The Elbert County tribune., 1911-09-15
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ployed The blanket was carefully squeezed and
the oily substance recovered. Rude pits were
dug. lined with rough-hewn timbers, and the Oil
stored away for future Thus began the
first known practical conservation of petroleum
in America Many of these old Indian pits are
still found In an excellent condition. the timbers
being practically as sound as the day when cut
from the forest.
II was not long. however before the white man
began to realize the value OF this remarkable
discovery. and enterprising pioneers began to dig
pits similar to those of the Indian and to gather
the oil, which for many years bottled and,
under the names OF Seneca OIL" Indian OIL"
and Snake on sold extensively
for all the aches and pains to which man in heir.
1t was universally accepted as a medicament. but
with little curiosity to how great quantity
Of the wonderful curative could be secured
whence 1t came.
As early $780, the manufacture OF salt be
came important industry in the United States,
and for the purpose numberless brine wells were
sunk throughout the country. especially along the
western slope of the Allegheny Mountains, where
the brine found in great abundance, collected,
and evaporated into salt Many OF these wells
bad to be abandoned account OF their produc.
ing uncomfortable quantities OF petroleum. then
considered most undesirable element nota-
BILE incident Of this kind occurred at Little Renox
Creek, Burkesve, Kentucky. In 1929, when
an attempt made to sink well and secure what
was supposed to be an unlimited supply of brine
resulted in the striking Of mammoth oil gusher
CONSERVATION and disappointment spread among
the owners OF the we'll as they witnessed the
great quantities of oil flowing rapidly beyond the
creek and into the Cumberland River, where 1t
finally caught fire and burned for a distance Of
ffty miles. When the fire was extinguished
the oil flowed rapidly before, and with
the exception of small quantity which was later
recovered, bottled, and sold under the name of
American Medicinal OIL" the product was
wasted.
In 1916 DIR. Abraham Gesner discovered a
method of extracting excellent grade of illum-
mating oil from coal. and In 1854 he patented
"uccessful illuminant, Kerosene" commonly
known "coal-oil." The Improvement was so
great over the animal and vegetable oils then In
use, the Objectionable odor and smoke being elm.
mated, that they were gradually set aside and in
order to meet enormous and everncreasing
demand for the product. It became necessary to
establish factories throughout the country for the
extraction of this popular Illuminating oil from
coal Altogether there were go OF these
establishments in operation at time and the
price OF kerosene advanced rapidly until 1857,
when 1t sold high as 81 gallon. The industry
short lived. however. for upon the discovery
OF petroleum in sufhcient quantities to effect a
competition basis from which Illuminating
oils could be manufactured, these kerosene fac
tories were converted into refneries of crude oil
In order to prevent their total loss. r.; =,
The great demand for kerosene and its conse-
quent high price were the at attracting the
worldwide attention of chemists ard scientific
authorities. and repeated attempts were made to