The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-05-22
TRINIDAD.-LAKE PITCH.

The Trinidad papers contain some inter.
estiug particulars, relating to an experiment
recently made at that Island, on board the
steamer Pluto, Lieut. Lunn, in the use ol
Pitch from the Lake, as a substitute for
coal, in generating steam. The Bermudn
Gazette, in transcribing the particulars, of
fers the following remarks:
The trial, though made under many
disadvantages, proves that this pitch will
form a most excellent fuel, and that when
used with coal, the proportions should be
about two thirds Of the former TO one Of the
latter. We learn from gentleman lately
arrived here from Trinidad, that several of
the estates, particularly those in the neigh
borhood of The lake, have for several mopths
past been using the pitch rs fuel ia their
boiling houses, and that they have found it
n most valuable and econ omicrl substitute
for coal, which article has occasionally, in
that island, It seems reached the enormous
price of tweaiy dollars per hogshcnd
We also learn that there are at the pres
ent ecriod, agents at London and Paris, who
nre actively engaged in collecting pitch for
transportation, aud that several large ves-
sells have already been despatched to Eng.
'""' "hN WIN WIS HUftI ar
ticle of commerce. One of these compa. /.
nies, we believe the Partisan, has offered
the Colonial Government the sum Of G20,-
600 for the exclusive privilege of working
the mine but this offer was, it seems, re-
jected the Government deeming it more
advisable that it should, for the present, ut
least be free to all, than be monopolizeC
by any trading company.
Guthrie, in his Geography says that there
Is IN Trinidad a remarkable production of
nature, being bituminous lake, or rather
plain called Tar Lake about three miles in
circuit. The substance which is here found
has the consistence and aspcc, of Dit coal /;
It breaks into glossy fragments of n cellslar
appearance; ms gentle hent renders it
dactile, and mixed with grease or common
pitch II is used for smearing the bottoms of
ships. In many parts of the woods it is
found in liquid slate.
The Governor Of Trinidad has recently
ordered n Typographical survey of the pitch
lake, as also its elevation above the sea. To
be ascertainad. Although immense ouan-
titles OF the pitch haye been shipped, still
There does not appear to be the least dmi-
mutton in the size Of the lake, aud i, is as
serted thot there is a sufliciency Of it ",o
supply whole navy of steam vessels for
centuries with fuel.'
This pitch, for the mos, part. we are told
- shipped in bulk, that which is obtained
~ liquid state, is, however, put into bar
rels, but the utmost care is requisite in
PHckIng II, as it dila,es much.
At period like the present, when the
attention rs well ofthe Governments of Eu-
rope mud Americn, MS of the commercial
nnd speculative interests of both continents
II particularly directed to the use of steam
navigation, the discovery of the properties
oi this pitch will, we conceive, be of The ut
most Importance, not only To TRINIDAD, but
10 the whole of the West Indies, and could
II not, we ask, be also turned to the ndyan-
iSge OF Bcrmudal The favorable po,i,iop
of these Islands as a general reud.zyou.
Tar steamers crossing the Atlnn,ic, either to
British America or the United States, is Oh
all sides admitted: nnd now thnt the fscil-
HES for obtaining fuel are increased. and NJ
our vessels trading with fish To Trinidad.
could at very trifling charge make ex,en-
siye deposits of the ti;unen here, We trust
that the sitention Of Government, MS well ns
ct steam navigation companies, will be d.
rected to the circumstances.