The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-03-02

As the production Of oil is subject en-.
gaging the attention Of our citizeps very.
largely at present, they viii be pleased
to read what is said by observing men
in reference to petroleum and its pres
enoe in the earth. Prof T.. w. Evans, of
Marietta College, has written the follow
ing to the New York Journal Of Commerce
ON the indications Of oil: IS hl. H....'
To the Editors Of the Journal Of Commerce
The publication at the following ak
tract from ieLter recently received by ~
gentleman in this city from Professor F..
". Evans, of Marietta College. Ohio.
viii no doubt be acceptable 10 many ci
our readers. Professor Evans is we'll
known as hesuthor of the interesting
article "0n the action of oil wells not
longe since published in Silliman's Jow.
ral, and Hunts Heohoats Magazine, and
published in whole OF in part ia msa.r
papers in the East and in the West. Ms
opinions. With regard 10 indieasisns at
oil, are entitled 10 great consideration,
both from his scientific and troW his
prac teal acquaintance with the subject
az Very respectfully. &c,
New York, Feb. 9th. 1865. W. B. ID. =
The question in regard to the depth
a: which oil is to he fonud. or, ~ the idea
is popularity expressed. whether it be
deep or shallow oil, is Of, great practical
Importance Experience has domonstra,
ted that, rs general fact, supplies Of
petroleum, found ut a depth OF two OF
three hundred feet, or more. are much
more lasting than those found st less
depth Wells of lass than hundred
feet in depth often give good promise at
first, but they are speedily exhausted II.
"Oil coming to the surface in bulk, 81,
often considered proof of yalnabe ter
ritory, is really nothing more than an in.
deX of shallow oil On some parts of
Hughes river aud Duck creek, aud other
places whers petroleum used Ia he col.
lected in quarts and even barrels, a. IL is
sued from between the surface rocks OF
oozed up through the sand, experiments
in boring have resulted IN finding only
small collections AZ slight depths The
petroleum has worked its way up through
open assures to the upper strata, and -
rapidly undergoing tho process ot on
haustion In such places II Is not nm
common to find collections Of asphaltnm,
OF thick tar like oil approaching asphaL
tum, tho more volatile portions ha'ilg
escaped by evaporation, while the gross.
er portions remain.
"The most reliable surface ludicstion
that the source vi the oil Is deep, is its
appearance in athin volatile scum Oh
mineral springs For example; betwesn
the Kanawhas, along the line connecting
tho two Burning Springs, thorc are in
Vulnerable oil and gas springs, in which
the analysis Of the water always reveals
various minerals, such as common salt,
carbonate of iron, carbonate oi soda,
suiphurate N potash, sulphuratrd hy'
drogen, &c On the common springs oi
pure water, whose source is noar the snr-
face, oil il not seen ia this region IL
comes up through cracks in the strata
from depth where the water ha, gath
cred its various mineral contents, The
high temperature of these oil springs, \,
compared with that of the ordinary
springs. is another indication of a
deep source These sign, are always
found in the best oil regions