Year: 1866

From the Mobile Advertiser and Registsr.l


While the South was shut in from the


outer world by close blockade and dire war


the enterprise of the North had made dis-


covery aad developed an interest 10 form


new and grand element in the commerce and


wealth Of the Nation. IL was in the explo-


ration and successful working of living and


flowing wells ofpetroleum. Fifty years a,ro,


in boring deep salt wells in Kanawha, Va,


and Ohio, people came across an unknown


fluid, which was so injurious TO the opera


tors as to oblige an abandonment Of the


wells. Four years ago these same wells


were bought up eagerly as petroleum wells.


Fly years ago springs were discovered in
Virginia and Ohio, from which an oil
issued that was found 20 have healing
properties, and which was introduced 20 the
market under the name Of rock oil and priu-
cipally used as Rock Oil Liniment. The
Illuminating qualities Of this oil were only
discovered about ten years since, by one Of
the old salt wells taking fire, the heat from
which opening crevice 10 pure oil well
let out flow of liquid fire, which spouted
into the air some sixty or seventy feet, and
overfowed into a neighboring stream and
covered its surface for several miles with
the burning fiuid-literally a river on fire.
Just before the late war a number of large
companies were formed 20 search for oil at
Oil Creek, Pennsylvania, but for want of ex-
perience or some other cause, nearly all Of
them were unsuccessful. About two years
ago, discovery wasi made, which gave an
immediate and extraordinary impulse 10 the
business. 1t was Of single flowing well
in that State that yielded from eight hundred
to one thousand gallons per diem, and this
flow undiminished for three months. The
landsin that vicinity were Immediately
up on lease or sale by companies, and the re-
suit was hundreds Of proftably yielding wells.
The developments in Virginia have kept
pace with those in Pennsylvania. Practical
and scientific men believe that the coal region
of Alabama promises vast stores Of this vali1-
able fluid, and that they viii soon be devel-
oped. We have not at hand the statistics
to show TO what vast proportions the produc-
tion of Petroleum and the trade from Il have
grown. We remember to have seen il stated
that the export value Of Petroleum Is only
inferior 10 that of cotton before the war. and
the production still augments.


The crude oil undergoes the process Of
distillation before il il ready for market.
The fire fluid cast off il called gazcline, very
light in color and density, and was thrown
away as worthless before the invention Of
Grey's celebrated patent for the Petroleum
gas-light and heating stove. The second Is
called Benzine, the third, Kerosine, and the
is used for dye stuff, and produces
the famous and fashionable colors Of Ma
genta and Solferino. We have already
spoken in these columns Of the Petr0ieum
vapor stove now on exhibition in this city.
Hundreds Of curious persons continue to
visit and TO be struck by It's wonderful labor
and money saving qualities. To warm a
house in winter, TO furnish fuel for cooking
md the most beautiful gas lights, all with
,ut smoke odor or taste, without labor. and
It an almost inappreciable cost, are deside-
'ata Of economy well calculated 10 strike
he attention Of housekeepers.