Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1911-10-07

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beam driven by engine which contlnualy
raises and releases the arms and permits the drill
TO fall with great force into the hole. With each
drop and by it's own weight the drill hteraiiy
brushes and pulverizes' the rock into SAND, winch
is removed with a sand pump" from time to time
as it accumulates in the boring. AS che work pro-
crosses and the hole deepens the adjustable line ~
heightened and the drill lowered as required.
After drilling to depths varying from 100 to 1000
feet and when crevice Is struck In TIE rock, tho
oil is frequently brought to the surface by the
force of it's own pressure; but 1t often becomes
necessary in case the flow Of oil is not considered
sufficient, to insert a charge or explosive at the
bottom of the boring, shoot or blast the weli'
and thus increase the supply. After the drilling
and blasting are completed the well Is then cased
with iron piping, known as a lining, and pump
inserted.
In the old days each we'll was pumped sepa;-
atey, but the industry is now conducted upon such
an economic and scientific basis that the wells are
pumped in groups by veritable network OF con-
Meeting rods, extending over the fields and driven
by an engine in a centralized station
In some districts the oil fields have been prac-
ticaly 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 conservative and economic basis.
The total flow of oil in the United States for
the year 1859, 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 178 900 900 barrels, which,
If placed in a single body, would be sufficient TO
float gigantic fleet of 935 DreadnouGht battle
ships of the 26O0Oton Arkansas type OF tne
United States Navy.
Gradually the oil derrick wendell It's way from
a northeasterly to southwesterly direction and the
petroleum industry was extended over vast terri
tory.
During the year 1908 there were 5000 wells
sunk in the United States, of which but 3,214 were
dry.
Extensive experiments have been conducted to
determine the value of petroleum fuel for power
plants as well for the navy and merchant ma
rine especially in England and the United States.
Numerous merchant vessels have been fully
equipped for burning oil fuel, and by practical
test II has been determined that oil will evaporate
80 per cent 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 elmi-
mated fuel space economical, steaming and sTeed
capacities increased, strain 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 its 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 snip afoat will be event
ually equipped with oil burners and the coal crates
pass from USE
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 new batteshps now under construction at
the Fore River Ship Building Company, Phadel-
pha for the Argentine government, sill also be
equipped for auxiliary oil capacities of GOO tons
EACH
The usefulness of petroleum is almost unlimited
Besides the many grades of gasolines. naphthas,
Illuminating oils, lubrcating oils. parafin. and
greases obtained from the crude oil parafin base,
filtered parafin residues concentrated jees
are also obtained. These jellies universally
employed as therapeutic agents in diseases of the
skin, as a basis In the manufacture of medicated
ointments for general household use and also In
the compromising Of shoe and metal polishes-