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ing nearly double,) of illuminating gas, than any other in use, it is very question 

 able whether it would not be equally profitable from this circumstance. In the use 

 of coal, we have the coke remaining which may be applied as an article of fuel, but the 

 value of the latter in the market would probably be counterbalanced, by the increas 

 ed volume of illuminating matter contained in the simple bitumen. The expense 

 of transportation of coal from distant regions must very materially enhance the 

 price of the commodities resulting from it, but in the use of the asphaltum upon 

 pur coast, this heavy item would, as a necessary consequence become materially di 

 minished. The only real objection to the introduction of the latter article for the 

 above purposes is that there may not be sufficient quantities of the mineral obtain 

 able for so extensive uses as would be required ; this is a valid objection, and should 

 be well considered before entering upon a speculation of that kind ; from what is 

 already known of these beds, they certainly have the appearance of being adequate 

 to the supply of any ordinary demand for those purposes, as they are frequently to be 

 met with covering many acres of ground. This fact however in regard to quantity 

 can only be determined positively by clearing one or two of the larger springs, and 

 thus ascertaining the actual amount of the mineral discharged per day or per week, 

 and should it be found anything near adequate to the demand for gas manufacture, 

 its collection and transportation at fair rates of prices, will form a much greater 

 source of revenue to this district than the entire cattle trade of these counties at the 

 present time. A little attention to this subject will convince us that a heavy and lucra 

 tive business may be conducted in this department of trade, if the necessary meas 

 ures are adopted to bring this element into practical notice, for as stated in the pre 

 ceding pages these springs extend from the county of Santa Clara to San Diego, 

 and most of them near the coast. 



To illustrate more fully the advantages to be derived, and the extent of business 

 that now lies untouched in this particular, it will only be necessary to allude to the 

 quantity of coal required for the purposes of illumination at present in this State. 

 The requirements for the city of San Francisco is about 5000 tons per annum, at 

 an average price of 22 dollars per ton, equal to 110,000 dollars, the demand for 

 Sacramento is equal to about 2000 tons, which at the same price equals 44,000 dol 

 lars, the total amounting to 154,000 dollars. Allowing the coal to produce, (which 

 the best quality will,) about 1100 pounds of coke from the ton of coals, the value 

 of the coke as sold here, at about 62 cents (high price,) per bushel, will yield a re 

 turn upon the original cost ; of a little more than twelve dollars per ton, or a sum 

 total of nearly $87,000. This estimate is based on the product of the Scotch coal, 

 the specific gravity of which is but 1.27. The Asphaltum of this State has a 

 specific gravity of about 1.62, the difference in the excess arrising probably from 

 the earthly matters contained therein. 



There cannot be less than 4000 tons Asphaltum lying upon the surface of the 

 ground in the counties of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara alone, within a few miles 

 of the coast at the present moment. Its value delivered in San Francisco would 

 not be less than sixteen dollars per ton, equal in value to 64,000 dollars, and this 

 amount alone would offer sufficient inducement to embark in the enterprise indepen 

 dent of any other consideration. The amount lying upon the surface in other ad 

 jacent counties is probably equal to the amount in those specified, so that 8000 tons 

 would be a safe estimate to place upon the quantity already available. 



The analysis of this mineral exhibits the following available constituents for the 

 manufacture of gas ; in one hundred parts there is found a a limpid oil equal to 

 thirty per cent, and the same amount of charcoal with a large per cent of ammonia, 

 the balance consisting of earthly matters and water. Here then we have 60 per 

 cent of the gross weight applicable to immediate use, the charcoal holding the same 

 relations to the bitumen, that exist in the coke to the coal. That the supply of this 

 article is abundant, there can be but little question and fully equal to 5000 tons per 

 annum, (the requirements of the State will not fall short of this figure for years to 

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