The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-10-05
Tho Oil Region.

| 4uo III AO6ASAs
Scarcely year has elapsed since the dis
covery Of oil springs on the upper Allegha
ny, and on streams tributary TO 1t in Venan
go, Crawford and Warren counties, OF thi
State proved to be OF decisive economical i'm
portancc. Now the oil region has become
second only to the gold region Of Pike
Peak in interest, TO the public Of that part
Of the State at least. Ii is said that tht
number of wells already opened, and in
course of being opened, number at least three
thousand; and Of these about one hundred
yield literally, IL not profasely, making W
the aggregate Of eight or nine hundred bar
rels Of oil daily. Well informed person.
| declare this yield to be fully one thousand
barrels daily, but the lowest number hero
named Is really normous-amazing, indeed,
when put in summary for the year, which
summary reaches $50, 900 barrels, value,
ut rough approximation, Of $2,25O, ,OOO'
This will do for the annual revenue Of few
tracts along the rivers of those counties,
tracts which were not valued ut ten thousand
dollars in the aggregate before the discovery
of oil. A few months since, the hopes OF
the persons most interested were not sufii'
cicntly verified to warrent the conclusion
that the flow of oleagninous wealth would
be permanent; but now 1t Is demonstrated
that |, steady increase in the aggregate pro-
duction exists, us wells once opened How
steadily after the fret temporary irrcgularity
is over, and now wells do not exhaust the
old, whatever their proximity Of position.
This oil is also an absolute oil, easily con-
yertible into every form Of oil for specific
uses. 1t rc6nes with very little loss, some o.
il with less than fifteen per cent, loss frou
the crude liquid gushing from the fountains
Much of this oil Is quito clear and has flu-
idity next to water, while other fountains
or wells yield somewhat thicker form ol
oil, with strong mineral semi-bituminou'
smell. Lighting is the readiest usc to which
this oil is put, but for lubricating uses, and
almost every other common economical pur
pose, It is precisely equivalent to the oil
now used, whether of animal or mineral ori.
gin. 1t is oil, in short, TO all intents and
purposes, though gushing from perforation'
In the natural basins along the upper ALLIE
ghany, as freely almost rs the waters do, in.
stead of being laboriously prepared from the
olives of Asia, the palms Of Africa, or the
"porkcrs" Of the Ohio Valley. The thing
is wonderful, but II is at last proved to be
true. There is oil in the rock strata OF the
northwestern part Of the State. just below
the coal, in immense quantities, past oil
doubt: and probably It there constitutes
great geological deposit. 1t Is geological
deposit as strictly us any Of the special min-
eral deposits less than coal. 1t is the asso-
ciate OF coal undoubtedly, and a drainage OF
residuum of the carbonaccous mass OF which
the coal Is made up. Oil is fluid carbon,
and coal is but solidified carbon, whether de-
rived from vegetables, or in whatever other
way made up. This fund carbon is found in
various parts Of the world in considerable
abundance. Wells exist in India, Russia,
and many other countries, and always in
similar geological relation to coal deposits ;
but nowhere is there reasonable probabili-
ty of result so great as this, because there
il nowhere 10 large deposit Of bituminous
coal lying high enough to bring the subja-
cent strata within reach Of mining.
In the northwestern part OF tho State
there is u very long border line surrounding
the coal fields, with the coal on high sum.
mits, and with deep valleys cutting the form
ations next below Il. II is in these valleys
that the oil is found, permcating all the soft
veins OF shale and soapstone in abundance.
This oil region has really riseen to great i'm
portance, as the present production Of eight
hundred barrels Of oil per day may be suih-
cient evidence. 1t is increasing in impor-
tancc, also, not declining, and canuot be ca
sily exhausted of its wealth. OF course
such profits us oil fountains yield, when
flowing at tho rate of hundred barrels dai-
ly, with but little pumping power applied,
are not to bc neglected by the people OF the
oil region, and those who visit tho locality.
The territory swarms with "borers" of every
grade, and il Is said that one or two OF the
small towns originally formed there exhibit
streets us closely crowded rs do some OF the
eastern cities. Whatever may DO the pre-
else state of the crowding, 1t Is clear that
every natural advantage this old deposit Of.
fords will be rs thoroughly tried as the gold
placcrs of California have been. If fortunes
arc to be secured for few thousands, and
the two or thrce favored counties of the COM
monwealth are to become Us rich as the areas
on which our metropolitan cities are built,
of course We are oil to be benefited, and will
rejoice accordingly. The actual success now
attained is far beyond what the public gen.
erelly suppose, and for this reason VIC think
our oil region should be more widely and
fully reported. Agold region would fill tho
State with discussion and congratulation,
and yet this oil region Is the peer Of Pixies
Peak at this very hour. Oil Is not only the
equivalent Of gold almost in permanence OF
value, but II is also Of positive value In q
hundred uses for which gold Is In itself use
less. BY 90 much, therefore, the oil region
has the preference. and II Is our duty Us well
rs our right to make the most Of Il. It is
impossible to avoid the association Of edible
with oleaginous ideas, also, and to pass this
subject over without expressing o wish that
processes may be found by which oils may be
reduced to common standard, and that in
such uniform state that all may be alike
edible. II 30, the future may find us boring
for food when the surface soil fails Us, and
the hill country Of the Allegheny rising to q
measure of nutritious Importance unknown
to the palmicst days of the Nile. This idea,
however, is possibly imaginative. and u
should not bc permitted in any way to OBJ
struct the appreciation Of the great facts
stated above. A new and permanent source
Of great wealth Is opened, quite by accident,
in portion of the State least to be expected
TO come TO such good fortune, and It Is time
for our own State to recognize and herald its
own California. American.
Pat In the Telegraph ofice.