The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-05-08
UNDERGROUND WONDERS.
4 Region Which Ab0unds In Asphalt and
Petroleum.

4 Region Which Abounds In Asphalt and
Petroleum.
Some strange natural phenomena are
described in recent report from the
United States Consul at Maracaibo, in
Venezeula. That part Of the depart
mcat Of Colon situated between the
rivers Santa Ana and Zulia and the
bierra Of the Colombian frontier IL very
rich In asphalt and petroleum. The In
formation we had regarding this extern
sive and interesting region. which 10 IN
uninhabited forest, is derived chiefly
from the reports Of the searchers after
balsam copabia, which abounds; but tho
following data were taken from the per-
sonal observations Of an American gem
tleman who made special exploration.
Near the Rio do Orc, at the foot
Of the Sierra, there 10 very curious
phenomenon, consisting Of . horizontal
cave, which constantly elects thick btu
men In the form oflarge globules. These
explode at the mouth Of the cave with .
noise loud enough to be heard ct con-
siderable distance; and the bitumen,
forming slow current, falls finally into
large deposit Of the same substance,
near the river bank. The territory
bounded by the Rivers Zulia and Cata-
Jumbo and the Cordiilera ID
rich in deposits and flows Of asphalt and
petroleum, especially toward the south,
where the latter is very abundant. AT
distance Of little more than seven kilc-
meters from the confluence OF the Tara
and Tho Go ;cn<n <ho~0 - - ~ rnc,cd
Of from 20 to 80 feet In height, with
in an area Of about 5000 square feet. On
its surface are multitude Of cylindrical
holes OF different sizes, which eject with
violence streams Of petroleum and hot
water, causing . noise equal to that
produced by two or three steamers blow
ing of simultaneously. For long dis
lance from the sight of this phenome.
non the ground is covered or impregna-
ted with petroleum, The few explorers
for oopaiba, who have visited this place.
call II the Infcrnito (little hell). Among
other things, 1t IL stated that from ono
only OF these streams Of petroleum was
filled In one minute . receptacle Of the
capacity Of four gallons. This repre-
SCENTS 40 gallons In an hour, or 6.16o
gallons In twenty four hours; and even
If this calculation be somewhat exagger.
ated, the fact remains that such con-
siderable number Of petroleum jets In
constant active operation must produce
daily ~ enormous quantity. This petro.
leum 10 Of excellent quality. with 4
density Of eighty-three degrees, which
is sufficient grade for forciRn markets.
Considering the immense amount Of in,
fammable gases which must be given
out by the flows and deposits OF petrol.
cum IS described above, 1t may be easily
believed that this has direct bearing
upon the phenomenon known since thu
conquest q the Faro Of Maraoaibo. This,
consisting OF constant lightning without
explosion, may be observed toward tbs
south from the bar at the entrance Il
the lake, and Godaxzi, In his geography
explains it o being caused by the vapora
arising from the hot water swamp situ
sted about one league to the east OF thu
mouth OF the Escalsnte, at the southern
extremity Of the lake. Near the mount
aims, and not far from the River Toron
doy, there are various flows Of . sub
stance which seems to be distinct from
either asphalt or petroleum. It 10 I
liquid Of black color, with little density
and strongly impregnated with osrbonl,
acid, and is almost identical with sub
stance met with In tho United Slater
among the great anthracite delds.-
tsatufs.