The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-01-20
The pETRoLEuM INTEREST.

| OF the most gigantic proportions and of tho
| most valuable kind. All of the useful and pre-
cinus metals--wth one or two exceptions as
regards the very rare metals, which lave nos
| as vet been found in any great quantity, exist
in the widest abundance. They are not con-
fined TO one section, hat extend over the entire
Republic in the most widespread profuson
Principal among these metals and minerals,
both on account of liz incaiealable practical
value, and for It's extraordinary abundance, is
coal both Of the anthracite and bituminons .
varieties. A peculiar feature in the great car
boniterous deposition OF line country is the fact
that the beds in the eastern part Of the land are
anthracite.
The cyal gradually loses this distinctive feature
as we 80 westward, assuming more and N ore
of bituminous character until we find it en-
fireiy devoid of the peculiar anthracite proper
ties ia Western Pennsylvania, about Pittsburgh
lin West Virginia, and indeed in all the Wes-
fern States
Thus tie great coal fields of Rhode Island
and the contiguous portions of Massachusetts,
(great indeed, although the smallest of the vass
coal beds in the country the extensive depo-
sitions IN East Pennsylvania, and the other
fields in The eastern part OF The country are
ant hracite and most admirably adapted for
baruing-b being clean, and devoid III great
measure OF the volatile nhimmable oil which
characterize the bi.umnoas kind. The largeF
coa, fields west of iiIe Alleghenies, comprising
a part oE western New York, western Penn
syIyan end Virginia, and part Of 0hip and
stretching dowH through Kentucky and Tennes-
see t" Alabama, comprising an area of some
sixty three thousand square miles are purely
OF the bitumlnDls type Besides the value of
tis kind of coal for fuel purposes, it contains
an oil, commonly called petroleum., whose val
ue, not discovered until recently, renders these
bituminons coal fields Of the nation Of fabulous
value. Inexhausiible in quantity. and SO situ-
atfd as 10 be easily worked the Biblical tradi-
tions of Ophir and the oriental myth of Cathay
sink into insigni!icance. and from the Importance
of this oil in commerce we are fair to realize
the Dagniiceace of he dreams of that poet
solller, Walter Raleigh, and find Ell Dorado at
our very doors, holding out its inexhaustibIs
treasures TO our grasp.
kitunlen, petroleum, nap:ha, and the other
species of blun.eu, have been known aud US
ed for centuries, bat their true Importance has
been strangely overlooked. Petroleum was
psed by the citizens of Agrigentum for the pur-
pose CT light, and bore the name Of Sieilian
witch the people Of fif ifs iSts IL spTiPBB Of .ggaatia
lar uses. 1t has been known in Egypt for thou
sands of years-tnd in the latter part Of the
list century two ship loads were seaL 10 Eug-
land to be used in the arts, but in consequences
of detective machinery to refine the crude oil,
and from the excited state of public feeling con-
seqaent upon the Wars Of Napoleon, nothing
was done with it. Great quantities are found
in Asia Minor anil in Persia. and al Rangeon.
on one OF the tributaries of the Ir;wary river
some four hundred and fifty thousand hogsheads
of the oil are annually prepared for domestic
and loca! use. 5sea zsti.. ,z .-..
In this country the oil was we'll known to
the Indians and used by them for various pur-
poses, one OF which was its application TO
wounds. 1t las becn in the market in small
quantities, for many years, under the name of.
Genesec or Ssaeca oil ---.
Some thirty odd years ago Mr.. Packer, while
boring a well for salt water on Deer Creek in
Clarion County, Pa. reached the oil at depth
OF four husdrei feet and the oil gushed up in
Jets. Many endeayors were made TO keep the
oil out bnt of avail, and he was compelled
10 cease his exeriions, which were FOR the pur-
pose Of obtaining salt. Little did he think that
lie was throwing away IN contemptuous disgust
ihouaand princely fortunes! saf za
Al through this part Of Pennsylvania, and
in West Virginia, the oil was abundant some
4 z
purposes. and il was regarded as :'nasty, use
less stuff" unfit for any purpose. But when
the time came for lis introduction. and nppre-
citIion, this hitherto regarded as useless oil be-
came the center of an interest rarely, if ever,
equaled Accident led to It's introduction and
cargoes being sent to Europe, it was refined
and the immense, the incalculable value of the.
oil WIS at once revealed to the world. Ii was
soon ascertained tha. all these bituminous coal
fields were rich beyond exaustion in.petro!eum,
! and that Pennsy lrania alone could supply the
world for centuries 10 come Thus was inau-
gurated an epoch in the prosperity of the Re-
public, that has had no parallel and whose I'M
! oortance to the aggregate and individual pros
perity of the country cannot be estimated as
this early stage. a
In 1853 the attention of capitalists was cali
! cd TO this matter and vast quantities exporte6.
| la 1861 occurred the well known depression
| in the petroleum interest. which suspended oo-
erations If quickly revived, and the astound-
ing developements recently made. h&ve excited
most profoundly the attention of the country
The oil is found in such profusion, and is OBJ
tanned so easily that it may be- years before it
! is necessary TO employ the expensive machinery
that will render he petroleum interest for hum
dreds Of years the most profitable and safe in-
vestinent for capital that can be made TIE
practical advantages Of The oil-its use for light,
for billing machiaery--for various purposes in
the fine and commercial arts, and the absolute
necessity for it which its use has created, rem
der The discovery of petroleum and Its practical
application to the wants of life, an epoch-.in
the history Of the nation, whose importance,
! kor ~I- -al ~ a,ts,,