Jesse Wolf, Frederick Henderson, George H. Crook, Israel Green, Jesse Guise, Henry Brown, Isaac Davis, Dr. Bass Rawson and William C. Cox. The comjjany was organized by electing Israel Green, j)resident; Robert S. Mungen, secretary, and E. M. Burkle. treasurer. The spot selected for the well was a few rods southeast of the Presbyterian Church, but the preliminary operations were suspended through the breaking out of the war and were never resiimed.

The subject again began to be agitated in the fall of 1864, and with some show of vigor toward determining if oil existed in this county. In that year a party of gentlemen, who claimed a thorough knowledge of the business, came from the East, and, after an examination of the territory, declared that oil could be found here in paying (quantities. In the winter of 1864-65 a derrick was rigged up on the premises of Jacob Carr by two men from Gallipolis, Ohio, and an oil-well drilled by a kind of spring pole method to a dopth of 141 feet, when the drill stuck fast in the bottom of the well, which was then abandoned. Of course no satisfactory resiilts were obtained, and it looks strange, fi'om our present knowledge as to the great depth at which oil has since l)een found in Findlay, that any could have been expected from such a primitive mode of drilling.

The Hancock Oil Company was incorporated February 9, 1865, by Messrs. Hanks P. Gage, William Anderson, Roberts. Mungen, K. S. Baker, C. A. Croninger, William H. Wheeler, J. J. Wheeler, W. B. Taylor and Squire Carlin, ' 'for the purpose of engaging in the business of digging and boring for oil, salt and other vegetable, medicinal and mineral fluids in the eai-th, and for refining and purifying the same; and mining coal ores and other minerals. " The capital stock was placed at $100,000, in shares of $10 each, and all t)perations were to bo carried on within the counties of Hancock and Wood. Though the company was organized to prospect for oil, their charter was sufficiently broad to cover any valuable substance they might find. A well was sunk at Waterville, on the Maumee River, to a depth of 700 feet, and a little gas found, but the project was then aban^ doned as a failiu-e, and all further operations discontinued.

The same year (1865) Hon. Parlee Carlin, of Findlay, in company with William H. Ijams & Co., fi'om the East, leased a large amount of property in this county ' 'for the purpose of mining and excavating for petroleum, coal, rock or carbon oil, or other valuable mineral or volatile substances. ' ' As an equivalent for the use of his land the party was to receive ' 'one full equal eighth part of the petroleum found at the well. ' ' The person from whom the land was leased was also required to furnish barrels in which to store his share of the oil. Messrs. Carlin, Ijams & Co., leased ground from Solomon Slupe, H. B. Wall, Allen W^iseley, Henry Burman, Addison Hardy, Robert L. Strother and others. A huge derrick was erected on the ground now in^ eluded in Gage & Carlin' s addition to Findlay, but nothing was ever done with it. With the exception of the well sunk on the premises of Mr. Carr no efforts were made to determine whether oil could be found or not. This last excitement soon died out, and belongs to the unprofitable enterprises of the past.

Through all these years Dr. Osterlen remained firm in his belief that natural gas existed here in paying quantities, and a few others accepted his opinion on the matter as probal)ly correct. We find strong evidence of this growing belief in the franchise granted in 1867, to Robert S. Mungen and associates, to erect gas works and light the town. In that franchise the following clause relative to natural gas appears: ''That nothing herein shall be so construed as to prevent said village or the citizens thereof from using and laying pipes for conducting all natural gas found in the wells or public cisterns within the corporate limits of said village. ' ' When the gen tleman who built the artificial gas works in Findlay was commencing the enterprise. Dr. Osterlen toid him to sink wells for natural gas instead of building works. But his predecessors in the enterprise had consulted the State geologists, who informed them that natural gas did not exist in the State of Ohio in paying quantities, and; therefore, gave the matter no further atten tion. So a costly plant to manufacture gas from coal, brought hundi'eds of miles, was established, while all the time the vast deposit of natiiral gas under the town was making itself obnoxious to the nose and disagreeable to the palate of the man who was putting his money into the enterprise. Dr. Osterleu while serving in the Legislature had also called on the State geologists and informed them that in his opinion their survey of northwestern Ohio was superficial, and that a mighty bed of natural gas lay undeveloped in that part of the State. The geologists learnedly replied that whatever natural gas existed at Findlay came from Michigan underneath the bed of Lake Erie, and there was not sufficient gas here to pay for sinking wells. The Doctor bluntly told them they were all mistaken, and time would prove the correctness of his opinion. We now know that Dr. Osterlen was right and the geologists wrong, and the venerable physician was the main instrument in organizing the company which put down the first well, and proved to the world what every one now concedes - that a great natural gas bed underlies Findlg,y, sufficient to supply light and fuel for a city of metropolitan dimensions.

Early in 1884 Dr. Osterlen determined to make an effort to organize a company to prospect for natural gas, and approached Charles J. Eckels and Fred H. Glessner on the subject, both of whom agreed to join him in the enterprise. Henry Porch, George W. Kimmel, Peter Kunz, Jason Blackford and Vincent H. Coons were next seen and secured as supporters of the proposed project. April 18, 1884, articles of incorporation under the name of "The Findlay Natural Gas Company," were drawn up, signed and acknowledged by Dr. Charles Osterlen, Charles J. Eckels, Fred H. Glessner, Henry Porch, George W. Kimmel and Peter Kunz, in the presence of Jason Blackford and Vincent H. Coons, and three days afterward filed in the office of the Secretary of State. The capital stock was $5,000, divided into 100 shares of $50 each. On the 30th of April the eight citizens of Findlay previously named, together with U. K. Stringfellow and John H. Decker, entered into a private agreement. ' ' to prospect for natural gas, petroleum, ci)al, minerals and artesian wells (all of which the charter covered), in and about the village of Findlay, Ohio," and share all profits arising therefrom. The subscription book for stock opened July 10, and on the 25th Dr. Charles Osterlen took fifteen shares; Charles J. Eckels, ten; Fred H. Glessner, five; George W. Kimmel, five; IT. K. Stringfellow, five; Jason Blackford, two, and Henry Porch, two. Vincent H. Coons and Peter Kunz subscribed to the capital stock soon afterward, and the following persons were also subsequent stockholders in the enterprise: A. C. Heck, John Ruthrauff, J. W. Zeller, W. H. Haven, W. T. Piatt. Edward Dietsch, W. B. Porch, Ernest Bacher, William Edwards, J. W. Gassman, Lemuel McManness, G. L. Cusac, Dr. Anson Hurd, John M Hamlin, Frank Karst. Sr. , Isaac Hershey, Brownyer & Martin, Mrs. Harriet Detwiler, Mrs. E. H. Young and B. F. Bolton, some of whom, however, took very little interest in the progress of the work, as the enterprise was not then looked upon with much favor, outside of curiosity, by the great majority of the people.

August 22, 1884. Dr. Charles Osterlen, Charles J. Eckels, Henry Porch, Vincent H. Coons, George W. Kimmel, A. C. Heck and U. K. Stringfellow, were chosen directors of the company for the ensuing year, and at once organized by electing Henry Porch, president; A. C. Heck, vice-president; Fred H. Glessner, secretary; George W. Kimmel, treasurer. On the 5th of September the contract for di'illing the well was let to Brownyer & Martin, of Bradford, Penn., at the following prices: $2,200 for 1,200 feet; $2,800 for 1,600 feet, and $8,200 for 2,000 feet, to which depth they intended to sink the well if necessary to a thorougli prospecting of the territory. Messrs. Eckels, Coons and Stringfellow were appointed to select a location for the well, and chose a site in the eastern suburb of the village, on the land of Dr. Osterlen. Work was soon after commenced by the drillers and pushed vigorously. The first gas vein was tapped at 314 feet, the second at 516 feet, the third at 618 feet, oil at 718 feet, and the general gas bed was struck at 1,01)2 feet. They, however, drilled on to a depth of 1648 feet, which was reached December 5, 1884, and operations were then stopped. Salt water was found in great quantity, and to shut off the flow the hole was subsequently filled up a few hundred feet. The di-illing of this well cost the company $2,825, while the whole expense exceeded $3,000. But what of that in comparison with the great result. It had now been demonstrated beyond any doubt that natural gas existed here in paying quantities, and only a few months more were required to develop it to an apparently inexhaustible degree.

During the period that the company were engaged in sinking this well, many wiseacres condemned the scheme as a chimerical idea of Dr. Osterlen's; but lo ! when gas was found, it was very strange, indeed, how many there were who exclaimed, ' " I told you so ! I always said there was plenty of natural gas in Findlay. " Numerous "original discoverers" of this wonderful fluid have since appeared, but if ever a man deserved whatever honor attaches to the persistent advocacy for years and belief in the plentiful existence of natiu'al gas in Findlay, as well as to its first development, Dr. Charles Osterlen is certainly that man.

Though the well was finished and plenty of gas found, thousands of dollars were yet needed to push the enterprise to a successful completion, and in January, 1885, $5,000 of eight per cent bonds were issued to lay mains and pipe the gas into the town. A new board of directors was chosen for 1885, consisting of Dr. Charles Osterlen, Charles J. Eckels, Fred H. Glessner, Vincent H. Coons, George W. Kimmel, A. C. Heck and U. K. Stringfellow. This board elected Fred H. Glessner, president; A. C. Heck, vice-president; U. K. Stringfellow, secretary; George W. Kimmel, treasurer. On March 23, 1885, the capital stock was increased to $50,000, and an efl'ort was made to dispose of some of it among the business men of Findlay, but though quite a number were called on the effort proved a failure. No one wanted to invest money in the natviral gas business at that time, and all seemed yet to view the enterprise with distrust. The company also tried to sell some stock to capitalists of Bradford, Penn., and Columbus, Ohio, but they, too, held aloof. Money was then borrowed by the company on their individual notes, and the work of piping the gas into Findlay carried forward through the spring of 1885, with Vincent H. Coons as superintendent of construction, and in May the gas from the Osterlen well began to be used in the village.

Natural gas was now a demonstrated fact to the Findlay people, and in the meantime other parties had concluded to profit fi'om the experience of those who risked their money when it required very strong faith to do so. A well was drilled near the gas works on East Sandusky Street by the old Findlay Gas Light Company, who shut down their works February 1, 1885, and began using the natural fluid; and another well on East Front Street was put down by W. K. Marvin, in which also plenty of gas was found. Three more wells were drilled in the" summer of 1885, viz. : the

Adams, Lima Street and Barnd, and all proved successful enterprises. The first and last mentioned were owned by the old Findlay Gas Light Company, and the Lima Street well by the Findlay Natural Gas Company. By this time it had become plainly evident to both companies that they were pursuing a very unwise business policy, under which neither would make any money. So conferences were held, and September 1, 1885, they consolidated as the Findlay Gas Light Company. Since that event the company has put down four wells, which, with the Marvin well, previously leased fi'om the owner, W. K. Marvin, makes a total of ten wells controlled by the Findlay Gas Light Company. In July, 1885, the Findlay Drilling Company was organized, composed of a large number of local stockholders, and the Putnam Street well was sunk. The Kirk, McManness, Cory and Jones wells were private enterprises, while the Briggs well was put down by public subscription and donated by the citizens to the Briggs Edge Tool Company. The Firmin w^ell was drilled by the Trenton Rock Oil Company, the Matthias, No. 2, by a local syndicate, and the Taylor by a Pennsylvania firm. The following table gives the names, date of completion and depth of each of the nineteen wells piit down in Findlay or vicinity up to the close of April, 188G:

In drilling these wells the following strata are usually found: From 10 to 25 feet of drift, 245 to 450 feet of upper limestone, 800 to 900 feet of shales and slate (wherein is located a layer of from 40 to 60 feet of red rock) and then comes the Trenton limestone in which the gas and oil is found at a depth of fi'om 20 to 50 feet. The flow of gas from thirteen hi the wells mentioned in the foregoing table ranges from 200,000 to 2,000,- 0()0 cubic feet every twenty-four hours; while the estimated daily product of the great Karg well is 10,500,000 cubic feet. The Adams, though a good gas well, also produces about twelve barrels of oil per day. The two Matthias and Taylor wells are solely oil producing. No. 1 now averaging about thirty barrels per day, while the product of No. 2 and the Taylor has not yet been gauged. This oil readily brings from forty to sixty per barrel at the well. It will thus be seen that Findlay possesses what now appears to be an inexhaustible supply of natural gas. But a cloud of uncertainty has always hung over its permanency, and the general idea heretofore encouraged by the State geologists has been that the gas was simply in "pockets," and it was only a (luestion of time when such reservoirs would be exhausted. But we have already shown in this article that the learned geologist has been wrong upon every point connected with the existence of natural gas in northwestern Ohio, and if his ipse dixit had been followed. Findlay would still be using wood and coal for fuel, and the great underlying storehouse of nature would have remained undeveloped for perhaps another. generation. Scientific and unscientific opmion appears to be about settled down to the belief that the supply of natural gas is produced by continual generation, and though wells may give out, and local supplies may fail here and there, like the great natui-al product of spring water, it will keep flowing from the earth forever. So far the supply fi'om the Findlay wells seems to be on the increase, and with the sinking of new wells the gas pours forth with added force and denser volume.

In addition to the companies previously mentioned, several others have been organized for the purpose of prospecting for oil and gas, or to pipe the latter fluid to less fortunate towns. These are " The Findlay Oil and Gas Company." incorporated November 3, 1885; "The Hancock Oil and Gas Company," January 20, 1886; "The Findlay Pipe Line Company," February 8, 188(3; "The Wood and Hancock Oil and Gas Company," March 11, 1886; and " The Limestone Oil and Gas Company." A large amount of land has been leased by these companies in Hancock and A^'ood Counties, the right of way for a pipe line from Findlay to Toledo obtained by "The Wood and Hancock Oil and Gas Company," and two have commenced active drilling operations. Tall derricks are springing up in every part of the county, and ere this article goes to press many more wells will, doubtless, be sending forth valuable streams of oil or gas.

The first feature that strikes an observer is the great supply of gas, as evidenced by its tremendous pressure. It comes not with a flow as ordinarily understood, but in force like a mighty rushing wind. The gas f lom the great Karg well leaps and roars fi'om its mouth night and day - a semivolcanic pyramid of flame. The company has so far been unable to utilize the flow from this well, and, therefore, as a matter of safety allow the millions of feet of escaping gas to burn from an iron pipe extending from the mouth of the well to the bank of the river. Thousands of visitors have been attracted to Findlay during the past year to view her wonderful gas wells, and numerous articles relating thereto have appeared in the leading papers of the country. A special correspondent of the Toledo Bee gives the following graphic account of his visit, in February, 1886, to the great natural gas town of Ohio:

" Five or six miles before reaching Findlay a brilliant light is seen in the heavens, and a mile or two further on discloses to the vision a great cloud of fire. This w^as the great Karg well. Its proportions, intensity and grandeur increase as the town is neared, when the church steeples and house tops are brought out with the distinctness of day. Unexplained, the phenomenon would be awful and fearful. Passing into the main street of the town the light fi-om the burning Karg is somewhat modified by the bright flames fi'om the immense jets of gas shooting upward fi'om the tops of the lamp-posts. These jets are three or four feet in height, and under their glare, a pin in the street, which is 100 feet wide, can be readily picked up, and the finest print can be read as easily as in a parlor in Toledo lighted by the best gas our company* can produce.* It is impossible to give a correct idea of the impression made upon a stranger as he stands in the center of this wide, level street, with long vistas of light north and south of him; the house fronts are as clearly defined as if the king of day were pouring the noon-day light upon them, and the pedestrians on the street readily recognized l)locks away. The effect was peculiar and inspiring.

"To obey the impulse to visit the monster who was shedding a light which, to unused ey-es, exceeded anything before imagined, beyond the sun itself, though tired and hungry, a carriage was called, and with the artist of the Bee we drove at once to it, more than half a mile from the hotel. As we neared the spot, sounds like the rushing waters of a great fall struck the ear, and in the houses where the windows looked in that direction, the interior was as light as day. Passing through several streets, the hack brought up suddenly 100 feet from the well. The sounds of the escaping gas from the stand-pipe now forcibly reminded me of Niagara, and as I looked up at the great cloud of flame shooting upward as if angry that there was not something for it to destroy, the feeling of the sublime called up by the great cataract forced itself still stronger upon me.

' ' The scene is one of indescribable grandeur. The well is located on the south bank of the Blanchard River, which passes through the north part of the town. It is 1, 144 feet from the surface to the gas-bearing rock below, and the hole is five and five-eighths inches in diameter. From the top of the ground it is conveyed about 100 feet from the well in a six-inch iron pipe, and from this a stand-pipe fifty-seven feet high is connected, which is three inches in diameter at the top where the gas escapes. A cut-off above the ground at the well is placed to shut off the flow, but for some time the gas has been allowed to have its way and millions of feet are wasted to satisfy the curiosity of the throngs of people who visit it daily. As far as the eye has uninterrupted scope, the landscape is illuminated by this monster light, and persons could be distinctly seen more than half a mile away, and the color of their clothing readily discerned. Within 100 feet of the flame, with a cold crisp atmosphere outside, it was uncomfortably hot. On the opposite side of the river and for a considerable distance all about the well, the grass was growing with the luxuriance of May, and the water in the river below, everywhere else covered with ice, was as blue and limpid as a lake."

The stand-pipe alluded to by the correspondent has recently been taken down and placed upon the ground, with its mouth extending over the bank of the stream. In this position the scene is, if anything, grander and more awe-inspiring than before, the water in the river fairly boiling from the intense heat thrown out by the constantly burning fliaid. The flame licks the surface of the water, and leaps at intervals almost across the stream, and, in close proximity, the noise made by the escaping gas is indeed bewildering to the average visitor.

While the number of wells already sunk, and the quantity of gas produced would seem to be more than sufficient to supply the wants of Findlay and its 6,000 inhabitants, and even ten-fold that number of people, wells are still being sunk to meet the demand of the increasing number of manufacturing establishments attracted to the town by the abundance and cheapness of the gas as a fuel. There has been no perceptible decrease in the product of the wells except in instances where a flow of oil has interrupted the flow of gas. The discovery of the great Karg well, which of itself pours out more than enough gas to light and heat the town, and supply all of its manufactories, justifies the belief that the Findlay gas territory is almost inexhaustible, and from it enough of the valuable fluid could be oh tained to supply two or three cities the size of Toledo. The eras supplies all the purposes for which coal is used - heat and light - and is readily cneaply and safely applied to all piu-poses of lighting the streets, and lio-hting and heating halls, theaters, churches, stores and dwellings, and for all manufacotries where power is used. Its capacity to heat steam generating boilers is demonstrated beyond question, and there does not seem to be any purpose to which fuel can be applied that it is not the best, most convenient and cheapest.

The superiority of the Findlay gas in the amount of heat which it produces is one of its most valuable features. It is doubtful if any other article known to use as fuel can produce as high a degree of heat in so short a time. Burned from simple perforations in an ordinary gas-pipe which can be introduced into any stove or grate, in a brief time "the stove will become a cherry red. A little valve regulates the supply and pressm-e, and in the morning, if you do not want the fire burning all night, you turn the valve, thrust m a lighted match, and at once your tire is boomino- Firebuilding, of a cold winter morning, has lost its terrors for the fortunate people of Findlay, and wood-sheds, coal-bins and ash barrels are to them merely an unpleasant memory. Another important advanta^re is the fact that it 18 characterized by a strong odor, more pungent than artificial eras even which is a great safe-guard against explosions and accidents The I'lttsburghgas is nearly or quite odorless, and there is nothing, consequently to give warning when there has been an escape. The use of o-as crreatly lessens the danger of loss by fire and so reduces rates of insurance ^^Burnt with air as it is, the combustion is complete, and there is no soot and no chimneys to burn out. In a thousand different ways this new factor in the affairs of the world adds to the wealth, the convenience, the comfort and pleasures of existence.

Aside from all the remarkable advantages the new fuel and illuminator possesses, its cheapness is, however, the main thing in its favor The gas company now charges |12 per year for cooking stoves, and $1. 50 per mouth tor seven months, for the average heating stove: the larger heaters in the business houses run as high as $3 per month diu-ing the winter season Gas burners for lighting purposes cost from 15 to 30 cents per month each In this respect, as in the item of fuel, a great saving is made. Many of the stores light up at night with scores of blazing jets, and on short winter days light them early m the afternoon, for there is no stingy measurement of the gas through meters, the use of which is discarded. It is, however proper to state that the light is not so good as that fm-nished by the manufactured gas or coal oil, as the powerful pressure makes it unsteady, and the least draft or pufj of air affects it badly. It is, therefore, not a pleasant light tor reading or other close work, and is very trying to the eyes But Findlay possesses the cheapest fuel in the United States, and here 'the manufactm-er may build immediately over his supply of fuel and light. The cost of sink mg a well averages from $1. 200 to 12, 000, and that is the end of all expense and trouble to light, heat and furnish power to the establishment This is marvelous, and makes a reduction in the running expense and cost of proauction that IS nothing less than a revolution.

Very little fuel outside of gas is now used in Findlay, and the wood and coal trade has fallen ofF to a comparative insignificance. A few cases will serve to illustrate the wonderful revolution that natural gas has brought about in the cost of lighting and heating. The proprietors of the Joy House claim a saving of about $400 per annum on light and fuel, and this hotel is one of the best heated and lighted country houses in the State. The proprietor of one of the principal stores of the town says that it used to cost him I860 per annum to light and heat his establishment. Now it costs him not quite $60 or a saving of $300, besides being rid of all the dirt, trouble and inconven ience of wood and coal. Elijah Barnd, proprietor of the limekilns, south of town, pays the gas company $200 per anniam for all the gas he can use in his kilns. It used to cost him $1,800 per year for wood, with which to burn the same amount of lime. Adams Bros. & Co. , foundry and machine shops, with a previous fuel capacity of $1,000 per annum, are supplied with fuel and light from a well on their premises at no cost, such being the contract with the company when the well was sunk. W. K. Marvin & Sons, foundry and machine shop, owners of the Marvin well, run their establishment at a saving of $2,000 a year in fuel, and, besides, supply a planingmill and furnish a large surplus to the gas company, which pays them a considerable profit. The planing-mill supplied fi-om this well saves $1,000 a year in fuel. The most striking example, however, in the saving of fuel in manufacturing is furnished by the Eagle Koller Flouring-mills. This establishment consumed $1,500 worth of coal a year, and employed two stokers, which, with the handling of the coal, made the cost about $2,000. At a cost of $1,600 for boring a well, gas has been obtained which furnishes all the fuel and light for the mills. And, in addition, the well supplies a woolenmill with fuel and light, for which they get $100 a year, also thirteen families with fuel and light. The results in these cases illustrate the value of natural gas as a fuel-saving element to a remarkable degree. And yet with all this, the capacity of the wells is by no means heavily drawn upon, and millions of feet of gas go to waste every twenty- four hours.

Capital is eagerly investigating matters here, and the attention of manufacturers is turned in this direction. There is a noticeable increase of visitors, the hotels are full all the time, and there has been a general advance in valuation all along the line. But those proposing to locate and establish any kind of manufacturing institution may be sure of generous treatment. That the development of natural gas in such large quantities is the beginning of a new era in the history of Findlay is now plainly evident. No one feels any doubt about that. From the handsome, quiet capital of one of the richest agricultural districts in the State, she will become a busy manufacturing center, with mills and factories, foundries and glass-works. The present wells can furnish an unlimited supply of fuel, available at an instant when wanted, for every conceivable use to which fuel can be applied, at a reduction in cost so great that it is hard to realize, working a most important saving in domestic economy, and a veritable revolution in the cost of running large manufactories. Real estate has advanced and is advancing in value, business confidence has been restored, and everybody and everjrthing is aroused to the impetus of a new life and fresh activity. It has not been our fortune to witness or hear of, in a town the size of Findlay, since the beginning of the existing period of financial depression, so revived an activity in all general business, nor so buoyant a spirit among the people as