The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-25

claimed to be, caused by the great daily
change in temperature. often from 90 de-
grees at night TO 40 degrees in the day,
upward motion OF the mass below. increas-
ing toward the center Of the lake. Scat
tered about are a few patches OF shallow
earth, covered with bushes and small trees
The pitch is of a brownish-black color and
hard 10 the touch: Even In the hot sun OF
the tropics IL is brittle. that a pick struck
into IL will break out pieces OF several cubic
feet in size. Although brittle IL Is porous
pieces into the carts without assistance.
After digging down TO depth OF three or
four feet the pitch Is found somewhat
softer, and elastic rather than brittle. and
the pit is then left TO I'll up again. Within
day or two the pressure from below Will
il is hardened by exposure 10 the air this
lifting is checked and the surface r.
mains nearly level. In this way probably
over half a million tons have been taken
out within small area near the margin
without lowering its level
The origin OF this never-failing supply OF
pitch Is not certainly known The vegeta-
BILE, animal, mineral and volcanic theories
have been much discussed. The n Arrest
tnet can be said IL that n Is from tie d.
compo siiion OF vegetable. or vegetable ana
animal matter.
The pitch l. Ike is the property Of the gov
eminent OF Trinidad. Until few years ag0
licenses werc given To various parties u
take asphalt from the lake. Inese diner
ent parties. being in coInpstition with enc
another. decided TO conbine and secure. II
possible. exclusive right 10 the lake As
the licenses were not exclusive they brought
little revenue TO the government. AMI the
export duty OF % cents per ton brought
little more
The licensees proposed TO the government
that If they could get the exclusive right
10 take asphalt from the lake for a term OF
years they would guarantee $500 a year
and pay 90 cents ton Tor the asphalt
taken. and would submit 10 an export duty
Of 81 20 ton. The object ia prop sing an
Increased duty 10 deter the /, O ND III
ton II those VINO were mining Land as
phalt' In the island. The props sltion was
accepted. The licensees many OF whom
were English, organized as The Trinidad
Asphalt cempany.' a corporation under the
laws OF New Jersey. with their principal
tract according 10 the proposed terms was
then made BY the company with the Trim
dad government for twenty-one years. In
1893 tue government received a revenue Of
about Si51.0tO from the lake
In addi len TO the 20 cents ton for the
pitch and >l.O q ton export duty, the cos,
OF digg ne the pitch. c4rting IL TO the risr
at La Brea, and loading IL on the steamer
IS ab Vt $50 ton. or in all $40 "A ton OF
board.
TIE pitch sent To- the United States I,
shipped In bulk as IL is dug from the lake
In tue hold OF the vessel the pitch softenl
with the heat and the pieces coaiesce int,
a seni-fiusd mass. On reaching the Norti
the mass becomes hard and has 4 h,
broken OFT with picks as when first taker
from the lake. In some cases from unusua
heat or long voyage the mass has bscam.
so soft as 10 list 10 leeward. and the vessel
being unable 10 right themselves have beer
wrecked.