California. In northern Italy, in the former duchies of Parma and Modena, petroleum has been extracted from the earth since its first discovery in 1640, the method pursued being merely to sink pits, and collect the fluid that exuded from the soil in little basins or reservoirs at the bottom. Various sorts were gathered from different localities, and their peculiar properties appear to have been correctly observed; but no methods of purifying them were employed; on the contrary, the lighter and better oils were made the medium of utilizing the poorer sorts by mixture. The W. shore of the Caspian (see Baku) has been celebrated from a remote period for the extraordinary quantities of inflammable gases and liquids that rise from the surface of the ground. They are met with over a tract of country about 25 m. long and about ½ m. wide, in strata of a porous argillaceous sandstone belonging to the tertiary period. In the vicinity are hills of volcanic rocks through which flow out springs of the heavier sorts of petroleum. The oil is collected by means of large open wells 16 to 20 ft. in depth. It is introduced very largely into Persia, and over large districts no other material is used for artificial light. During the past few years the attention of the Russian government has been directed to this possible source of mineral wealth in this region and the neighboring slopes of the Caucasus. An accomplished engineer was sent to the United States to investigate our methods of operation, and on his return numerous wells were bored in the vicinity of the city of Tiflis, which have proved remarkably productive, even rivalling those of Pennsylvania. The Rangoon district on the Irrawaddy is quite as wonderful for its immense production of rock oil as Baku. For an unknown period the whole Burman empire and a considerable portion of India have been supplied with oil from this source. The trade is carried on by means of large boats that come up the Irrawaddy to the town of Rainanghoung, a place inhabited by potters, who are constantly making the earthen jars in which the oil is kept. These are piled up in great pyramids about the town, ready for use. The wells are in beds of sandy clays which rest on sandstones and argillaceous slates, and are sometimes sunk to the depth of 60 ft. Under the slates is said to be coal; but this and the other strata may be of the tertiary epoch. Symes (“Embassy to Ava,” vol. ii.) says the number of wells in this district exceeded 520, and the annual yield of petroleum was more than 400,000 hogsheads. The natives use the oil in lamps, for preserving timber against insects, and as a medicine. Petroleum is found at several places in upper Burmah. In 1873 about 150 wells were worked at Yeynaugyoung, and about 50 at Pagau. The oil of the latter closely resembles naphtha. The annual production in this region is about 65,000 bbls.—The occurrence of petroleum about the head waters of the Alleghany river in New York and Pennsylvania was known to the early settlers. The Indians collected it on the shores of Seneca lake, and it was sold as a medicine by the name of Seneca or Genesee oil. A stream in Allegany co., N. Y., was named Oil creek in consequence of the appearance of oil in its banks; and the same name was given to another branch of the Alleghany river in Venango co., Pa. At points along the latter springs issued from the banks of the stream, bringing up oil, which collected on the surface of the water as it stood in the pools below the springs. The inhabitants were accustomed to collect the oil by spreading woollen cloths upon the water, and wringing them when saturated. Down the valley of this creek are numerous ancient pits which appear to have been excavated for collecting oil, but by whom no one can now tell. From the fact that logs have been found in them notched as if with an axe, some have supposed that the work was done by the French, who occupied this region in the early part of the last century; others believe that the Indians, who are known to have valued the oil, dug the pits. Day, in his “History of Pennsylvania” (1844), gives an account of the estimation in which they held this product, using it mixed with paint to anoint themselves for war, and also employing it in their religious rites. He quotes an interesting letter from the commander of Fort Duquesne to Gen. Montcalm, describing an assembly of the Indians by night on the banks of the creek, and in the midst of the ceremonies their firing the scum of oil that had collected upon the surface of the water. As the flames burst forth, illuminating the dark valley, triumphant shouts rose from the Indians. The quantities of oil collected by the early settlers were unimportant, the largest amount, which was from the lower spring on Oil creek, reaching sometimes 20 barrels in a year. When, in boring for salt near Tarentum, 35 m. above Pittsburgh on the Alleghany river, springs of petroleum were struck in 1845, the material was valued only as a medicine, and for this use it was long retailed in small quantities at high prices. In Ohio, on the Little Muskingum, the inhabitants narrowly missed learning the importance of this product as far back as the year 1819. Dr. S. P. Hildreth of Marietta, in the “American Journal of Science” (1826), speaking of the borings for salt water, says: “They have sunk two wells, which are now more than 400 ft. in depth; one of them affords a very strong and pure water, but not in great quantity. The other discharges such vast quantities of petroleum, or as it is vulgarly called ‘Seneka oil,’ and besides is subject to such tremendous explosions of gas as to force out all the water and afford nothing but gas for several days, that they make but little or no salt. Nevertheless the petroleum affords considerable profit, and is beginning to be in demand for lamps in workshops and manufactories. It affords a clear, brisk light, when
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