Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-02-14
Have we Coal Oil In Allegany
County.

A few years ago oil WAS obtained from Coal
and found to answer we'll for Illuminating
and lubricating purposes. At first, ii was
impure, but science soon discovered proper
method of publication, and we now have the
article divested of great part OF those oh
no1ious properties with which it first appear
I'D.
Tho production OF the oil from coal how
ever was somewhat expensive, and the de-
mand being greater than the supply, invited
authorizations and enhanced the price.
1t has now been discovered that nature I'M
derstood the process long ago of extracting
oil from Coal, and stored up in immense req
ervoirs millions of barrels almost ready for
use. These reservoirs seem to abound in
Western Pennsylvania and Ohio, and arc at
tracing at this time great attention, enter
prize, and capital. Already tho oil drawn
from the oil wells has become an extensive
article OF commerce, and if the supply con-
tiuues, will become of great importance. Its
uses being mostly unknown, are now limited,
but it will no doubt be found applicable to
a hundred purposes Of which We scarcely
dream. Candles are maize of it, and perhaps
tho time will come VIXEN II will be used for
the manufacture Of gas, for heating, in the
kitchen, for driving our locomotives and even
medical anu culinary purposes.
We are not acquainted with the conditions
under which il is found in Pennsylvania and
Ohio, but as we possess large Coal fields, VT
would inquire is il not probable that re haze
The oil dlso7
Ii has no doubt been extracted from the
large coal beds under which 1t is funnd, by
pressure and internal heat, and gathered AS It
passed through the strata or crcvlses OF rocks
into vast subteranean basins. These, depend
ing upon the character Of rocks upon which
the coal beds lie, may be at greater or lees
depth. In some places like basins Of water
forming springs they are 50 situated as to per-
NIT the oil to flow out at the surface, and in
others so deep, as like the waters of Artesian
wells, never to appear unless aided by art
Whether there oil basins exist wherever coal
Il found in great quantities, 10 not known.-
The mere fact that these have not yet besn
discovered, il no proof that they do not exist.
Search for them has been limited, and the
fractured condition Of TIE rocks In some coal
regions may have permitted the oil to flow
downward to great depth before finding q
reservoir sufficiently oil-tight to hold it,
Again. coal beds, by some great commissions
of nature, seem often to have been moved
from the places where originally deposited,
and the oil must be sought, ii extracted prior
to the removal, not where the coal now lies,
but beneath the places Of original deposition.
In favor Of the presence Of oil basins in all
coal regions, we have tho fact that all coal
has been formed Of the same material and
subject to the same laws. Anthracite is but
dtuminous coal with its volatile matter driv-
on off, or extracted, aud not Of different
nature as was formerly supposed. As It is
found where the rocks are very much frsc-
tured, its oil may have escaped in gas. In
regions however where the rocks are less bro-
ken, we have the bituminous and scmi-bitu-
nnuus coal, and there we may reasonably
expect to ind the surplus oil, not ovaporated,
but gathered in basins. Hence we think it
highly probable, that the oil once contained
In our own coal beds, may yet bo found some
where in the neighborhood silently waiting
the hand Of capital aud enterprise to bring it
forth. It may yet become an important sta
MA If MIR c.,untv