The Nevada Democrat., 1862-01-23
Petroleum.. or RocIE ON.

There is nothing in the industrial world
al the present time more remarkable than
the production Of petroleum. That great
lakes of this valuable substance should nave
lain q few feet beneath the surface for thou
sands of years, is one among innumerable
proofs that the intelligence OF civilization is
required to enable man to bring to light
and render available the natural resources
Of the planet which we inhabit. One very
curious circumstance in the development of
this industry was the tarriness of even our
enterprising community to direct their at
tention to il after it was discovered. In
1926 an account of the Little Muskingum
region, in Ohio, was published in Sllllman' 8
Journal, in which the statement was made
that in boring for salt water vast quantities
Of petroleum was obtained, which was be-
ginning to be in demand for lamps in work.
shops and manufactures. The writer says:
at affords clear, brisk light when burnt
10 this way, and will be a valuable article
iOr lighting the street lamps in the future
titles of Ohio" Though this account was
published in 1926, the discovery was made
10 1919, and yet this mine OF wealth was
suffered to lie unappropriated in the heart
of this country for thrty-6ve years. Atten-
tion was again called to 1t by the success of
the coal oil manufacture, and 10 1854 two
gentlemen in New York, Messrs. Eveleth
and Bissell, secured the right to the upper
spring on Oil Greek, ia Pennsylvania, and
organized company to search for the oil.
The operations we're slow, and tho first oil
Mas struck at q depth of II feet, on the
26th of August, 1856. The drill suddenly
dropped into cavity, aud oil rose within
five inches Of the surface. A pump being
Introduced the company were soon in the
receipt of Que tn usand gallons of oil per
day.
This success created an intense excite
ment in the neighborhood, and boring for
oil became the great business of the commu-
uity. The petroleum was found not only
along Oil Creek, but 10 numerous other To-
calities, extending from Virginia to Canada
West. and the supply has increased 30 rap
idly as TO bring the article down to very
low price, and to make it great staple for
domestic use and for export. The Erie
Railroad has large number of cars devO-
ted exclusively to its transportation, its
pungent. and peculiar odor rendering the
cars thus employed unfit for other uses. AT
the depot Of the company in Hoboken thou
sands of barrels may at any time be seen
on their way, either for export or dstribu-
tion. The peculiar power which the sub
stance has Of penetrating capillary tubes
covers the barrels with grease, and ellis the
Dir with its odor.
Petroleum has just begun 10 play the
great part which ii is destined to Gil in the
Industrial arts. II yields good lubricating
material, and produces the whitest, best and
cheapest of all artificial lights. 4 great
variety of Hydrocarbons result from its dis
tillation, and these, In combination with
other compounds and elements, produce
Thousands of new substances for innumer-
able untried uses of the chemist and the
artisan. We anticipate for petroleum a
more rapid extension to q greater variety
of applications than marked even the in
PRODUCTION of India rubber.