Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-03
Petroleum In Tennessee.

Tennessee will be prominent among the
States That furnish petroleum. 1t has moi
only one of the largest coal fields in the
Union, containing about 5000 square miles
but the carboniferous formation is here SUI
perincumbent upon another bituminiferous
formation, the silurian, and the rock oil Of
both formations may be expected.
The oil-bearing territory in Tennessee is
most advantageously situated Dor boring for
petroleum. Nearly the whole of thecarbon-
ferrous formation is by most gigantic up
heaval, raised, from 600 to 800 feet above the
waters of the Tennessee river, and forms a
vast plateau of table-land about 5000 feet
above the level of the ocean, which strikes
from north TO south from the line of Ken
lucky to that of Alabama, and even into
both States, and dips west and east.
On the table land, which is from forty to
| fifty miles wide, lies the carboniferous sand
stone below this is the mountain limestone
resting on very hard selicious cherry and
| often Jasper rock, and this upon a silurian
| limestone. The sandstone contains the coal
measures in three different beds as layers /;
one near. the base, another in the middle be-
tween the base and top, and the third near
the top.
In conformity with the upheaval and dip
a large portion of the petroleum must be
found on both sides Of the Cumberland
mountains west and east but as the upheaved
territory is so wide, not all the petroleum
can have run down the sides, very large
quantity must have remained in the territory
which lies in most places as level as the
prairies of Illinois.
The Cumberland table lands are intersect-
ed in all directions by mountain torrents,
rivers and creeks many Of which run in ra-
vines and mountain passes, from three hun
bred to five hundred feet deep, and some Of
them, as, for instance, the Sequatchie river,
form considerable valleys. These valleys, ra-
vines, mountain passes and caves, afford
spendid places to bore for petroleum.
The richness of the State of Ten
nessee in petroleum is. no more a mere
superstition. There as in the State of Penn
sylvania, the petroleum appears in many
places upon the surface of the earth, and on
the waters of springs and creeks. Some
twenty years ago, when petroleum was here
scarcely known, a salt excitement existed in
a part of Tennessee along the Cumberland
mountains. A great many wells were bored
for self brine. In all instances salt water
was obtained by boring few hundred feet,
but in all instances, first carburre.ted hydro
gen gas issued from the well, and later pc
troleum, thus all salts were ruined and had
to be given up. The appearance Of petro-
leum, which in many instances was kindled
and burned for days and months, was not
then hailed with joy as the striking OF oil
now is; it was only regretted, but it is now
remembered and taken advantage of There
are a great many other indications which
put the existence Of immense quantities of
petroleum all over the territory of the Cum
berland mountains and the adjacent coun-
ties beyond doubt The indications are here
much more frequent than in other States.
In consequence, the oil excitement COM
meneed as soon as the southern rebellion,
which was here in Tennessee, and especially
in the table lands of the Cumberland noun
tains, much more favorable than anywhere
else, allowed free intercourse.
As early as the month Of April, immedi-
ately after the surrender Of the Southern ar
mics, petroleum companies were formed IN
Tennessee. Agents were sent out to lease
and purchase oil territory; and now all the
best oil lands are either leased or purchased.
The companies rest here upon more solid
basis than at the North. As an example,
take one Tennessee petroleum company I'M
der the presidency Of Major General Rous-
seau. This company possesses more than
fifty thousand acres Of oil land, the best that
Tennessee affords On some Of the lands
there are natural oil springs, some surround
salt wells, which were destroyed by the APP
pearance Of petroleum; some lie in deep ra-
vines and valleys where the lower rocks are
so impregnated with petroleum, and have
such strong smell Of it, that the oil cannot
be deep below these rocks; on others have
been eruptions Of carburretted hydrogen
Altogether this company possesses large
oleaginous treasures, and may expect rich
rewards for their considerable expense.
Other companies possess oil lands similar in
quantity and quality.-Hilicrfs Petroleum
Reporter.