[Oil and Coal Maps of McKean County, Pennsylvania]

Fuelling the Second Industrial Revolution in America.

This fascinating collection was part of the 80+ texts and nearly 600 maps published as part of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania (1874-1889). Eight folding images provide detailed overviews of various features across McKean County, notable for its significant deposits of coal and oil. The surveys were performed by C. A. Ashburner and A. W. Sheafer and published in 1880. The set includes the following sheets:

• A Geological Map of McKean County, and a Map of a Portion of Cattaraugus County, New York to Exhibit the Horseshoe Bend of the Allegheny River (32″ x 31.75″);
• Map of Portions of McKean County, Pennsylvania and Cattaraugus County, new York showing the Outlines of the Proven Oil Territory (19.75″ x 25.75″);
• Topographical Map in Thirty-Foot Contour Lines of the Buffal Coal Company’s Tract in the Vicinity of Clermont, Sergeant Township McKean County (23″ x 15.75″);
• Topographical Map in Twenty Foot Contour Curves of the Potato Creek Coal Basin in Norwich Township McKean County (32″ x 15.75″);
• Topographical Map of the Alton Coal Basin in Lafayette, Bradford and Hamlin Townships McKean County (20.75″ x 24.5″);
• A Series of Columnar Sections Constructed from surface observations and the records of Eleven Oil Wells Situated Between Bradford in McKean County and Ridgway in Elk County…(31″ x 31.75″);
• Diagram of the Number of Producting, Completed, and Drilling Wells and Dry Holes per Month Together with the Average Production of New Wells in the Bradford Oil District, McKean County (19.75″ x 9.5″);
• Diagram of the Daily Production, Average Price and Total Stocks per Month of Petroleum in the Bradford Oil District McKean County (19.75″ x 9.5″).

According to State Geologist J.P. Lesley’s report delivered to the American Philosophical Society on the ongoing efforts (with regards to McKean County); “The length of this survey was due to the amount of instrumental work needful for its study; and the delay of its publication, to the careful preparation of its atlas of illustrations. The geology of Caineron, Elk and Forest was studied preliminarily in connection witlh that of McKean; and afterwards separately and in detail.”

Source.