East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-01
STONE OIL.

pennsylvania is about TO add TO her
vast tnineral resources another product
of the mineral kingdom, known in
countries where it is most common as
stone oil, or petroleum. The discovery
of this substance has recently been made
in Crawford and Venango counties, in
the valley Of the Oil Greek River, which
seems TO owe its name to the preliminary
discovery, as far back as Indian times, OF
oil floating upon the surface of the water.
The idea of collecting the oil, indeed, is
not new. Many years ago it YVES attempt
ed, by awkward appliances, and with only
partial success. Watts were constructed
to receive it, and it was taken by saturat-
ing wooden cloth with it and wringing it
out The supply seemed to be perennial,
but until now no successful efforts have
been made to reach the sources Of the
flow. 1t is found that by sinking wells,
or boring from a hundred TO hundred
and fifty feet, fountain of pure mineral
oil may be struck, and large quantities
obtained with little comparative difficulty.
One spring, thus tapped, has yielded
eight hundred, and another twelve hun
dred gallons day. So at least the cur
rent reports inform us. But it must be
borne in mind that these reports spring
from highly excited sources, and are
therefore liable to eXageration. 1t ap-
pears that the discovery has produced
sensation in Northwestern Pennsylvania
scarcely inferior to the gold fever Of
California. Already we hear of rich
'pacers" and of astonishingly profitable
results of oily labors here and there; and
people of all sorts are crowding to the
locality in mad anticipation of a smooth
road to fortune.
This oil is undoubtedly the real petro-
.leum, which is a viscid variety of bitumen,
flowing from beds associated with coal
strata. 1t is found, we believe, in other
parts of this country and in Europe, but
chiefly in Asia. In some of our western
States, where it exists, it is called Seneca
or Genesee oil. 1t is found also in the
island of Barbados. 1t is generally of
a dark reddish-brown color, is slightly
translucent, and its odor is bituminous-
That of Barbados, however, is grcenish,
and resembles tar and there it supplies
the place of pitch as well as of lamp.ol.
In general, it is used for all the com
mon purposes of oil. The famous petro-
leum wells of Birmah produce some half
a million hogsheads Of oil annually
The wells are upwards of five hundred in
number, and occupy altogether space of
about sixteen square miles. The wells or
pits from which the petroleum is obtained
are artificial perpendicular shafts, com
monty from 200 to $50 feet deep. AT
the bottom of the pits the liquid seems
to boil; but whether from the emission OF
gaseous fluids, or simply from the escape
of the oil itself from the ground, is not
known. The oil is taken in earthen pots
AT first it is thin, but grows thicker, and
in cold weather it coagulates. 1t has a
pungent, aromatic odor. 1t is an article
of export, but immense quantities are
used in the Birman Empire. 1t is not
only burned in lamps, but it is used for
smearing timber, to protect it against
insects, especially the white ant, which
will not approach it The country near
these petroleum wells is remarkable for
its pctrified wood and its fossil bones
Boston Courier.