Arizona republican., 1901-03-23
ABOUT ASPHALT.
Where it Is Obtainsd-Its Origin and
 Commercial Use.

Commercial Use.
 The dispute between two rival Amer
 ican corporations oyer the possession of an asphalt lake in Venezuela has caus- ed especial interest in what an asphalt lake is like and how asphalt is mined and ship ped to market. Asphalt. or asphaltum, is the solai form of biitumen. Bitumen
 Is generic term which is applied to q variety of substances, ranging from natural gas. naphtha, pstroleum and mineral tar to asphalt. The asphalts of different localities vary greatly in composition, as is shown by their cheqn- ical reactions. Nearly all are amor phous and have the general appearance of pitch. melting at about the temper ature of boiling water. Asphalt, it IS thought by scientists has resulted from the hardening of the maltha and pe- troleum elemsnts, through oxygenation and evaporation.
 One of the most interesting asphalt beds in the world Is the pitch lake in the state of Bermudez. Venezu:ca. Tk.s valuable depcsit was unknown to American capitalists until 1888, when an American engineer, Ambrose How ard Garner. received a title to the pro- porty from the Venezuelan government This he sold 10 the New York and Ber- mudez company, which Is closely allied to the so-called asphalt trust, of which Gen. F. V. Greene is president The sev- eiaf square miles which are included in the concession obtained have in the last thirteen years been steadily improved. The company has cleared the maturin river to navigation, so that deep sea craft from all quarters of the globe can run in from the Carribean sea. past the British possessions of Trinidad island and inland to the docks of the com
 The town of Guanoco Is the river ter- pany at Guancco.
 minus of the Bermudez companys rail- road. Here are hundreds of native Ven ezuelans, working under the eye of an American superintendent. The raw as- phalt is brought from the lake. five miles distant, rn flat cars. and shoveled into the holds of the vessels. At Qua noco this operation is much simpler than at Trinidad, where lighters are necessary because of the long. shelving beach of the harbor. The railroad fol- lows an old Indian trail which led from the river tl the shores of the pitch lake. The surface of the lake is so hard that for some distance from the shore it sup ports the weight of a loaded train. As one looks over the surface of this great deposit he at first saes nothing # striking or unusual nature He views only black plane, resembling anthfa- cite coal, or flint, upon which are groups of natives working with picks and shovels. Closer examination, how ever, shows that portions of the sur face are soft like tar, where the asphalt is sticky and bubbHng. Asphah is dis from anthracite not only by its form, but because 1t is soluble in of carbon and benzole. These pitch pools resemble somewhat the hot springs of the Yellowstone re- zion. They slowly cool and become after many years.
 As at Trinidad. thsy vary in depth. Some of them have never been fully sounded, and are thought by the nn- tives 10 extend into the bowels of the earth
 The asphalt which Is mined at Der mud5Z Is more cr less hardened and is obtained with some difficulty, as it re- tains the suns heat to trying de- gree.
 I.le BermudeZ company. after years of experiment, has succeeded in putting on the market asphalt which will neith- er crack from cold nor melt under the burning sun. About decade ago ye- hIeles were likely 10 cut into asphalt pavements in the summer months. By chemical treatment this has been obvi- ated in all the newer -avements. even In hot countries, where 1t fully resists the suns heat. and at the same time retains y's durability and elasticity.
 Asphalt is used largely in the man ufacture of ceme1ts. It is mixed with q petroleum residue to render it pias- tie. and is then tempered with one. seventh its weight of sand. It also forms one of the most durable water proof materials known. For roofing ourp- ses 1t Is mixed while hot with fine gravel. or Is absorbed by thick roll, of felt paper.
 Asphalt Is found in many countries. In Vera Cruz. Mexico. near the village of Molcasan, Is mourtain largely of asphalt. The deposits a. Seyssel, France, and at Val le Travers, Switzerland. consist of limestone inn pregnated with bltu,rinpus matter, 'hich. when heated, crumbles to pow Ter. After it has been pGuahcd into Tolds and cooled it resembles the orig nal rock. Over one thousand mics of he streets of Paris nave been surrled rem these two 'oca.i2ias.-N. Y. T,i- pune.