Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-06

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The readers Of tie Enquirer have recent
y seen various notices OF the "oi cxctcmcG,n
IN Northwestern Virginia bu. We are under
the impression that only few Ct them have :
proper conception Of the present extent Of tho
oil 6u7ine's in that portion Of the State. pari.
ersburg bids fair to become famed as The oil city.
The editor Of the Blrbcur "Jensrsonian." who
lately visited it as member Of the States
Rights Congressional District Convention, on
Ills return, home ssys:
I'VE were surprised to See the amount Ct
business done at that place while the whole
country is paralzed by panic Parkersburs is
Ike an oas:s in the desert. the oil exciteme;t
has sprung up considerable trade, and tho
wner' end ra!toad depot present IN active
lrpGarance, winch is quite refreshing il ,heso
hard times"
Many oF the people oi Elstern Virginia have
seen specimens Of the "Canncl coal" Of Kama.
wha county, and some Of them have heard of
the oil extracted therclrom; but scarcely 4
man among US is aware Ct the productions Of
the coal and oil interests Of kanawha
The following communication from Isaiah 4.
"elch, Esq, an intelligent, attentive and u:e-
ful member Of the House Of Delegates from
that county, furnishes considerable lieh, on
the subject.
To the Elitors efMe Enquirer:
Gentlemen II seEd you a sample Of c,nrd
coal oil, made at the Failing Rock Coal Oh
Manutac!orr," Gil Elk river, in Kanan ia ccun.
ty. also send You specimen OF the coal
from which the oil is extracted.
The Falling Rock Camel Works are s,ua.
ted on Falling Rock, branch of Z k river, aur!
about sixteen miles from the town Of Charles.
ton, cA the Great kanawha river, in kanawha
county. The present company commenced 10
erect the necessary buildings for The purpos.
OF manufacturing coal oil, in the month OF o.
tuber, 1851, and had everything completed.
and commenced making oil in August last
Their buildings CONSIST Of retort house, en-.
sine house, refinery and other cOumod,o,s
buildings to receive the tanks in which 10 de.
poslt the oil, both in crude and refined state
Their buildings are uil constructed of brick,
and done IN u substantial, workman.ikc man.
ncr. Their buildings, for residences for Il.
bc!erS, are comfortable and neat. The COM
pany gives employment 10 about two hundred
hunds. Any one in the habit Of passing tic
place where this factory and TIE necessary
buildings now stand, before they were crcc;,,i,
would be struck with aStonishmcnt TO visit
he spot now. The entire distarce frou
the works 10 the mouth Of the creek, IL
mlIr) is lined with houses. Much credit
i, due to Mcssrs lIotchkiss and Til Tor
,heir indefltigallc zeal in prosecuting
This work to completion; and 10 il,.
Samuel Keenan,, their superintendent and CHE.
mist. The oil is conveyed from the mouth Of
Falling Rock, down Elk river in fiat boats 10
the Great kanawha; it is taken thence down
the kanawha on steamboats, to the D 10, arG!
thence 10 New York and the principal cites
throughout the country The rcfntl oil
makes beautiful and cheap light. and is ~.
pid'y growing into use as u lamp oil.
II Is SAID 10 bc the best lubricaling o.. bg
those who have tried il, aud as such is nearly
III universal use where it has been tested.
This company lnalc daily about three thou-
sand gallons Of Oh, and in addition TO lLar,
there are about ten coaioil lactories in kana.
whu county, which prodlc: in the aggregate
about twenty thousand gallons daily of this
oil, and 50 rapidly is il growing into Use that
t;.e5", Together with all the other mauaflc'c-
r!es VI Camel coal oil in the United States are
inadequate TO supply the demand. 1t is now
universally conceded that this oil must, from
the numerous discoveries That have been made
both OF Camel coal, and the still more rccrn:
discovery Of large sub,erranean deposits 0: pure
oil, in al! respec:s identcally the same quality
VI oil as that extracted from the Cann,l G..
take the place of all other oils for lamp ard
lubricati!IS purposes Respectfully, yours,
I. a. WEIGH.