Van Syckel, Samuel
Van Syckel, Samuel
| Topics: |  People Energy People Transportation |
Samuel Van Syckel (1842- ), an oil buyer and shipper, built the first successful major oil pipeline in the U.S. in 1865. Constructed in Pennsylvania, the pipeline 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 (a labour union) in the Oil Creek region of Pennsylvania. The pipeline moved about 2000 barrels per day,outcompeting the Teamsters. Though the Teamsters destroyed the pipeline, Van Syckel re-built it and hired "pipeline protectors". The monopoly ended and pipelines became the major method of oil transportation.
Further Readings
Energy Timeline (EnergyQuest California Energy Commission)
International Brotherhood of Teamsters (teamsters.org)
Citation
Cutler Cleveland (Lead Author);Peter Saundry (Topic Editor) "Van Syckel, Samuel". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth September 28, 2006; Last revised Date September 28, 2006; Retrieved February 4, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Van_Syckel,_Samuel>
The Author
Editor-in-Chief
The Encyclopedia of Earth Cutler J. Cleveland is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. Dr. Cleveland is currently a Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Boston University, with joint appointments in the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies and the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer Range Future. He also is a Senior Fellow at the National Council for Science and the Environment in Washington D.C. Dr. Cleveland is als ... (Full Bio)
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