Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-01-02

For the Gazette,
Mr.. EDIToR,-While they are building rail-
roads to bring eeal from the hills of PenAsSlVania,
1t would be well to consider If the same results
cannot be arrived at much nearer and cheaper
What we want is cheap fuel In some parts. Of
the county they are boring wells for gas. and Oh
tain vast quantities of it. Why cannot we find
gas by boring alsop
For local use, the gas is more valuable than
oil, ana the gas wells appear never to give out.
am one OF those that do not believe that the
crust of the earth was formed by cooling from
melted state. All rocks melted by fire, on cooling
have what is called vitTious CLASSY fracture.
The so-called igneous rocks do not possess this
quality, but have more the appearance of having
crystalised from watery solution This view OF
the case admits of there being ocean of petIo-
leum inside of the rocky crust, old as the earth
itself. We will have to take new views OF the
structure of the earth for the old not ten
| able. Ii ever the earth was in a Hqiud state,
| whether melted by fire, or dissolved iii water,
with the present forces acting, it must be hollow
globe. A rocky crust then with water on the out
side, and oil ON the inside will represent the ap-
parent condition of the earth. The oil and the
i gases formed from it, are constantly trying to
force their way through cracks and crevces to
the surface. How thick the crust may be, or
what cavities it may contain, we do not know
| Now in this place the crust ought to be thinner
than either up in Pennsylvania, or down the
Peninsula, but is composed aof solid rock. Here
we are situated on the primary, or foundation
Eock, ON level with the tide water In Penn
sylvana there IS heavy secondary deposited OF
top OF the primary rock. And south OF th'
Chrstiana, there is a deep alluvial formation
covering this rock. Here then would seem to b.
the very place to bore successfully for gas. Ii thu
boring was through soid rock, the well woult
need but little tubing
During the earthquake which occurred her
more than year ago, all those persons who wen
) out in the country and were in position to no
tice, say, that the sound appeared TO come from
distance, pass unuer their feet, and go on. Nov
there is nothing, that we know Of in nature, cap
able Of producing such results, but gas moving ii
+ a rocky cavern, under heavy pressure, aud thi
u could produce it,
Several years ago they had an earthquake
Lancaster, and at the hour, the rolling, jrrs
!, ing noise, like that experienced here last yea
u was distinctly heard iii the neighborhood of this
u city. This fact shows that the cavity under u
{ is continuous with those OF the oil regions
|, Pennsylvania. Judging from tho results in Oths
u places, this might he reached within five hundr0
10 feet.
u From the magnificent results that weuld 10
q from striking gas III this place, the City ooune
! 4 might well afford to make an appropriations 4
a. that purpose. A ten inch we'll would not on
= hight the city, but furnish all the heat required
II the houses, and run all the engines, and be
u source of perpetual income to the city. N
= We should then be independent Of the q
- region. By all means then let have q gas We
q w. F. QUISRY, NJ. u.