180 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Mat, 
THS DHAKE WELL.— THE FIRST OIL WELL. 
BUSTED." — HE FAILED TO " STKIKE ILE." 
Imsy spectacle, as at Pleasantville, of which we 
present a picture, there being more than a hun- 
dred derricks in the space of a few acres. This 
oil-field is claimed to have been discovered by 
the agency of the spirits. Unfortunately, how- 
ever, the good spirit which showed the way to 
the first well did not lead his devotee to the 
best one by a great many barrels per day. 
Titusville, of which we present a sketch, is the 
principal city of the oil region, and numbers 
about 12,000 inhabitants. In the old days of 
teamsters and the Ram-Cat Well, of which we 
present an engraving, it was a mass of mud, 
slush, and oil, lumber shanties, and wild excite- 
ment. Now there are three railroads, well- 
paved streets, and good hotels. We are 
indebted to Messrs. Day & Co., New York, for 
facilities in obtaining the above illustrations. 
