The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-01-23

vegetable material were laid down in
bads and became transformed In Nar1-
Gus ways subsequently by ehehlcal
processes. According to condillohs gov
stnfno they were metamorphosed into
dennsits Of coal, petroleum, or bitumen
the last being what we cali aspnalI'
at is imagined that the vegetable
beds that were changed into bltumen
were laid down in the bottoms OF rivers
and lakes, where they were covered up
by sand or clay and underwent uecVnl.
tUithout contact with air. One spot
where this occurred was in the nelsh-
borhood of the Dead Sea, whence Tor
merly great quantities OF asphalt vert
obtained. Very little is got from there
now, the most important source Oh IIe
worlds supply being the Famous az
lake of Trinidad. This lake Is hileu
with bitumen instead of water, being
about a mile and a half In diameter.
It's surface IS so smooth that 1t looks
like a lake of water and in hot weath-
er the sun melts il to depth OF sVlile
inches. In the center OF the lake the
asphalt is boiling.
.s,This wonderful deposit is thought to
have been formed by woody ana otneI
vegetable matter carried by the river
Orinoco into the surrounding seas,
where by the influence OF the currents
II was accumulated, its decomposition
being effected by volcanic action. MIN
eraI rubber and mineral wax are mere
ly different forms of the same thlns.
In other words, their primary origin Is
vegetable but the processes llal
evolved them were different. -.
"There is a good deal of dispute az oul
| such matters. / should not IKE 70 lay
| down an opinion on the supJect eCssii
people believe that petroleum ~ lossil
| fish oil. while others declare that It Is
! derived from plants, like coal ana as
| nhalt NV own belief is that boln
| plants and animals have furnished INT
| substances of which petroleum is com,
posed. In support of the hsh theors !,
| NAV be said that many flsh fossils arr
found in the Green River shales o.
| Utah and wyoming, and sometimes
| these shales are so rich in oil that tnt
rock can actually be used as fuel I'M
petroleum of Pennsylvania, on the oth
er hand, is derived from piaHts eNciu
sively in all probability
GUM CoPAL.
Important deposits Of a fossil gum
known as gum copal," have been dls
covered recently in Colombia. I'M
substance is of great commercial I'M
portance as a basis of Varnishes FOR
long time il was supposed to be or
mineral nature but it is now know
to be the resin Of a species of tree Gale
the algarroba. This tree is very pier
tiful in Colombia--a fact which CAV
rise to certain inquiries instituted by
COMPANY of New York capitalists.
Agents sent to Colombia by this cor
pany made extensive explorations an
found great quantities of the preciol
gum in various localities. notably
the valley of the San Jorge river. San
pies where brought back which WEI
tested by Professor Doremus ana o.
he. 4aF \ "a y q
fine quality, comparing faVoraDly WI
the famous Kauri gum of New Iealaf
the highest grade varnish gu
known 1t is estimated that the e
pense of obtaining the gum eopal
! Colombia and landing 1t in New 1ol
will not exceed 10 cents pound. II
, found free from Jumps in the soft all
vial soil at the foot of the algarroi
! tree. The labor of digging for 1t
! light, and may he performed by wome
: | who can be employed for 10 cents di
[ in Colombian money.
: The gum copal of commerce is an q
/ cumulation of the resinous eXudato
OF the algarroba tree extending over
indefinite period of time. The tr'
which resembles the beech in appet
I, ance, may he tapped like the fupt
tree, but the sap or gum thus produc
: is practically worthless, lacking !
= seasoning of age. The deeper IL
found in the ground. e., the older
y is-the more valuable 1t Is Tor v
q nishes. The company referred 70
d obtained a concession which gives 10
d the sole right to mine for gum copal
y Colombia during the next twenty yea
y In return for this exclusive prlNlle
y it will be required to pay 10 the "
u eminent of that country 81 for eve
~ quintal shipped.
" Hitherto the market has depend
I A rrf fA1 10
u nal Kauri gum is produced only
" New Zealand 1t is the resin of
* kauri pine, and is found in the sa
NJ manner as gum copal. Some Jumps
- !, it are as large as mans BODY
~ fresh sap is of no value II must
~ buried under ground Tor many W
before acquiring the requisite quall
ne The gum, as it Is dug up, is semi-tos
s. lied and is found wherever in rast a
kauri forests grew. 1t looks someW
D. like amber, Most of this kind of g
- is sold in the United States.
1t is only within comparatively rec
~ years that the nature OF amber
u. been known 1t is the fossil gum or
e9 extinct species Of cone-bearlng I
no and is discovered plentifully by
on cling i'm certain parts of the plains
ou north Germany, where the strange
us once flourished. 1t is also found in
e. siderable quantities along the sn'
e.. of the Baltic, in the yellow stahus,'
r Pa At Palmicken, in east PRUSSIA II
rip dug in regular mines; in other place
III is gathered in the shape of nod
les. 1ase W ,yt,,r,, ana nreviously an
ior was made into knives and forks y
aoa one prong. which We're used by prli
ace and church dignitaries. 1t was n
lsh Valu .a, 80 90 70 s50 n pound. ace
ind WI ~ y. ,,oIi.y Tbe most imrol tant
~ made of it is for meerschaum and o
nines RENE BACH