The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-08-12
FIRST COAL OIL
REFINERY WAS IN
CITY OF MAYSvILLE
Interesting Account Of tie First Re.
Refinery For Coal Oh In Relig-
iOus Journal.

The following article about the old
Maysville Oil Refinery by DR.. ]. w
Cunningham, of Monrovia, Cal, ap-
pears in the Central Methodist Advo-
cate:
There is a vast amount of coal in
produced in California for the various
uses to which 1t is devoted. | have
recently seen much about the product
in Los Angeles papers, and am
moved thereby to write my personal
memories of a visit to the then only
coal oil refinery in the world, which
was at Maysville, KY, in the second
week of September, 1858.
/ lived in Maysville two years prior
to Ne date given. l was then presid-
ing elder of the Maysville District,
which included the upper Kentucky
circuits bordering on the Orio River,
In that time l never heard the words
coal oir. In the first half of the
second year of my pastorate at Shell
byville, 1868, l heard or read of a
new illuminater in lamps called coal
oil", but l never saw it.
During the conference session at
Millersburg in the first week OF Sep
TENDER, 1858, I had my first view OF
'"coal oil lamp flame. From the con-
ference went to Maysville, and saw
in a house there coal II lamp flame
The next forenoon l went to what
was known as the coal oil refinery
It was in a large structure that mad
been used for another purpose, the
lower half of the business district near
the base of the hill. In the office at
the front entrance / found an ac-
uuaintance Of a few years, the Rev. q.
w. Coons, a man who had grown gray
as a minister in the Presbyterian
Church and was in honor on the re-
tired list of the clergy of his church
I had cordial greeting from him. He
had a prominent position in the first
office of the Oil Refining Company.
He conducted me through the Rein
ing Company's premies, explaining as
we went and saw. He gave me his
tory of coal oil from the first idea OF
it to that which was perfected in the
Maysville refinery. 1t was as follows:
In West Virginia near the Ohio River
was a section producing what was
known as "Canal coa", with which
had been acquainted in CRATES. 1t was
different in appearance from common
"stone coal". A West Virginia con-
ceived the idea that there was some
thing in canal coal of greater value
than the heat and light apparent II
CRATES, and he commenced expert
menting with it, by placing small
pieces in large iron kettle heated tc
the highest degree. 1t produced al
oily substance which suggested the
idea of making an Illuminating oil o.
It. and he experimental in that direc
ton with encouragement. In a til
lamp he saw eHOu5h GU chSoui eoN 1855
further.
He revealed his discoveries to mon
led men at Maysville, KY, and thr'
them the Maysville Coal Oil Refiner!
came into existence.
In West Virginia the canal coal wal
put through heating process in larg'
iron vessels, and coarse oily SUB
stance was obtained, put in barrels
and shipped to the Maysville refner!
and there passed through refining
process by which it was prepared TO
use in glass lamps, with glass chin
neys. The lamps and chimneys wer
constructed by a glass company a
Cincinnati, whence the refining com
pany obtained supplies for their pa
irons.
! saw In the refinery store room