The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26
PETROLEUM IN PATERSON.
CRUDE on FLOWING IRON THE VAIL
or 4 B1RROOM CELLIR.


Tuning. story OF How the Liquid Burst
Torih Suddenly and imprcguntcd "a stream
OF Wnter-A Reporters Investigations.
The drcarcet most dcsoatc and dcprcss-
ing OF the surroundings OF Paterson. y. j.. is
TINT remote conner known as South Paterson.
IT lies on the broken and irregular hum
mocks OF rock aud sterile soil that form tho
foothills below the superior range Of Rock
lInl on the ragged slope down to the valley
through which the Erie Railway runs. Away
out on Marshall street. whice runs through
South Paterson, John Ruling keeps Il roadside
barroom. dignined by tho name OF tho " South
Paterson House." and there Is where. 1t is
claimed. a flowing spring Of petroleum. OF re-
markablc purity and value. has been discovered.
Whom n reporter for THE Sun visited Mr..
Rulings barroom. yesterday. tho landlord as
sented to proposal for an inspection OF the col
lar. first exhibiting the iniammable qualities OF
some crude oil kept in little bottle behind the
bar. Through the cellar. on one side. runs u
stream OF water which seems to enter from
Two points one Immediately beneath the front
stairs. the other in corner hard by.
among tho rocks that form the wall At
ts largest point this stroam Ia about two feet in
width and Ave or six inches in depth. Upon
the surface Of the water fioated. when the re-
porter saw 1t. a considerable quantity OF the
tho parlance Of tho Pennsylvania oil men ms
b S." The little streams springing from the
walls seemed clear as crystal. But the b. s y
was thcro all the same. and tho surface OF the
water was undeniably covered with crude oil OF
unusual clearness. Some Of II was scooped up
by the reporter. and upon being tested with a
lighted match burned very freely and norcely.
Mr.. Ruling stopped down and pluckcd lumu
OF Shiny. greonish stun from the stones in the
cLannOl 81 the stream;
sure sign that ~ good supply 81 oil Is very near
the surface. Its what they call the mother oi
the oil. Just like the mother IN vinegar, you
know. Butthoros the clear stun rum ng right
out. and suppose ! could save barrels Of II II
I'd give my attention to II. That spring -
directing attention TO n doep circular pool in
get all our water. but in the last six weeks it las
got To taste and smell Of Kerosene so strong that
we can't use Il any more and have 10 gct al our
water from the neighhors. And d. gas from
The oil is - strong tim, I've had TO tuke out the
cellar windows to enable us To- live in the house.
Tho reporter looked along the course Of the
stream in the cellar but did not observe any of
pool Just before the front door Of the cellar
nor any among the rocks in the stream ouisid,
tle cellar Mn'm ne subsequently locked there
although Mr., EuNng says II has been TOWING
OF IS barlclhlr. But there must bc sufficient
Of the oil flavor to render the water unpaiaiabl'
10 the aquutic wis and the nninu,s that rom
about that ground, for MIR. Runing says that
since he discovered the oil in hi~ collar they
have crnsDa hAtAine N the water or drinking il
" I've been here about three years said Mr.
Ruling. IN ihe hlrroom again, AMI though
didn't build the house. WIS the hrsi tenant 10
gag on II. Their WAS always u smell ~ krro
senc about IN the % lar but II never bothered
Us. and nobody thought much about n unit
four month, ago, when | went down one morn
Ing and saw tlc oil squirting out in tNo liitl'
streams 5u-i Ike ihem'-rlacing two matches
iSe ' bewc lis thumb and iore-hngcrs-
from under the steps. Then i commence,
coming In nj the corner. There's novel
except What / did with the big blad,
OF this lnck-knife 10 give II chance
10 come out. Since then 1t has been flowing
stoady riGht along. About two weeks after I
spirited OUT that way. the water in tie sprinl
-four feet from the oii-snturated stream in til,
soft. porous eerthl gOt 80 that We could not us'
II any more. oven TO wash dishes with. Lots q
people about here have come and carried Of
sane. and I've had 10 lock the cellar door
against them m not going To allow them L
carry away any more 81 the oil unless they uhl
inc Tor IT, Some of the neighhors have burue,
II, and they Say IL burns rs well IS the k"roscu'
from, the stores. THIS s not the first tim
about here Whom they were building ,h,
Newark Railroad the mon found traces Of OF
had no eXptri,uce. anu wore ignorant. anS
didn't think much Of H. aud nobody bothered
thin2. good thing ulrcadyy Oh. ycs-Or
well don know b. have. ] do a good dea
OF burtu.s~ here with gardeners AMI others ot
tn road. . d use lie' this gets away with
good deaf OF stuff in the course oi The week
but u hh- l9"-ii -uud many penll' 10 ti,
house to H'" thc Oh ever since gave It out
didn't give % 1ut until last Friday or Saturday
Wien tori nboW Il up M tli" grocery.
There WIS a man here YESTERDAY who SAID
he como i,lw l:lnsy Nanm. four nun Ire,
ness nine yaar- We'll. he said It wu- ~ good
show for "a ilLr we'll as he'd ever soon in hi'
was finer and lighter and more vniuahle OF
than toy Ind IN PENNSYLVANIA. Theirs b
ere, ni-u lih hud t.lS, you se". - almost clear
b.