The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-01-27

am blessed in being single, for I am welded
to tile memory of Emily Houston the poor
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LETTER FROM THE or. REGION
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-Aa6OrL Cry, P4., Jan. 13, 1864.
Editor Demo Y - = zafi - 8
As Inquiries from friends IN Portage eouyinl-
ty are numerous respecting the production of
oil i'm Pennsylvania, and the nasure.of the oip
business generally, propose with your per-
mission t., give few IDEAS Of this subject
through the columns of the Democrat, s,,,:,,; !;
The discovery of Petroleung Or Carbon
Oil. has become matter Of great irnpoftaness
to the world, and in itself is subject highly
| Interesting. - s,
Petroleum is rapidly taking thez plaee1sof
all other illurninators not only in this, but in
all other countries. s'lss2agaA st.sssssaA s
The oil trade Of our country has not really
ant5existence, exceeding three, years and the
greatmarket has created during this atirne.
is second only IN point of intersse to the enor-
nous deposit of OIL - & (, i'ss7a7. Assiii
When Petroleum was. first discovered on
this continent, it was great neyelty.v,;. s-ty
Although there has not yet been deye ioped,
in any section of the world such large deposits
of oil as has been found in The OIL Creek Val
ley Y. Of this State yet in many localities Of
our own country, as well as il, different parts
of the whole world, are there evidences of
oil deposits. ,r 4.z.s-,.<...rr 5a..s,,.1 90
There is record more than two thousand
years old Of oil springs on the Island of Zan-s.
te, on the. west c9ast Of Greece. Herodotus
himself visited them mand described thsir won
ders. = z.r..,5sr So -, .:s.s.,.
Iu Birmah, in the Rangoon District, there
| are many hundred oil wells Naptha abounds
plentifully. in the north of Italy The cities
of Genoa and Parma aref lighted with it.---l
0nthe Island of Trinidad in the West In
dies there is lake of oil two OF three miles
in circumference This lake is described as
always slowly boiling in the center, the oil :
thickening as it recedes from this point until
it becomes almost a-solid mass of bitumen.
In many other localities Of the world are
these edeposits of Petroleum i.Asphaitunn, Oh
mineral pitch is frequently found in large
quantities on the surface. sass sezs esson q
Naptha is dthe lightest' property ofstheas
oil and is the first product that comes of
during tho process of ldistiliation It is being
largely substituted in place of turpentine,
both in this country and in Eueope. bal sIszas.
Petroleum is bituminous liquid COM
pound of hydrogen and carbon probably re- :
sultingg from the deeomp position Of marine or (
lano plant. saiilz = 7saassfa sgsi slss5s ,sgeel
, Its origin however, whether from Tegetas !.
bleHof animal matter, is a subject much dis
icussed BY geologists. s.. 9 ....., -. S.
The region Of oil deposites in North Amer
icaiembraeeso a portionoo oof Canada, sand in-,s,
cluiless sthesdStates of Virginia, Maryland, .
Pehhsy lvaqia, Ohio, New Y YoFk, Michigan, =
! Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, Illinois, Tex.
as and California. .,ssassEssJs III ss!5 s1s sz1ss
I The superficial area being not less than
$4,000 square miles. Although this wide
region covers the principal bituminous sec.
tions of our country, yet Petroleum is not
confined within the coal measures. e . 4
Neither may it be expected that Petrole
un is TO be;foundI everywhere within this
given scope, but only in scattered iocalities-ssi
Il would appear evident from geological
principles, that the oil bearing rock, or stratao
lies far below the coal beds. r,t,s. gJes - ssw
Oil Creek empties into the Allegheny Riv-
er at Oil City, one hundred aud forty miles,
by river, above Pittsburg. The present pro-
ducing section Of the valley extends over a
region of territory six or eight miles in length,
being the lower portion. and on either side
along bold and abrupt hills, whose summits
extend FIVE hundred to six hundred feet
above. The greater portion of oil, in fact,
nearly all. is found from 45O to $50 feet be-
low the surface of the valley, and thus the
main deposits lie fully. one thousand feet be-s
meath the general surface of this whole sec
ton Of country ,.s. "a 8s -.
There are found during the process Of drill
ing these stratas. of hard. fne grained Sand
Rock, known as the first second. and third.
These vary in thickness from 20 to 20 feet,
the main deposits of oil being in the third as
lowest. ss.s
! Between these stratas, are various Others,
such as clay, shell, aint, &c. The oil is uni
sersaIly found in the Sand Rock, the hardest
of all stratas found, excepting flint and
pebbly strata, of. very few inches in
In what manner oil found its
place of deposit in this rock. is subject of
scientific investigation. Whatever it may re-
suit from, whether from vegetable or animal
remains, the process undoubtedly is distilla-
ion. ssa,s1. 8 :, ssaI ssfsfeS ssls
The atmosphere possessing 50 largely Of ~
carbon and hydrogen at the lime Of the car
Doniferous age, is supposed to be the cause Of
such luxuriant growth Of vegetation during
hat period. {. The fermentationaf tha marine