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

Unstable line and connected with hea'y dr" vi
beam, driven by an engine which continually
raises and releases the arms and permits the drill
70 fall with great force into the hole. With each
drop and by its own weight, the drill literally
crushes and pulverizes the rock into sand, which
is removed with sand pump" from time to time
as it accumuates in the boring AS the WORK pro-
crosses and the hole deepens the adjustable line Is
heightened and the drill lowered as required
After drilling to depths varying from 100 to 1000
feet and when crevice is struck in the rock, the
oil is frequently brought to the surface by the
force of its pressure; but 1t often becomes
necessary in case the flow of oil is not considered
sufficient to insert a charge of explosive at the
bottom of the boring, "shoot' or blast the well,
and thus increase the supply. After the drilling
and blasting are completed, the we'll is then cased
with iron piping known a lining and pump
inserted.
In the old days each well pumped separ-
atey but the industry is now conducted upon such
an economic and scientific basis that the wells are
pumped in groups by yeritable network of con-
Meeting rods, extending the fields and driven
by an engine in a centralized station
In some districts the oil fields have been prac.
tically honeycombed with wells and the production
of petroleum greatly reduced or scattered by con-
tnual pumping.
AS the enterprise grew many complex problems
arose from time to time, but they have all been
gradually but effectually solved and the industry
placed upon a conservative and economic basis.
The total flow of oil in the United States for
the year 1852 the first of which any official record
has been kept amounted to only 1000 barrels.
For the year 1909 the production as estimated by
David T. Day Of the United States Geological Sur
vey amounted to about 17S0OO,O0O barrels, which,
if placed in a single body would be sufficient to
float a gigantic feet of 935 DreadnouGht battle
ships of the new 26,000ton Arkansas type of the
United States Navy.
Gradually the oil derrick wended its way from
thnac In SOuthWpStorlV direction
petroleum industry was extended vast terri
tory.
During the year 1908 there 5000 wells
sunk in the United States of which but 3,214
dry.
Extensive experiments have been conducted to
determine the value of petroleum fuel for power
plants as we'll as for the navy and merchant ma
rine especially in England and the United States.
Numerous merchant vessels have been fully
equipped for burning oil as fuel and, by practical
test, it has been determined that oil will ovaporate
80 per cent more water per pound than COAL is
easier to handle and stow, offers no difficulty in
burning, and in its use, time formerly wasted in
coaling and in useless labor is saved, smoke elim
mated, fuel space economical, steaming and speed
capacities increased strain on boilers greatly de-
creased, and clean ship assured at all times
The crude oil of parafin base is particularly de-
sirabe for fuel, and the only obstacles to it's uni
versal use are: % Difficulty in obtaining; (2) in
creased cost over coal. With the production of
sufficient petroleum at a reasonable cost there is
little doubt that every ship afoat will be event.
uay equipped with oil burners and the coal CRATES
pass from
The United States navy has equipped the bat
tleships Delaware, North Dakota Utah, Florida,
Arkansas and Wyoming with auxiliary provision
for from 400 to 600 tons of fuel oil each.
The battleships under construction at
the Fore River Ship Building Company, Philadel-
phia, for the Argentine government, will also be
equipped for auxiliary oil capacities of 600 tons
each. ,v. ...r. it., .a.y,sarr,..,.s
The usefulness of petroleum Is almost unlimited. |
Besides the many grades Of gasolines, naphthas |
Illuminating oils lubricatng oils, parafin, and |
greases obtained from the crude oil parafnn base, |
filtered paraffn residues or concentrated jellies
are also obtained. These jelies are universally |
employed therapeutic agents in diseases of the
skin as a basis in the manufacture of medicated
ointments for general household use, and also in
the compounding Of shoe and metal polishes