Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-19

DIsrILLAr1oN OF ESSENTIAL OILs.-I would
Ike to call attention to the distillatiOn of es-
sential. or, as they are sometimes called, cola
,Ie cils. 1t is well known fact that Pepper
mint, Spearmint, Sassatras, Wormseed or Je-
rusalem Oak, and many others, yield by dis
tillatiou oils which are valuable, and which al
ways find ready sale at high prices. These all
grow Iuxuriantiy in Virginia, even without cul-
tvation, and it would surprise most OF your
readers to know the amount of each consumed
annually in the United States The State of
MARYLAND alone sent to the Baltimore market
before the war fifteen to twenty thousand
pounds Of oil of Sassatrass, which now has
market value of $3.50 per pound. Que firm
in Western New York cultivated many acres
10 Peppermint alone, and this yearly product is
estimated at ten thousand pounds at from five
to six dollars per pound. The others are equ-
ally saleable and valuable.
The Weld of oil differs In the several articles
mentioned, aud /. greater in the fresh or green
herb or root then in the dry state, and is es-
timated by the best authorities as follows:
Sassafras, l to per cent.
Peppermint, ! to l
Spearmint to l
'WOrmseed, to10
Certainly at these figures, it would pay hand
somely, and the cost of manufacture is small.
regret that have no reliable data from
which to give the amount of each used annual
ly, but it sufhces to say all can be sold that
can be made.
Whilst on this subject, | would call atten-
ton to the fact that hundreds of tons of Elm
bark and Wild Cherry bark, are sold in the
Northern cities, and although the Elm and
Wild Cherry trees are to be found in any por
ton of the State, we send North for all of
each consumed in Virginia, thus paying trl-
butte to, instead of levying tribute on, less
favored section. During the late war opium
was successfully grown ION small scale how
ever near Lynchburg. Cannot our people
be stirred up to grasp the wealth which hes at
their very doors ?-LyRh. Repabhcae.
EARTHQUAKES. French savant has been
discoursing upon earthquakes. Those OF last
year have drawn his attention to the subject.
They were the most extensive and disastrous
known to history, and they are full OF menace
for the future. Physicists and theOlOglans, he
says, agree that the solid crust OF the earth
contracts by cooling, and by constantly pressing
upon the incandeScent fluid at the centre, Tor
les this out by assures or volcanoes. In this
way ranges OF mountains arc accounted fOr-by
The upheaval of masses from below. Earth
Quakcs are caused by the displacement Of
masses under our feet, and by assures OF great
axtent-the masses displaced oSclllatlng IN
direction perpendicular to the assures. Every
fracture of the solid crust of the earth is atten-
lied with a trembling OF the earth.
Geology tells US which are the old and which
The new mountains. The old or first noun
tains are those of least elevation. The more
mOdern-the AndeS-are the highest, and the
probability is that any future mountains crea-
wIll ha ctii oil fa1 han that
exist. As the thickness of the earth's crust
becomes greater, the fractures are more diff
cult and rare but on the other hand, the dis
locations are increased Just In proportion to
the increased thickness aud hence the greater
.he elevation ot the more modern mountains,
and the greater the disturbances when they
occur That new assures will occur is certain,
and If they extend TO the igneouS mass at the
centre we shall have new mountains loiter
than any yet seen. These upheavals are more
likely TO occur at sea than on continents, be-
cause the earth's crust is weaker there, just 10
proportion as water Is lighter than earth. They
may happen at any moment, or they may not
happen in thousand years. The late earth
quakes are alarming, and indicate new system
OF assures to compensate the continued and ln-
creasing compression upon the igneouS centre.
ITEMs.-The Havana Bauco de- Commerce.,
known as FesSer's Bank, which for some time
past has been in a weak condition, suspended
on Saturday. The liabilities are heavy,
Buying pork at 10 cts; paying for 1t by sell
ING corn at 5O-resut, sheriff s sale
1t is stated, to the credit of Mr.. Garrett
Davis, by a radical paper that he has never
allowed any other person than himself TO use
his frank.
Letters have been received by a southwest
ern member of CONGRESS detailing more out
RACES In the State Of Tennessee.
Machines for the artiG,i ,ial production OF ice,
have recently been exhibited in Boston, Mass. {,
The Bonny is the name of steamer lately
launched on the Clyde as the pioneer OF new
line from Glasgow and Liverpool to the princl-
pal ports on the West Coast of Africa. This
line will make the third engaged in this grow
ing trade, thus affording steam communication
three timss month between the continents of
Eurnno ond Afr,aa