According to a report by Special Agent Joseph D. Weeks, the production of petroleum in the United States, in 1893, amounted to 48,412,666 barrels, valued at $28,932,326; and, in 1892, to 50,509,136 barrels, valued at $25,901,436. The largest amount-54,291,980 barrels—was produced in 1891. The production in other countries is given as follows: Russia (Baku), 1893, 33,104,126 barrels; Austria-Hungary (1890), 816,000; Canada (1891), 755,298; Peru (1890), 350,000; India (1891), 146,107; Germany (1892), 103,323; France (1891), 70,000; Japan (1890), 48,027; Argentine Republic (1891), 21,000; Italy (1891), 8085; Great Britain (1892), 1526.1

Galicia.

As compared with the two immense centres of the petroleum industry-the United States and Baku-all other countries of the globe occupy a more or less subordinate position. In Austria-Hungary the most important deposit of petroleum, and an industry corresponding to it, occurs in Galicia. Oil springs have flowed in this region from time immemorial, and the oil has been collected and used by the inhabitants of the country. Under the name of "mountain balsam" it was used as a remedy for rheumatism, etc., and later on it was also employed for lubricating purposes.

The first scientific references regarding the occurrence of petroleum in Galicia, we find in Hacquet's "Recent Physiological Voyages in the years 1788 to 1789." In 1835, the geologist Zeuschner found reports, two hundred years old, regarding the occurrence of petroleum in this region, but in the following

'Hamburger Boersen Zeitung.

years, up to 1845, they are only short official reports from the imperial inspectors of mines at Drohobicz and other places. In 1810, Josef Hecker and Johann Mitis obtained petroleum in the Drohobicz district, and made a trial of the distilled and crude oils, which was obtained from dug wells and afterwards treated in stills, but having worn out their still in 1818, their works were closed. According to Heinrich Walter, experiments in illuminating with Boryslav petroleum were successfully made, more than 70 years ago, in Prague. The commencement of an actual petroleum industry in Galicia, however, dates from the year 1848. In that year some Hebrew business men submitted to the druggist Miskolcz, of Lemberg, a sample of a thick oily fluid, which, according to their statement, they had collected from the surface of stagnant water. Professors Ignaz Lukasiewicz and Pzeh analyzed the fluid and found it to be petroleum. They introduced it as a remedy for various diseases. They subjected it to dry distillation, and applying the term oleum petrae to the distillate, brought it into commerce under that name. In 1853, A. Schreiner and L. Stiermann, two Hebrew business men of Drohobicz, by boiling petroleum made a superior article of grease. Companies were then formed which were capable of carrying on the business in a more rational manner, by digging wells or shafts, and thus gave impulse to a great industry. In 1860 to 1867 the East Galician wells were the most productive, the region about Kolomea, Peczenyczyn and Sloboda-Rungurska especially being the centre of numerous

borings.

In Middle and East Galicia, in the region about Boryslav and Drohobicz, an abundance of crude oil containing paraffin was found in the year 1862, and gave rise to a considerable ozocerite industry. In recent years a remarkable phenomenon has occurred in Galicia: the East Galician wells have gradually failed, while boring experiments in Mariampol, Krosno, Ustrziky, etc., have given results scarcely surpassed at first in Baku or in the United States. The firm of Bergheim and MacGarvey-Canadian borers-have been especially favored by

luck, they having struck in their territory several wells which dally produce from goo to 600 barrels of oil In recent years moders refineries have been erected, which anitunately have ruined the smaller establishments.

Considering the difficult conditions which the Galician petroleum industry had to combat, especially the want of capital, the lack of intelligent professional persons, the indolence of the workmen, and last but not least, the overwhelming influence of Russian and American competition, as well as the absence of any kind of protective tarifi. it may be said that it has not only gained a secure footing for the present, but that its prospects for the future are still brighter.

Roumania.

Up to a short time ago the petroleum industry of Roumania was of a very subordinate nature. The oil wells occur mostly on the southeast foot of the Carpathians, there being five principal locations where petroleum is obtained. The total yield of petroleum in Wallachia amounts to over 19,800,000 lbs. The oil contains much paraffin and is used for many purposes. The Roumanian oil territory extends through the districts of Prahova, Dimbovitza and Bureu, where petroleum has been known since the commencement of this century, and been used for lubricating purposes. The oil was originally collected, as in other localities, from the water of the springs, with which it flowed from the crevices in rocks. In recent years borings have been made, since the primitive deposits of oil are only found in the older formations. At present the wells are at a depth of from 150 to 375 feet. There are two kinds of crude oil—heavy and light—the latter yielding about 60 to 70 per cent. of illuminating oil.

Glodeni, near Targovesti, may at the present time be considered the richest oil district in Roumania. A pipe line, about 61⁄2 miles long, has been finished to the nearest railway station, thus doing away with the expensive transport by wagons. New discoveries have been made near Campina, and since work

is also more energetically carried on in other districts, it may be expected that the Roumanian oil industry will gradually gain in importance. Besides a large refinery has been erected in Bucharest, the product of which, it is supposed, will be almost sufficient for the home demand.

Germany.

In Germany, there are three districts in which petroleum occurs in such quantities as to allow of its being worked on a large scale. One district is in the direction of Hanover to Brunswick (Verden, Wietze, Steinförde, Hänigsen, Edemissen, Oedesse, Sehnde, Oberg and Oelsburg), the second in Alsace (in the Ill valley near Altkirch and in Lower Alsace at Pechelbronn, Lobsan, Schwabweiler, and Hagenau), and the third on the west side of the Tegernsee.

The oil was formerly obtained in a primitive way by digging pits in which it was allowed to collect. In the 18th century shafts were first dug in Alsace. The oil was exclusively used for wagon grease. In Germany, like in all other countries. where oil occurs, the rational production of petroleum by boring and its refining for illuminating purposes were commenced only after the attainment of the splendid results, in the United States, in the production and utilization of Pennsylvania petroleum. Borings were first made towards the end of the fifties in Hanover, soon afterwards in Alsace, and later on on the Tegernsee: at present, boring companies are everywhere engaged to open new deposits.

The Alsace oil district is of the most importance in regard to productiveness, the average daily yield being from 150 to 200 barrels, while the Hanoverian fields (Oelheim) produce daily 50 to 60 barrels; the product of the Tegernsee region is very small. According to the very interesting work of Le Bel, "Notices sur les gisements de Pétrole à Pechelbronn," the first deep shaft was caused to be dug, in 1735, by Eyriny d'Eyrinys, a Greek physician, residing at Pechelbronn. In the

year 1785, the family of Le Bel obtained possession of the Pechelbronn petroleum fields and erected quite a large refinery.

Scotland.

According to a communication by D. K. Stenars in the Fournal of the Society of Chemical Industry, 1887, in boring for bituminous schist at Broxburn, a thickly-fluid oil of specific gravity 0.842 was brought to the surface from a depth of 600 feet. In the same vicinity, at a depth of 918 feet, a brown oil of specific gravity 0.830 was found, which congealed at 60.8° F. Distilled in the usual manner it yielded :

The absorption of bromine being considerably less than with ordinary varieties of petroleum, the oil may be considered to contain but a small quantity of olefines.

The brine occurring together with the oil has a specific gravity of 1.095 and contains 14.4 per cent. of non volatile constituents, consisting chiefly of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and traces of ferric chloride. Many bore-holes at Broxburn emit at intervals considerable quantities of gas. From one bore-hole gas issued once a month for several years, which when ignited formed a bright flame 20 feet high. The joint occurrence of petroleum, salt and gas at Broxburn is of interest, since in other localities petroleum comes to the surface under similar circumstances. The oil district at Broxburn is very likely quite extensive and might be worked with profit if the crude oil could be raised by means of pumps. However, on account of its large content of paraffin, the oil unfortunately becomes solid at a temperature of 60.8° F., which will prevent the working of the field within a conceivable time.