The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-13
pErROLEUMIN CALIFORNIA.

From the bosom of the ruggedest part of
Pennsylvania, and the territory contiguous
to large part of the Northern Appalachian
system, has poured food ofoleaginous wealth
that has quickened industry, increased the
wealth of our country, turned poverty into
opuence, and which had no small influence
In maintaining the stable financial status Of
the free States during the late rebellion.
here was riches when was previously thought
only barrenness and non production. From
this rich oil territory investigation extends to
all parts of the continent. American muscle
and thrift strip themselves to explore every
region where there are hopes that the shifting
of the rocks may bring forth the fluid treasure.
From the East the acqusitive and exploring
spirit turns to the West, and summonine
science to its aid, commences prospecting
upon the Pacific coast. Does the soil OF this
hi Dorado hide oil as well as gold? If her
gulches and mountain ravines. and richer
than Pactoan sands that lined the shores of
the streams, were frighted with the precious
mineral, deeper down was there also another
0OeiNS Va Ntoith Is tue capital C0Hl Iail-
fornia gold has added to the world $ substan-
hal possessions to be duplicated by new dis
covered petroleum
Prot. Slllima has made a report giving the
result of observations and explorations for
petroleum in California These extend
throughout nearly every part of the State.
We have have not space nor disposition TO
follow Professor Silliman's processes. We
merely give his results. These are:
/. That petroleum exists in the coast range
OF California in rocks of the tertiary age. over
an area extending from San Diego to Hum
boldt Bay.
Z. hat the surface oils in several places
afford products of excellent quality, in mod.
crate quantity, and of commercial value
y. hat the explorations by artesian wells
are thus far too imperfect to afford decisive
testimony very few wells having been sunk
TO any considerable depth-others having
been so unskillfully sunk as to furnish only
negative results, while few have afforded
good OIL In moderate quantities. All artesian
borlngs thus far have been accompanied by
abundant escape Of carburetted hydrogen gas, (
(marsh gas.
1. The remarkable superficial evidences ofl
the existence Of liquid hydro -carbons seen
over extended areas seem to justify the con
clusion, that the chemical transformations by |
which organic substances are converted into |
petroleum have taken place on a scale ofl
almost unequaied magnitude over vast |
area IN California. Whether the position of
the stratlfed rocks, known to be quite differ |
ent IN structure from those of PENNSYLVANIA. /
are or are not favorable to the accumulation |
III subterranean cavities Of reservoirs of pc
troleum accessible by artesiau boriugs, must |
be decided by repeated and well directed ex.
periments with the drill
5. 1t Is worthy of remark, that the oldest
and most famous sources of petroleum known
IN the arts, before the discovery Of the Penn
sylvania supply-namely, those on the Cas-
plan Sea, in Northern Italy, and in India
are of the tertiary age, as are those of Cali
fornia.