Saliferous Rock Formation in the Valley of the Ohio. 63 



locality. The quantity of gas in different wells varies very consid- 

 erably ; all however afford sufficient to keep the water in constant 

 agitation over the mouth of the well. The supply of water depends 

 very much on the quantity of gas discharged. 



A few miles above Charleston, on the Big Kenhawa, great quanti- 

 ties of the carburetted hydrogen are slowly emitted, through the earth 

 A tract of several rods in extent near the river bank is so charged 

 with it, that on making shallow cavities in the sand, and applying a 

 lire brand, it immediately becomes ignited and burns with a steady 

 flame for an indefinite period, or until extinguished by covering it 

 with sand. The boatmen, a rude but jolly race, often amuse them- 

 selves by tracing a circle in the sand around some one of the com- 

 pany unacquainted with the mystery, and applying fire, a flame im- 

 mediately springs up, as if by magic, around the astonished wight, 

 which being entirely confined to the circle traced, adds much to his 

 terror, and increases the delight of the boisterous spectators. In a 

 short time the sand beneath the burning gas becomes red hot. The 

 neighboring women sometimes make use of it to boil their water, when 

 washing clothes on the bank of the river ; and boatmen occasionally 

 cook their food in the same easy and cheap manner. This spot 

 would afford a fine site for the temple of the fire worshippers of an- 

 cient Persia. In low stages of the water, gas and oil are seen oozing 

 from the bed of the river at various points. On the little Muskingum 

 river, a few miles from Marietta, this gas is discharged in many pla- 

 ces ; often through a pool, or sink hole filled with water, in which 

 case it is called " a burning spring." Petroleum is often found ri- 

 sing from the earth near the spring. Throughout the whole salifer- 

 ous region, so far as I have any knowledge, on penetrating the salt 

 rock, a greater or less quantity of carburetted hydrogen gas is dis- 

 charged through the opening — in some places accompaned by Petro- 

 leum, and in others without this coexistent production. • , 



Petroleum or Fossil Oil. 



Since the first settlement of the regions west of the Apallachian 

 range, the hunters and early pioneers have been acquainted with this 

 oil. Rising in a hidden and mysterious manner from the bowels of 

 the earth/ it soon arrested their attention, and acquired great value 

 in the eyes of these simple sons of the forest. Like some miracu- 

 lous gift from heaven, it was thought to be a sovereign remedy for 

 nearly all the diseases common to those primeval days, and from its 



