True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-05-30
Oil from Water Petroleum a Burning
fluid.

B0ston transcript lhe rock olilt speaks !
offs found in abundance within a short
distanco of Pittsburgh;
In certain parts Of the Western States,
there is found, floating on the surface of
the suall streams, an oily substance Of the
consistency and color Of ulolasses, and pos
scssing a strong bituminous odor, 1t some
times exshles from the earth in What are
called star springs" and running into rheI
neighborins brooks, COWS into the large
streams and rivers For years this has al
ways supplied the means of light to the
settlers in the neighhorhooa, who have been
accustomed to saturate a blanket BY lying
It upon the surface Of one of these streams,
and then collecting the floating oil. And
it has frequently come to pass that individ-
uals of moderate capacity of whom it has
been disparagingly remarked that they
would ''uever set the river on fire." have
falsifed the assertion by actually iguiting
a portion of their running stream.
The substance which is floating about,
waiting to be burned is petroleum." or,
as it is usually called, Crock Oil" a pro-
duct of vegetable decomposition found in
various parts of the world, but especially
in the coal districts of the United Slates.-
In the northwestern parts of Pennsylvania
it may be gathered in large quantities, and
of quality which bids fair to render it an
important article Of domestic consumption.
A company of gentleman have purchased
tract CT land in Ncnango county, Penn,
with the view of bringing the oil into use,
and have submitted specimens to Professor
benjamin. Stilliman, Jr., of New Haven,
for chemical examination as to the value
of the article for Illuminating and lubrica-
ting purposes.
The result Of Professor Silliman's in
vcstigations, which have been carried on
duringt past winter, is highly favorable
to the success of the enterprise. by meanE
of distillation he obtained from the crude
material, as taken from the surface of the
water, about 80 per cent. of the whole pro
duct, in a series of oil having valuable pro
pertics, thou Ii not all equal y fitted for il
Elimination and lnbrication. ,.o
By the original distillation, about 81
per cent, of the raw material is obtained
lin the form Of thin, light colorcd oil, o
faint bituminous odor and density o
about $50. It's value as an lluminator wa
tested with the following results
/. The oil is burned to the best alvau
ltags in the common camphene lamp, with
glass cone to direct the current of air, a
with an unprotected wick it smokes badly
g. When burned for twelve hours tn
uniformity of the light was greater thai
, that of camphcne, and neither the wicks O
the tubes were crusted. The light wa
pure and white, without odor.
: 8. Tested by a pbotometer, or appara
tus for the measurement of light, the reel
oil proved, in rigid comparison with 9th
er Illuminating agents, superior to them al
| in intensity Of light and economy Of consum
ption. The article which most nearly ap
preached it was camphenc, which, will
more than double the consumption of flu
: id, produced degree of light but abou
one-6fth greater.
As lubricator, the rock oil is pronounc
cd by Professor Sillimau to possess the ad
vantage of remaining fluid at tempratur
: of Is degrees below zero, of being entirel.
e free from any cor rrosive quality, and Of no
: becoming gummy, acid, or rancid by expo
. sure to the air.
/ There are other properties of this slngu
!, lar substance which will add to its impor
b tance as a natural product Of the SOIL
5 Professor Silliman is row engaged in sc
= ries of interesting experiments upon 1t
!. value as material for producing gas, ant
: upon the product, ofthc last distillation, a
a substance which, in the form Of parafine
!, !, resembles spermaceti, and from which ez
. cellent candles may be made. 1t is eS
c pccted that the arrangements for distillin
h the rock oil will be completed by next fal
d and the articles sold at a moderate price,
I. With sperm oil at two dollars and a ha
=. a gallon, candles at proportionatc price
p and the explosive burning fluids only
r be used at the risk of ones life, a new ill
{ minator, which shall combine the adVant'
n ges of ,chcapness, safety and brilliancy
Ie light, cannot fail to come into extensiv
d use. The tract Of land-abOut one hui
'e dred scrcs-now owned by the compau.
will yield an average supply of about fly
9, hundred gallons per day, butarrangemcn
ID will probably be made for increasing II
ID supply by more extended operations.