Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-02-25
prvNsrLnANLL c0lL OIL.

There is almost as much excitement and spec
ulation in the mineral oil region of Pcnnsylva-
MIA as il the country had been discovered to be
rich in gold. And indeed, If the accounts may
be trusted, no gold country ever promised such
returns with so little labor. TIE man who is
so fortunate as to tap an oil vein beneath his
soil has an easy and ineXhdustible source OF
wealth. lnformer years the Indians used to col
lect the oil in Oil creek, Crawford county, by
spreading their blankets on the surface of the
water where it foated, and the blankets absor-
bling the oil, they would wiring them out and
thus collect considerable quantities. About
year ago gentleman in Titusville made up his
mind that the oil could be obtained by boring,
and he leased a large quantity of lands along
the creek for forty-nnc years, and staked all
his property in the venture The people con-
sidered him a monomaniac, as before he had
half sunk his first shaft his credit was so utter
~ exhausted that he could not get a barrel of
flour without the cash. But he perservered a.
gainst all obstacles and at the depth of 1870 feet
he struck vein of oil, water and gas, which
burst to the surface by the force of the subter-
ranean pressure, and this well has yielded him
for five months about twenty barrels of pure
oil per day. lie has several other wells opened
and in successful operation, one of them yield
ing the large amount of gallon of oil per min
ute. Besides this he he has realized fortune
in the sale of rights to others on the lands he
has leased, and is already millionaire.
The speculation in oil lands is excited, fabu-
lous prices are paid, and adventures are throng-
ing to the region to make sudden fortunes. In
its raw state the oil sells for about 10 cents per
gallon. The process of collecting is simple and
inexpensive, after the first cost of opening the
wells, the mingled oil and water being pumped
into troughs from which the water passes off
at the bottom and the oil at the top. 1t is af-
forwards clarified and is fitted for burning in
lamps, but still retains much of that pungent
bituminous odor, which is so disagreeable to
most peoplc--the concentrated essence of the
pines and spruces of innumerable ages ago.
This oil is the ancient petroleum, variety of
liquid bitumen flowing from beds associated
with the coal strata and expressed by pressure
and heat. 1t is found in great abundance III
Asia and immense quantities of it are used in
Burmah, whose oil wells produce half million
hogsheads Of oils annually. These wells have
been in operation for centuries and yet the sup
ply continues as liberal as ever and bids fair to
last while the world stands. In this country are
many places where petroleum is indicated, and
we presume it will be found wherever there is
any amount of coal AS a cheap illuminator
its production is great public benefit, and it
will undoubtedly become source of wealth to
thousands of those interested in the business.
Some are so confident of its abundance and the
low price at which it will be afforded as to pre-
dict that it will take the place of coal for fuel
on the ocean steamers, thus retaining for
freight large part of the vessels now laden
with coal.