The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-03-23
Correspondence ee If tie Je6ersonian DsmeersL
From the Oil Region.

llTUSNlbLb, MnfCn 81, ioOO'
Surface oil is found from the first of June
to October, in greatest abundance, disap-
bearing in tho colder weather with few exc
ceptions) entirely. In few places, 1t has
always oozod from the ground in such guam
titles, as to assume tho namo of springs. II
may be found in various places, by oxcava-
tionS, little below the surface of the creeks.
1t comes on top of the water. Ii may also
he found in small quantities, along tho edge
of tho streams, by stirring the ground with a
bar, but these places are not numerous.
The soil is grayoly mould, with coarse,
grayclly sub-soil. Tho oil comes from be
low, and in q rock that undories these
streams. and is found in fssures, or porous
seams, at various depths below the upper
surface of the rock Tho surface oil is forced
up through seams, and flows with the water.
Sill, in boring, they have in only ono in.
stance, struck one of these seams, but have
gone down in solid rock, finding oil in differ
ent seams. 1t finds its way long distance,
in this coarse gravel, with tho water.
McClintock, fifteen miles below, has, for
some years, gathered some fvo to eight
undred dollars worth por yoar, in watts OF
his own making Ho took the oil from the
water by wooden blankets, wringing into tubs
or barrels. &c. But oil watts wore made on
these creek bottoms, before present inhabit.
ants of tho country saw them. These old
watts arc estimated from eight to twelve
thousand. On the fats near Barnsdeles 8
well, thev covcr some twenty acres, appa-
rently having been mado similar to tanning
watts.
| Thoy have not boon opened to any great
extent hut enough to show that they were
mado from six to ten feet deep, but arc now
! filled up and worn down. leaving depres-
sion of about two feet. Thov arc now over.
grown with heavy timber, giving thom great
antiquity.
These watts were made for the purpose oi
gathering oil, but by whom? Some pretend
that tho Allegheny Indians have tradition
that their forofathers used yearly to Assem-.
BILE. and gather the oil for the purpose oI
worshippipg the Great Spirit. This may
have been so. they might have gathered
oil in vats made by some race before them
But as many OF these vats wero boxed with
pino logs. (some round some split) We may
be led to infer that they were made by q
raeo of human beings moro advanced in
science, than any Indians of whom we have
record. Might not tho same race or race;
that constructed tho artificial mounds, scat.
tered through the Western country, afst
now made these vats, for tho purpose o
gathering oil, Cor uses similar to tho ust
mado of it, by tho present Inhabitants o
this continent.
Three months will develop that part o
! Pennsylvania between the Allegheny Rvo
and Lake Erie, as to its capacity to yielC
oil, as drills are going and starting in almos
every town. At or near Union, (twcnty .tw,
miles from here and twenty four from Erie,
q number of wells were started in tho Fall
or first part of the Winter As yot only on
has found any oil. This ono is in tho vii
lage. Before reaching to tho depth of fort
feet, they found two light veins of thick oil
but not to any amount. From forty to sew
ty feet, have found mono. A we'll has heel
I opened at Spartansburg, some six or eigh
| miles easterly from Union, with similar re
suits. Moro soon. w.