250 MANUFACTURES OF RUSSIA. 



Complete data are still Avanting for 1892, but it is known that the yield on 

 the Apsheron peninsula was 298.3 million ponds, or increased by 1,000,000 barrels. 



The above data show that during- the period of the last live years as much 

 naphtha has been produced as during* the previous twenty years, and there is no 

 doubt that such a rapid exploitation would ultimately exhaust any other similarly 

 small naphtlia region as that of Baku, only 6 square kilometres in area, did there 

 not exist the conditions of an unusually rich and still perfectly fresh, in a geological 

 sense, deposit of naphtha. Indeed, geological surveys of the locality, conducted by 

 n\any Bussian geologists show that the stratum of the naphtha-bearing sands of the 

 Apsheron peninsula, and other parts af the Caucasus, belongs to the tertiary forma- 

 tions, that is, to the comparatively recent geological epoch of the upheaval of the 

 Caucasian range. 



The traces of the remains of a yet existant geological activity are seen in 

 the mud volcanoes which bound the naphtha deposit on one side of the Apsheron 

 peninsula. Without touching upon the yet contested question of the origin of naphtha, 

 or of the material from which it is formed, it is impossible not to look upon the 

 above circumstance as one of the causes of the richness of such naphtha deposits as 

 that on the Apsheron peninsula, compared with those which contain naphtha in 

 strata, belonging to more ancient geological periods, such as the Devonian; because 

 many local conditions might arise in the course of geological time, for the escape of 

 the naphtha from the strata, and in general for diminishing the amount fit for ex- 

 ploitation. 



The escape of naphtha from the soil and hills, and other advantages of its 

 application to the industries, were known to the natives of the Caucasus very long ago, 

 and they collected the oil, and dug wells for its exploitation. Previous to its 

 annexation to Eussia in 1813 the Apsheron peninsula contained a great many of these 

 wells, which were rented out by the khans to the inhabitants, who employed the oil 

 to the amount of one to two thousand pouds, not only as a medicine against many 

 diseases, but also for the two objects for which it is now used, that is, for lighting 

 in chirahs. or peculiar clay lamps resembling the ancient Greek lamps, and as a 

 lubricant for the axles of the arbas, or heavy native two-wheeled carts. Long ago 

 the unrefined native naphtha was used for similar purposes on the Couban and Terek 

 in the northern districts of the Caucasus. When the khanate of Baku became Bussian, 

 the wells were farmed out, and the idea then arose of obtaining an illuminating oil 

 by distilling the raw material. 



The first Bussian experiments made by Mr. Doubinin in 1823 were made 

 long before the application of photogen, (an illuminant produced by the distillation 

 of boghead and peat), and kerosene, (a light naphtha illuminating oil). But these 

 experiments did not lead to any practical results, chiefly owing to the fact that 

 the farmers of the naphtha wells, who had a monopoly and only a temporary 

 holding of the wells, had not the possibility of, or any direct interest in. intro- 

 ducing new' improvements and measures which would require prolonged and persistent 

 energy and expense. These measures and improvements w^ere, however accomplished, 

 and started in the sixties, chiefly owing to the endeavours of two individuals whose 

 names have the same importance in the Bussian naphtha industry as that of Colonel 

 Drake in the United States industry. These two individuals began their labours at 



