Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-02-18
ASPLHATUM.
A PECULIAR MINERAL AND IT'S
USES.

Some Tremendous CONFUSION of
Nature 1t is Utilized in MANY
Ways.
| Among the minerals peculiar to this
| State, and which is destined to prove an
almost unlimited source of wealth, IS
asphaltum. This is found in largo
| quantities in Venture, Santa Barbara,
Kern and Los Angeles Counties, and the
deposits already known to exist there are
the most extensive in the world, while
new discoveries are constantly being
made. 1t is found in both liquid and
crystallized form, and also in the shape
of bitumen-impregnated roc or sand.
There are many springs in the localities
mentioned from which there is constant
flow of the liquid asphaltum, made SO
by the presence of petroleum. In other
cusps great lodges or masses of the crys-
tallized product are found. Some of these
take on the character of what might be
called true tissure veins. 1t would ap-
pear that some tremendous convulsion of
nature had occurred in the remote past
| by which the surface had been cracked
and riven in every direction, and into
I
| power had forced the liquid asphaltum
from its source beneath. Ages of tre-
mendous pressure have expelled every
particle of volatile substance, and the re-
suit is the existence of veins of crystal
lized asphaltum which are practically
free from any extraneous substance and
are of the highest value. In many cages
these veins have, in the course of time,
been covered over with coating of
earth or gravel of greater or less depth
and only the practiced eye of the expert
can detect their existence from certain
surface indications that the tyro would
| pass unheeded.
Some most remarkable deposits of this
character hsve been discovered in
| Northern Santa Barbara and in Kern
county, the product of which, in its nat
ural state, is far purer than the refined
product of the only other extensive as
phalt deposit in the world-that of Trim
idad island, in the West Indies.
None except those who have investi-
gated the subject has correct concep-
ton of the variety of uses to which as
phaltum and its products may be put.
For that matter its various industrial
uses are only just being learned by ex-
perts, and new discoveries of its adapt
ability are being made continually. To
say that the wide range from street pave
ments to chewing gum is covered is TO
state only literal fact The horses of
San Francisco tread beneath their feet
exactly the same substance that the
schoolgirls and even their elders masti-
cate between their more or less pearly
teeth. In other words, the bulk of tho
chewing gum now consumed is nothing
more nor less than a bye-product of
asphaltum, appropriately favored and
colo ed
| Another use for asphaltum has been
found in the manufacture of waterproof
tarpauln cloth, which, by the way, is the
invention of resident of this city. Two
sheets of coarse grade of cotton goods
have thin layer of asphaltum spread be-
tween them and by pressure the COM
pound is made one homogeneous whole.
The product is heavy waterproof sheet
ing, far cheaper than any now in use, and
answering every purpose. Suoh a ma
terial will be Il great boon to farmers of
the East aud of Europe, where it is
frequently necessary to protect partially
harvested crops, stacks of grain and hay,
etc., from the rain.
Still another use for asphaltum has
been found in the preparation of fuel
by combining the liquid material with
coal dust. In the coal-mining regions Of
Pennsylvania and other Eastern States
are literally millions of tons of culm, as
it is called, for which no use has ever
been found. There are mountains of
this finely powdered coal at the mouths
of every anthracite coal pit, and ngen-
uity has exhausted itself in the vain ef-
fort to hit upon some device by which it
may be turned to commercial account
Not until the valuable properties of tho
asphalt deposits of California became
partially understood was any solution of
the difficulty reached. 1t has now been
demonstrated, however, that by an ad-
mixture of about per cent. of liquid
asphaltum this culm may be moulded in
to briquettes of any desired size, which
makes most admirable fuel. The small
percentage of asphaltum, which is of u
combustible character, is just sufficient
to add largely to the desirable qualities
of those culm briquettes for generating
steam or warmth, and tests made have
been highly satisfactory. AS already
stated there are millions of tons of this
refuse which can be turned to account at
small COST, and it is evident that in its
utilization through the use of asphaltum
is a most inviting field for enterprise.
For undergrouni pipes or conduts the
use of asphaltum has been found most
advantageous. Nearly all water pipes
now laid on this coast arc required TO be