Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-02-25
The Planet We Live On.


The farm of the Earth" irclosed in a
ringfence of air, turns out to be much more
valuable piece of real estate than our pro-
genitors supposed il to be. Nay, even our
papas had no idea twenty years ago that we,
their sons. were born to such goodly inner
itanee. We don't know what was the esti-
mated value of the globe sixteen or seven
teen years ago, but il has certainly apprecia-
ted several hundred per cent. within that
time California began TO feast our eye
with its riches in 1912, and Australia soon
followed suit with its golden dOwry. From
that time until now Madame Terra has been
indeed Lady Bountiful, and what further
she may have in store. for her enterprlslpg
family it is in vain to attempt 10 guess. We
have nothing to guide US in our surmises save
the clamp of experience, and that for sew
eral years past has been such an out and out
lamp of Aladdin that, if we are to.judge ofthe
future by the past, the next generation VIII
enjoy all the luxury and magniticence attn,
buted by Fenelons to the fabulous land oil
COcaigne. =
We must give up calling weathy-people
the upper crust; !" it. is the toaoer cfasst7 fel-
lows that are making fortunes. Our respect
ed ancestors merely cultivated the surfaces
of the earth we gather our golden harvests
be our totem" The road to riches is
"bore.n Instead of putting our shoulders to
the wheel we rely upon the shafts" FaeslN
decensus aUer7ti must be expunged- from our
proverbial philosophy, and we must say IN,
stead, ait is easy descending into wealth
Poor men in Pennsylvania make deep holes
in the earth, and, like the genie OF an Eastern
story, surrounded by a cloud of inhammable
vapor, up comes an oleaginous Plutus through
every orifice. 1t is very nice. Would thai
our lot had been cast in greasy Carbonate OF
KEROSENE Scranton.
We have exported twenty-three millions OF
gallons of petroleum to Europe within year
"Tbink of that, Master Brook J" Verify we
are burning and shining light among the
nations. Widows of the world, bring hither
your cruises; we can fill them Virgins who
wish to keep your lamps trimmed and lgnlt-
ed, we can supply you with the necessary
combustible. The dark ages can never more
return Oil is too plentiful for that. Levla-
than hide thy .diminishedahead; its contents
are of small consequence. The earth taxes
the shine out of the sea, and "parmaceu" Is
no longer "the sovereign'st thing In the
world" Weep, Nantucket, and lay up thy
ships in ordinary, Turn thy harpoons into
picks and augurs, and proceed to perfor.
ate. Perchance under those barren rocks OF
thine lies more ile' than there is in the
whales of the sea. Let your shibboleth be
"There she spouts!" but let it be spoken oil
the greasy earth, not of the monsters of the
deep.
The latest news is that "signs" of petro-
leum have been discovered at Hoboken and
all along the Highlands to PiermOnt. Pro
digious |" We think of "sinking well in
our "sub cellar" 1t smells very strong OF
csrburetted hydrogen. 1t may proceed from
a leak in the gas-pipe, but then again it may
not. ""'
Seriously speaking, this sudden access of
material wealth comes IN. the very nick OF
time, if we may use the word Mex in con-
nection with such godsend.
1t is all nonsense to call this planet the
solid earth; it is simply an immense hollow
sphere filed with oil, worth--unmanafacture
fifty-cents gallon. In the old world they
can't get at it, however, the crust OF the
earth being thckest on that side. We are all
made men-not doubt Of il. Let us keep
''pegging away" at the deposit Let Us dig
and enjoy our 6tea,t caan1 dignitdtis. IN. 4.
Ao"N"Dy +WfeS' ~. s---g