PETEOLEUM EST ONTARIO. 113 



dent upon it. The town of Petrolia aud its suburbs contain about 6,000 inhabitants. 

 Besides the above, about 200 more men aud boys are employed in connection with the 

 refining, etc., of the crude petroleum sent elsewhere ; and in a less direct manner, the pro- 

 ducts of the Ontario oil-field help to swell the general volume of the carrying aud other 

 trades of the country. It would be difficult to give a correct estimate of the capital em- 

 ployed in the business, but it must amount to several millions of dollars. The wages of 

 experienced well-borers and distillers are $1.50 to $2.00 per day, while laboring men 

 receive from $1 25 to $1.50. All the operations are carried on by native Canadians, who 

 have, by their own ingenuity, developed each branch of the business to its present per- 

 fection, by carefully studying the necessities of the case. This has afforded an excellent 

 mechanical education to a large number of intelligent men, whose services are now sought 

 for in every oil-producing country in the world. We hear of them directing the boring, 

 pumping, storing, and other operations connected with the petroleum business in Galicia, 

 Eussia, Afghanistan, Belochistau, India, Burma, California, Australia, etc., where their 

 skill and knowledge are highly appreciated. 



Sec. iv, 1887. 15. 



