the Enneskillen swamps began to realize the fact that their slimy morasses might be confidently counted on to yield a revenue such as could never be hoped for from the richest and best cultivated agricultural soil in America. Land changed hands rapidly, and twenty-five hundred dollars an acre were paid for territory which previous to the great discovery could hardly have been given away. Stores and dwelling-houses sprang up all around with marvellous celerity, constituting the village of Oil Springs.' The supply of oil was inexhaustible. It was soon discovered, however, that in order to secure the oil in paying quantity these shallow wells could not be depended on. The regular drill was called into requisition. Shortly after, about thirty miles to the southeast of Oil Springs, near the village of Bothwell, another large vein of oil was struck where similar scenes of heated speculation were enacted; subsequently came into prominence, Petrolia, about five miles north of Oil Springs. The production of oil on Black Creek attained to enormous proportions in 1862." The first flowing well was struck there on January 11, 1862, and before October not less than thirty-five wells had commened to drain a store-house, which provident Nature had occupied untold thousands of years in filling for the uses of man. The yield was far greater than any possible demand at the time. The prices rapidly declined until it reached ten cents per barrel. It was allowed to flow without any attempt at times to collect it. It has been estimated that during this year that at least five millions of barrels of oil floated off on the waters of Black

Creek." As part of the history of the remarkable output of this region Professor Winchell furnishes "from personal examination and research" a list of some of the wells. The depth of the well is also given

The oil-producing territory here described contains about two hundred square miles. The petroleum is of a denser gravity than that obtained from the Bradford district of Western Pennsylvania, and ranks from 33° to 43° Baumé. It is also said to be more offensive in odor, containing a considerable percentage of sulphur, on which account it is both more difficult and more expensive to refine.

California.

Petroleum has been found in a number of places on the western slope of the mountains fringing the Pacific coast. In isolated and disconnected spots, from San Francisco down to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, frequent surface indications are to be met with. A number of wells have been drilled, some of which have been productive and successful ventures. Several refineries have also been established, which have not only supplied the local demand for illuminating oil, but also that of several adjoining districts. During the year 1879, California produced 568,803 gallons of petroleum; year by year the production increased. In the year 1882 it mounted up to 4,903,920 gallons. I have no later returns. Recent statements, however, confirm the growing importance of this branch of industry. The San Francisco Chronicle' states "the results of its application as a fuel have so far been entirely satisfactory. On the steamer Thoroughfare,' the cost of the oil as a fuel was found to be 44 per cent. less for the first five months than for the corresponding period a year ago

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(1884). It has also been employed on the great transfer steamer 'Solano.' The Central Pacific Railroad Company has recently introduced crude petroleum into nearly all of its steamers including the 'Oakland' ferryboat. The method of application is practically identical with the Russian, namely, by a steam jet. The nozzle is flattened so that the atomized oil is blown, in a sheet of flame, into the fire-box and under the boiler tubes. 100 gallons of the oil costing $4 will go as far as one ton of coal costing $7.”

It is safe, however, to say that the large expectations which were formed at one time respecting the yield of California have not been realized, and that the more moderate statements contained in the report of the Geological Survey of California are correct.

"The expectations of extraordinary results that will admit of comparison with those that have been obtained in Pennsylvania must be set aside. The expectations of a fair return, and a permanently profitable investment, may be reasonably entertained; and on this basis the application of capital to this interest will make it of great importance to the State, and especially to that particular section in which the bituminous outcrops occur."

The West Virginia Oil Regions.

Following the line of the Alleghenies on the western slope, the oil region of Southwestern Pennsylvania appears to be continued into Northwestern Virginia. Indications of oil have been found in the Pan Handle and in the coun

ties immediately south of the Pennsylvania line, and some experimental wells have been sunk with moderate success. But the great oil territory of West Virginia lies on the Little Kanawha and Hughes rivers, and on the numerous creeks and runs which pour into them, or into the Ohio, in Pleasant, Richie, Wirt, and Wood counties. The geological formation of this territory differs entirely from that lying beyond its limits. The upheaval, or oil belt, extends from the Ohio River opposite the Little Muskingum and Duck Creek about forty miles in a direction west of south, varying in width from three to ten, or perhaps fifteen miles. The rocks are peculiarly disturbed and broken. The hills along the numerous streams and gorges vary from one to three hundred feet high, and along the centre of the belt the rocks are nearly vertical, but dip at various angles as they recede on either side, forming what is called the east and west slopes. By some convulsion of nature the rocks appear to have been upheaved and separated, making deep ravines, gorges, and gullies, many of which have become the permanent beds of streams, along the bottoms of which is found "the boring territory," as indicated by the color and character of the rocks and the presence of oil both on the surface and oozing from the fissures of the rocks. Thousands of barrels of oil have been taken from pits sunk in the sand on the banks of the Hughes River. In 1860-61 the oil fever prevailing in the Venango Valley of Western Pennsylvania spread to this region, and several enterprising companies and individuals commenced boring for oil on the Hughes River at Oil Springs, and on the Kanawha