Section IV, 1887. [ lOl ] Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada. 



XII. — The Petroleum Field of Ontario. 

 By Robert Bell, B. A. Sc, M. D., LL. D. 



(Read May 27, 1887.) 



The recent discoveries of natural gas and petroleum, by boring artesian wells in north- 

 western Ohio and in western Pennsylvania, have given a new importance to the stvidy of 

 certain geological questions in connection with these products. In addition to the comfort 

 and convenience arising from a cheap and abundant supply of natural gas for domestic 

 purposes, the economy in power which it affords for manufactures gives such an advantage 

 to the towns fortiinate enough to possess it, that others cannot compete with them ; and 

 thus population and wealth are drawn to the sources of natural gas. A comparison of the 

 Ohio gas and oil region with ihe petroleum field of Ontario, will, therefore, be interesting 

 at the present time, in order that we may the better understand and generalise on what 

 has been accomplished up to the present time, and be in a position to reap the benefits of 

 the experience both of our neighbours and ourselves. The writer has endeavoured, in the 

 following pages, to bring together and compare some facts and observations which may 

 throw additional light on the subject. The present paper will also contain the latest sta- 

 tistics and other information in regard to the present condition of the petroleum industry 

 of Ontario, including the methods employed in the production and refining of the oil. 

 For the information of those not familiar with the history of the subject, it will be neces- 

 sary first to notice, very briefly, the discovery of petroleum in Ontario, and the progress of 

 its economic development. 



More than forty years ago, the occurrence of petroleum in Western Canada and in the 

 Gaspé Peninsula, was described in the early reports of the G-eological Survey of the pro- 

 vinces, and specimens of the oil, still in its Museum, were collected in both these regions 

 by the late Sir William Logan. Although at that time no use for the substance was 

 known in Canada, except as a supposed remedy for rheumatism and for spavin in horses. 

 Sir William, with characteristic sagacity, foresaw that it might some day become of value 

 in this country, as it had long ago proved to be in the East. About the beginning 

 of 1860, following the introduction into the province of illuminating oils distilled 

 from coal and shale, and when attention was recalled to the existence of natural oil and 

 " gum-beds " in the county of Lambton, in the west, and in G-aspé in the east, some gentle- 

 men visited our provincial geologist at Montreal for the purpose of obtaining information 

 on the subject. Before entering on a discussion of the matter, Sir AVilliam took them to 

 the show-case containing bottles of the dark fluid from both of the above regions and said, 

 " Gentlemen, I have been waiting for you for the last twenty years," and then proceeded 

 to give them the benefit of his knowledge of a matter with which he was, even then, 

 quite familiar, but which was new to almost everyone else in this country. 



