The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-12 00:00:00

T 11.1? OIL WELLS IN CANADA.

The last Canadian papers show that the supplies
from the oil wells constitute an increasing topic of
attention throughout the province. As the quanti-
ties are apparently illimitable, freight is the grand
question for consideration, and the Toronto Globe
points out that the real abundance of the article will
not be manifested in Europe until special facilities
for transport and shipment are brought into opera-
tion. In the instance of refined oil the:e are no
particular difficulties; but the refining process can
be carried on more economically and extensively
on this side, and the object therefore is to contrive
means for the cheap transport of the crude material.
In that state its smell is so offensive that grain flour,
or other articles carried in trucks or vessels in which
it has previously been stowed become damaged, and
there is consequently a general indisposition to take
it except at very high rates. A class of tank vessels
will therefore probably have to be created for the
purpose. " A vessel," it is observed, " that carries
one load of petroleum is fit for no other business save
coal, iron, timber, or other article which cannot be
spoilt by the odour." Still, even at the high rates
at present paid for both land and sea freight, it is
calculated that the price is sufficient to yield a
good profit to the owners of the flowing wells, who
are at no expense for pumping. The value of the
petroleum, landed at Liverpool, is aboutsists is.
of
perthe
gallon, and nearly the whole of this
in Canadas
en
charges for transport ; while the
is thattbe reunddeeeuradn organisedto2dper
gallon, or even lower. system these charges
might
extensionAotf
otnhee
otrfadthe is, there-
fore,e flowing
beyond latio.
The room forenalnenn
wells the oil rises from a depth of 234 feet, at the
rate of 25 barrels, or about 1,000 gallons per hour,
and much of it is allowed to run to waste from the
inadequacy of the supply of barrels, and of the other
means to store it. At another well the supply is
alleged to have poured forth at the rate of 70,000
gallons a-day uninterruptedly, except when the
opening is plugged, since the 16th of January last.
A third well exists of similar capacity, and the
other wells which require labour or machinery for
pumping are innumerable. The latter, however, at
present prices, do not pay for working, since the
proprietors of the flowing wells are of course ready
to part with their produce at rates which are little
more than nominal. The United States' wells in
Pennsylvania are equaii.y,, if not more extensive,
and the quantities of oil seeking transport to New
York and Boston are said to be far beyond the pre-
sent carrying power of the Atlantic and Erie Rail-
vi ays. Under the circumstences, the preparation
of a sufficient rolling stock, and the completion of
the short links which are to bring the districts into
direct connection respectively with these lines in
the United States and with the Great Western in
Canada, Will be awaited with general interest. I

THE CONVERCIAL TREATY BETIVIRE.Y
ERA CR AND PRUSSIA.

The Stern-Zeitung, which is a semi-official organ
of the Pt ussian Government, publishes the follow-
ing analysis of the treaty of commerce recently
concluded bet veen France and Prussia :
The treaties and tariffs drawn up and concluded
by the plenipotentiaries of France and of Prussia,
consist of a treaty of commerce and of navigation;
of a convention relative to the customs dues to be
paid on international traffic by railways ; of another
convention for the reciprocal guarantee of literary
and artistic property ; finally, of two supplements
on the tariffs.

The essential enactments of the treaty of com-
merce may be thus condensed :

All merchandise coming from the Zollverein, or
belonging to, or fabricated in, countries belonging
to the Customs Union, shall be admitted into France
by land and by sea, whether it comes under the flag
of France, or under the flag of one of the States of
the Zollverein, on payment of the stipulated dues..
The same stipulations will be made for French me 7.7-
chandise on entering Germany.
Merchandise of the Customs Union (Zollverein),
imported by Hanseatic ports on the Elbe and Weser,
or by Belgian and Swiss railways, will be consi--
dered as imported directly.

The two Governments abolish the export dues.
An exception will only be made for France as re-
gards rags and driltes serving for the fabrication
of paper, and for old rope, upon which there will
remain a duty of 12f. and 14f. per kilogramme ; the
Zollverein, on its part, will establish a duty of 1
thaler on old rope per custom-house quintal.
Spirits of wine and varnish of spirits of wine will
pay, on their entry into France, in addition to the
dues fixed in Tariff A—the first a duty on French
consumption of 90f. per hectolitre of spirits of wine,
and the varnish 90f. per hectolitre for the spirits of
wine contained in the varnish. The following
articles will also pay a supplementary duty :
Chemical productions, glass, articles of glass, inso-
much as the French Government shall not have:
abolished the duty established in France upon the
salt necessary for their fabrication. These supple-
mentary duties shall be suppressed or diminished
when the premiums for exportation actually exist-,
ing in prance shall be in their turn suppressed or
diminished.

Merchandise of every description, coming from
one of the two countries and entering into the other
can never be subjected to a duty of superior cou-
sumption than that establisher!, on similar produce
of national fabrication. The wines of France,
brandies, and the corps, Bras, which have already
paid the entrance dues, shall be exempt from any
other duty established by one of the States of the
Zollverein, by the communes and corporations.
Merchandise imported from France by laid and
by the frontier shall be admitted into the States
of the Zollverein at the same duty as if entered by
sea and under the French flag. Merchandise co-al-
ing from the Zollverein and entering France by
land, shall be admitted on paying the same eAuty as
that established upon articles imported under the
French flag.

The origin or the fabrication of the merchandise
imported must be indicated to the Custom house
Department of the respective country by means of
official documents emanating from the local autho-
rities, or from Consuls acting for the country for
which the merchandise is destined. The value of
the articles destined for exportation shall be deter—
mined by the price of the article in the country of
its origin, adding thereunto the cost of transport,
insurance and commission, to the town where the
importation takes place. Should the Custom-house
authorities deem the value declared insufficient.
they are authorised to purchase the article at the
price declared, adding 5 per cent.
The transit dues are suppressed in both countries.
The French Government will maintain only the'
prohibition of the transport of gunpowder, and re—
serves to itself the right of authorising specially
the transport of munitions of war.

The subjects of the contracting parties will enjoy
in the two countries on their voyage and return the
same advantages as nationals ; they may purchase
or rent houses, warehouses, or any other real estate
(immobiles), on the same terms as subjects of either
country. Commercial travellers—recognised in
France as such—may carry on their business
throughout the whole of the Zollverein without pay-
ing a commercial tax. Zollverei❑ commercial
travellers will enjoy the same privilege in France.

A reciprocal protection is assured to the designa-
tion and ticketing of merchandise, bales, samples,
and manufacture marks.

The conditions of the Treaty of Commerce are ,Also
applicable to Algeria, both as regards importation
and exportation. As regards future changes in the
tariffs or other ameliorations, the two contracting
parties assure themselves mutually the rights of the
most favoured nations. The treaty is concluded for
a term of twelve years, dating from the day of its
ratification, and it' it is not given up twelve months
before the expiration of that term it will remain in
force until one year has passed, dating from the day'
that one of the contracting parties has given it up.

Should the Zollverein be disaolved— before the
above-mentioned period, the reciprocal engagements
enumerated in the treaty will cease e.t the same time
as the treaties concluded between the different States
of the Zollverein.