Facis relating to certain parts of the state of Ohio. 5 
The other trial is now making, on the waters of Little 
Muskingum creek, about 12 miles from Marietta. It is 
two years since they began to bore, working at it only in the 
suinmer end autumnal months. They have penetrated the rock 
to the depth of 300 feet, and have as yet found no salt 
water ; but the cattle are very fond of licking the fine dust of 
the rock, which comes up on the drills in the form of mud, 
which is an evidence that it contains salt. There is a con- 
tinual discharge of carbonated hydrogen gas from the well; 
and also from the bed of the creek on which the well is situ- 
ated, at various places, for the distance of half a mile. This 
gas is highly inflammable, and where there is a free discharge 
of it, will take fire on the surface of the water, on the appli- 
cation of a lighted stick, or the flash of a gun, and continue 
burning for days, unless put out by a heavy shower or high 
wind. It was this discharge of gas that induced the present 
proprietors to search for salt water. It being invariably 
found to accompany all the salt water, of any consequence, 
that has been discovered in this western country. 
It is this discharge of gas, that brings the salt water from 
such vast depths in the bowels of the earth, to the surface. 
And where water has been discovered, and the supply of gas 
has failed, the water has immediately sunk in the well, and 
could not, by any means used, be brought again to the top of 
the well. =~ 
They commonly bore, at the well on Little Muskingum, ' 
to the depth of 400 or 500 feet, unless salt water is found be- 
fore they reach that distance. They are encouraged thus to 
continue, from their knowledge of the depth at which others 
obtained very good water, on the west branch of Duck creek, 
four or five miles above the line of Washington, in Guernsey 
county. They have sunk two wells, which are now more 
than 400 feet in depth; one of them affords a very strong 
and pure water, but not in great quantity. The other dis- 
charges such vast quantities of petroleum, or, as itis vulyarly 
called ‘“ Seneka ovl,” and besides, is subject to such tre- 
mendous explosions of gas, as to force out all the water, and 
afford nothing but gas for several days, that they make but 
little or no salt. Nevertheless, the petroleum affords con- 
siderable profit, and is beginning to be in demand for lamps, 
in workshops and manufactories. It affords a clear brisk 
light, when burnt in this way, and will be a valuable article 
for lighting the street lamps in the future cities of Ohio. 
