256 MANUFACTURES OF RUSSIA. 



number of wells under exploitation is also small, namely 458 in 1891 ; and al- 

 though the low prices long existing in the Baku district * almost forbid the exploi- 

 tation of any but the rich wells, giving over 500 pouds per day, and necessitate the 

 abandoning of those localities which give a thick, heavy naphtha, from the fact that 

 such naphtha flows too slowly through the pipes, and gives but little of tlie ordinary 

 kerosene, yet, notwithstanding these drawbacks, the naphtha obtained in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Baku is far from being uniform in its component elements or qualities. 



The light « white* naphtha, of specific gravity about 0.78 (15° C), is now ob- 

 tained at Sourakhany in too small quantities to deserve special mention. The wells 

 situated to the south of Baku at a distance of only 4 to 6 versts, at the village 

 Beibat or Bebi-Eibat, where in 1873 Mr. Tagiev started a regular exploitation and 

 manufacture at his own works, give a lighter naphtha, sp. gr. 0.86, compared to 

 the other kinds obtained in the Balakhano-Sabounchinsk and Romaninsk districts 

 to the north-west of Baku, and where the majority of the wells are situated. 

 This predominating naphtha, having a specific gravity of 0.86 to 0.88, and even 

 0.885, is called «green» owing to the green fluorescent rays it emits, although the 

 transmitted light is brown, and forms the chief source of the Baku naphtha products; 

 the «black:> heavier naphtha of the neighbouring Binagadinsk district has a specific 

 gravity of about 0.9 and above ; at present it is but little worked, although it might be 

 exploited in large quantities and advantageously employed as a fuel. Without enter- 

 ing into an examination of the chemical composition of the various kinds of Baku 

 naphtha or lingering over its numerous technical analyses, by fractional distillation, 

 it is necessary to cite the following fundamental data respecting the practical appli- 

 cation of the oil, and moreover for the sake of clearness to compare these data with 

 those for the Pennsylvania field. 



American Naphtha, 



1. At the same boiling point, the Baku naphtha gives heavier products than 

 the American, or products of equal specific gravity distill over at a lower temperature 

 from the Baku naphtha than from the American. 



2. The amount of carbon in the products of similar technical application, or 

 like boiling points, is greater in the Baku naphtha than in the American, and there- 

 fore the lighting and lubricating capacity of the former is greater than that of the 

 latter. 



3. The amount of light volatile products of distillation, such as gasoline, benzine, 

 et cetera, is far less in the Baku than in the American oil, and therefore the former 

 can more easily give a safety lighting oil of the ordinary type, that is, kerosene or 

 petroleum, than the American oil. 



4. The ordinary Baku naphtha, of sp. gr. 0.87 to 0.88, gives 25 to 30 per 

 cent by weight of such a kerosene which, having a sp. gr. of about 0.81 to 0.83, 



* The price of raw naphtlia at tlie wells depends upon the demand of the works, 

 and on the existence of a naphtha fountain at a given moment. Thus the price varies very 

 rapidly and considerably. In 1890 it was in general high, from 4 to 9 kopecks per poud. 

 while in 1891 it was low, from I'h to 4 kopecks per poud, and averaged 2'/2 kopecks 

 The price at the works is */< kopeck higher than at the wells, owing to the cost of transport. 



