The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-09-14

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ceived the idea Of building. The malthained cis-
terms found in Egypt and at Petraa, although of
unknown antiquity, still in a perfect state
of preservation and fit for practical use. 1t is al
a wellestablished fact that in the preparation
of material for embalming and encaustic painting
in Egypt and Mexico maltha formed the principal
part.
Many theories have been advanced as to how
btumen has been produced, but general chem
ical formula can be given for the occurrence of
the several curious forms of the product There
Is doubt, however, that bitumen represents
a substance that is obtained from petroleum,
found in its liquid state in the containing rocks,
and by the process of natures laboratory has
been gradually converted into its solid form.
This process may be described as evaporation.
AS the oil seeps to the surface, generally by its
own gaseous pressure the natural gases, spir-
ituous and light oils are evaporated by the sun,
and the residues, asphaltum and maltha, formed.
Indications Of the presence of petroleum are fire.
quently found on the surface in the form of btu.
men, but there is no fixed rule, and recent dis
coveries seem to upset the theory that oil can
only be found under certain conditions Wells
have been sunk and oil found along the coast of
California, where the operations have even ex-
tended for some distance into the sea. In
variety Of climates and from the sea level up
through the lofty ranges of the Andes has this
remarkable light of the world" been secured
Petroleum. also known as mineral OIL crude
oil, and stone oil may be described as a LIQUID
form Of bitumen, found seeping from the crevices
of rocks and floating about the surface of the
water. Its color varies from a light straw
through amber, red and brown, to a dark green
and black. 1t is a mixture of hydrocarbons or
compounds of hydrogen and carbon, varying con-
siderably, according to the locality in which it is
found, in both composition and consistency and
OF two distinct varieties, asphalt base and parafn
base, with many constituents.
The more volatile and niammable portions of
the raw product separated by refining each
aratey by gradually raising the temperature of
the oil and passing the consequent vapors or
gases through a series of condensers. The prod
ucts from the paratin bases are usually taken off
as follows: Gasolines and naphthas, kerosene or
standard white, it is now known, other illhmi
mating oils, light and heavy lubricatng oils par
attin. and greases of various descriptions The
percentage of each product recovered from the
crude. fair average of Pennsylvania crude oil
ran as follows: Gasoline 1k per cent; naphthas,
IA per cent; kerosene, 55 per cent; lubricating
oils, II Y per cent parain, per cent; and residue
OF pitch, etc, 10 per cent. Many varieties of
petroleum require special treatment in order to
eliminate sulphur and other Objectionable ele
ments From the asphalt-base petroleum is de-
priVed of residuum employed in the manufac
ture of insulating, water-proofng and roofing ma
terias. A residuum known as coke" is also
used as fuel and in the manufacture of carbons
for arc lights and electric batteries.
Along the banks of stream in Pennsylvania,
now known under the prosaic title of OIL Creek