Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-07-11
Petroleum.

xotIO40ums
During the last two years Petroleum has
assumed an importance in the economy and
material interests of the country that is as yet
but partially developed. The lately discov.
cred use Of this crude commodity that is found
deposited in large reservoirs FROM FIVE to seven
hundred feet beneath the surface of tho earthA
which, when tapped. flows upward to the sur
face in an almost inexhaustable supply is pro.
ducing revolution in the economies of the
peoples light. In Canada West, in the vi.
cinity of Sarnia, and an oil creek in Pennsyl-
vana, these supply reservoirs have already
been largely developed, and new discoveries
will, probably show large extent of territory
where this crude commodity can b. obtained.
In Pennsylvania there are seyenty.fve
flowing wells, sixty-two wells that formerly
flowed and were pumped, besides three hun.
dred and ffty-eight wells sunk and com.
menced, costing on an average, one thousand
dollars each, equal to S4950OO. In the vicin-
ity of these wells are twenty-five refneries for
refining the crude Petroleum, which with the
machinery and buildings. have been erected
at cost of about S500.000. The daily pro.
duet of the Pennsylvania wells is about 4400
barrels.
Some Of the flowing wells of this oil dis.
trict have produced as high as from two to
seven hundred barrels of crude oil daily.
There are in Canada West thirty.spven
firms engaged in refining the crude Petroleum
produced near Sarnia, with weekly product
of about 22OO bbls of yefinrd oil from seventy
three stills which will give an annual product
of refined oil, if run to their full capacity of
80. 1000 gallons. The annual product of
the Pennsylvania oil regions at about 400
barrels daily, will bs about 54.4OO,OOO gal
Ions.
The exports from the port Of New York in
1861 were only l.l12,25O. There were car.
rird eastward from the Pennsylvania oil re-
gion in 1869, over the Pennsylvania Central
Railroad from Piitsburg, destined for Phla.
delphia and Baltimore. 1868 tons, being
equal to about 442 900 bbls Of oil.
This discovery ',as left Coal Oil, Camphene,
Lard and Whale oils ut n discount. a cheap
oil of greater brlliancy has been obtained for
the million, and its discovery and introduction
into general use will. in very considerable
m,~sure, affect prices of other commodities
previously used for Illuminating purposes. and
" i'll give respite to the Whale. and bids
fair to rival even coal gas in cheapness and
Illuminating power.
The refining of crude Petrolt um has al
ready obtained very considerable magnitude
in Buffalo. Some eleven refncrics have been
erected in that city within the last two years,
in which Sl25,0OO to Sl3O.O0O in capital has
been invested giving employment to upwards
of hundred persons. having capacity to re-
fine $4,000 to $4,000 barrels of the crude oil
annually.
In all the busy marts Of trade, in every con-
siderable town in the Eastern, Middle and
Western States, the odorous Petroleum meets
the olfactories of the passcrs-by.
What the results of this important discov-
c,y will be during the next ten years remains
to be seen. If the supply is inexhaustable.
and tho developments Of the past two years
are any criterion for the future, the half has
not been told of its Importance to the world.
1t has already become animportant article in
foreign and domestic commerce. The foreign
export is already counted by millions, and its
distribution supplies nearly all the important
countries of Europe, Australia, and other
places in tho East Indies, California. some
Of tho American States, and tho Islands Of the
Pacific.
A process has lately been invented Of max
ing gas from Petroleum Of great cheapness,
and producing mere brilliant light than the
coal gas now in use. The inventive genius
Of the country will devise some plan to make
this one of the most useful and economical illu-
minating articles hitherto known to the world.