Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-06
letter from Ohio.
Correspondence Of the Daily Commerciall
XANESyILLE, ONO, Nov. !, 1865


ZANEsvuLE, ONO, Nov. l. 1865
Baltimore a Market far Ohio-Petro7eum
All the Southern portions of Ohio nearer to Bal
tmore than to any other seaboard city. The people
have plenty of money, and are buying freely, this
fall, dry goods, groceries, furniture Shoes ewelry
pianos, clothing, notions and every thing not pro-
duced at home. They have for sale gran hay, wool,
dairy products cattle hogs, glass ware manufactures
ofiron, potters' ware, salt poultry and petroleum.
1t is very plain that it will be for the interest of
people here and there, to maintain constant commu-
nication, and a good understanding. A good trade
well established must continue to increase, be-
cause of the proximity Of Baltimore a seaport, to
this portion of Ohio and the wonderfully varied and
eXhaustless products here yielded as the reward of
industry.
Petroleum. recent article of trade is worthy of
some particular mention. 1t is found in all that scope
ofcountry that contains the biuminous coal, extend
ing from Chatauque county, New York, through
northwestern Pennsylvania. eastern and northeast
Ohio and portions of Vest Virginia Forty years
ago, whilst sinking a shaft for salt water, flowing
petroleum well was opened Dutch creek, near the
boundary between Monroe and Washington coun-
ties in this State and in that region now there are
number of wells One lately opened is yielding 25
barrels per day. At the date of the first discovery
the oil tried for Illuminating purposes, but
deemed worthless in cOmpetition with sperm oil and
httOU c"HutS Iut sperm OH Ns ~ 10 tcCllr
Ion, and candles to cents per pound. Thirty years
have produced great changes. The demands of civ
ilized communities for oils have largely increased
and the production of the whale fisheries has fallen
from 10000 10000 barrels per year to 80 900
10000 barrels, and the price has more than doubled
i'll the face of the competition arising from the de-
veopment of petroleum.
This rock OIL was valued in the early settlement of
Ohio, remedy or lotion for burns bruises Sprains
the salt wells on the Muskngum river, to gather
little of this Seneca ol-for family use and enter
prisng pedars, bottled it, and carried it through the
country for sale, along with their stock of opOdedoc
and Judkins ointment. Its virtues were perhaps su-
pcrsttiousy believed in because it said to be
great Indian remedy, and had its name from the Sc
neca Indians, of the Mahonng and Tuscaroras. Hay-
ing had run of Seneca oil, it again brought into
medical use as American Oil, but had for some
years passed out of notice, until the advancement OF
the nation in enterprise and science devised methods
ofrefning it, ascertaned the proper conditions of its
combustion for purposes of illumination, tested its
value for machinery, and in the arts and gaUe Il
first rate notice an the newspapers after which it must
be set down as one of the established articles of
merce, the annual supply of which will be such as to
meet the worlds demand.
present product of the region mentioned is est
mated at 5000 barrels per day-a quantity that
supply the eAlStlllB
Not unlikely it may hereafter be found in the cOalre
gions of Kentucky Tennessee Illinois and Missouri.
believeit is generally conceded that the OIL if not
chemical extract from the COAL is deposit of the
same carboniferous period and origin. The ingenuity
ofman extracts from the coal illuminating oil Of
similar properties An extensive factory for this pur
pose is now in operation at Newark, Ohio, but have
not visited it for particular information.
In nature the oili not found Immediately in con
tact with the COAL but SO far as my observation goes
am led to infer that has proceeded from it. First
the oil is found in the neighborhood of. but on a
lower level than the coal veins Second, the coal
beds are lined allowed and below with slate rock over
which the oil could have found its way and by which
it may have been collected into veins and deposited
in cavities of the earth. In addition to this slate
the hills abound in clay, which may have formed the
conducts and cistern walls to collect and retain it.
Third the coal BEDS particularly those in which the
coal is dryest, abound in ssures evidencing gradual
contraction in the dimensions of the coal since its first
formation.
The existence of cavities in the earth in which
petroleum is stored, is of those wonderful facts
for which have not the necessary scientific know
ledge to account Salt brine is also probably stored
in similar cavities. 1 am unable to state whether
salt is generally found in the petroleum regions W"
this Muskingum Valley, as well as Hooking ,aiieS'
and the Duck Creek region OF Ohlo as "lso 'le h""
wha regions in West Virginia. hyVe lor lorty years
Welded valuable product of salt. The salt brine
nroceeds from deep places in the earth. l am not
aware that in this part of Ohio it is found at depths
Ioss thor FIVE to six hundred feet. Petroleum is
fnd ot all depths from fifty to five hundred feet
Tho salt water may readily be supposed to have been
surface water which has penetrated the earth and
passed through and become impregnated by beds of
salt salt rock and has found its way to and became
imprisoned in those crevces of the rocks or
lined with clay.
These creyces, and cavens are they results of the
contraction OF the crcuma solid portions
or cases. when in prmordial state of the globe,
some portions of its solid matter have been suddenly
piled upon an existing surface? QHIo.