Photo: James's Press Agency. 



A NATURAL WELL OF PETROLEUM GUSHING UP FROM THE EARTH 



In the photograph, one of the wells at Baku is shown on fire, throwing flames 200-300 feet 

 high, surmounted by huge clouds of smoke. There is uncertainty in regard to the geological 

 origin of petroleum. According to the theory that seems supported by the strongest argu- 

 ment it is the outcome of the natural distillation of great masses of buried vegetable matter. 



