Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1865-04-01

ot hydrogen from OuDter0ne4o oeQS OF
burning coal. Parker, who crossed that
region 10 1885 says, The thunder spirits
appear to have closed their labor" "In'
posing the Black Hills We heard mono OF
those successive reports resembling dis.
charge Of artillery, mentioned by soma
authors Instead Of the subterranean
fire" and "thunders reported by the
earliest explorers Of ,ba. region, We find
in the Journals Of latter travellers des.
scrip,ion Of the Silent and mys,eriousruins
of the Bad Lands.'
If this theory Of the origin of the
Mauraise 7errc proves true, we predict
that petroleum springs. or rock oil, will
yet be found in inexhaus.ible quantities
At the eastern base Of the Black Hills
Here, in the upheavel Of this mountain
range we shall undoub tedly meet With the
oil.bearing rocks Of the Devonian and Sal
urian systems which have been elevated
through and above the surrounding coal
field that border Immediately upon the
base of the mountains.
Eminent Geologst inform Us that "The
source Of the petroleum Is to be sought in
the Luminous, Devonian and Salurian
limestones. \ The oil wells
Of the United States are for the most part
sunk in the sandstone which form the
summit Of the Devonian series.' The oil
wells Of Pennsylvania and Ohio ore sunk
in the Devonian saudstones which are sup.
posed by DR.. Newbetg to be only reser-
voirs in which the oil accumulates as it
rises through assures from deeper source
Geology accounts for the exis.ance Of oil
springs on the theory that the oil doubt.
less rises from the carriferous (Devonian)
limestones, and being lighter than tho
water which permenates at the same time
the porous strata, i. rises to the higher
portion of the formation, where The petro.
leum Of a considerable area accumulates,
and slowly fads it way to the surface
through vertical fssures.' Prof. Allen
states that the coal bearing rocks may
always be looked foe in the vicinity Of
" hot springs aud tina. the crude petro.
leum as it issues in natural state from
oil springs, is "dark liquid Of an ex.
ceeding!y strong and disagreeable oder,
and nearly resembles the artificial tary OIL
Captain Bonneville in 1884 found one
Of these natural reservoirs Of petroleum
to the west of the Black Hills, which the
Indians called tho "Great Tar Spring"
It was found at the foot Of sand bluG,
where the oil extended 10 a stream OF the
color and consistency Of tar, with a strong
offensive oder. The Indians used it % an
ointment for the CALLED backs Of their
horses, and as a balsam for their own
pains and aches Ia the same region,
also, are situated the numerous "hot
springs" described by Lewis and Clark.
Mcclellan and others. A similar descrip'
tioa was also given in Isl! Of the "burn.
ing mountain Of anthracite coal on Pow.
der river, and Of the Sinking Springs"
on the Big Horn, discovered by one Capt
Lewis hunters in 1906, "who gave such
an account Of its slomy terrors, its hidden
fires, smoking pits, ncxious streams and
the all pervadiug smell Of birthstone that
it received the name Of "Colter's He'll"
Dr. Hayden, the Geo|ogist who accom-.
panied Lieut.. Warren over the granite
and azoic rocks, we find that the Potsdam
sandstone, or the lowest member of the
Salurian period is quite well developed in
the Black Hills Thus at the JUNCTION Of
the metamorpho azoic and Salurian
rocks gold becomes accessible" Speci
mems Of gypsum, rock salt, and iron pyr
ties, were also picked up by General Har.
neys men while passing along the eastern
base of the Black Hills, in 1855. We be.
Iieve the day is not far distant, when all
the territory in the vicinity Of these Hills
will be found to be rich in mineral wealth,
and that commercial city will yet spring
up among the pine clad hills of tha, re-.
gion, which will command the trade Of oil
the country east to the Missouri, north to
the Yellowstone, west to the mountains,
and south to the Platte. The Black Hills
is the natural point for the establishment
Of central military post for the Northwest.