Van Syckel, Samuel
Samuel Van Syckel was an oil buyer and shipper who built the first successful major oil pipeline in the U.S. in 1865. The pipeline, constructed in Pennsylvania, was 7 miles (11.27 km) in length and 2 inches (5.08 cm) in diameter; it extended from his oil plant to a railway station. Van Syckel was motivated by the high prices for oil transportation by wagon caused by a monopoly of the Teamsters in the Oil Creek region of Pennsylvania. The pipeline moved about 2000 barrels per day. Armed guards were needed to protect the pipeline from the Teamsters who were unhappy with competition with their transportation monopoly.
Sources
- Cleveland, Cutler (Lead Author); Peter Saundry (Topic Editor). 2007. "Van Syckel, Samuel." In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [Published in the Encyclopedia of Earth March 9, 2007; Retrieved October 25, 2009]. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Van_Syckel,_Samuel>
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