222 GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 



living two miles north of the first church, has a well that supplies gas 

 by which his house is lighted. The above cases are cited from a large 

 number noticed in the progress of the Survey, for the purpose of calling 

 attention to the fact that in many parts of the county combustible gases 

 are escaping from the ground, and that these are capable of being util- 

 ized for both lighting and heating. It is now well known that at sev- 

 eral points along the shore of Lake Erie wells have been bored for the 

 purpose of obtaining supplies of gas, and that a large number of such 

 efforts have been successful. The pecuniary value of such a flow of gas, 

 if it could be made to do the heating, lighting, and cooking of a family, 

 would be very great, while the convenience, cleanliness, and comfort of 

 its use would make it an almost priceless luxury. 



Peat and Marl. — No peat is now produced in Lorain county, but it exists 

 in considerable abundance in several localities. In Brighton and Camden 

 are extensive marshes, which were doubtless once lakes, but which are 

 now filled with peat. In the Great Bear Swamp, in Camden, a pole may 

 be thrust down twenty feet through peat. In Brighton, on land owned 

 by Mr. Driver, is one of these lakes, but partially grown up, and which 

 shows a water surface of about four acres. This lake is said to be 100 feet 

 deep. It is surrounded by a broad margin of peat, and was evidently 

 once much larger than now. Whether the peat of Lorain county can 

 yet be successfully substituted for coal and wood as a fuel, is an unsolved 

 problem ; but there is little doubt that, where remote from railroads, when 

 the supply of wood shall have been exhausted, these peat bogs will be 

 utilized and be shown to have great value. It is worth remembering 

 that the remains of the elephant and mastodon are usually found in peat 

 bogs similar to those referred to. In any excavations hereafter made, for 

 drainage or other purposes, in these marshes, this fact should be borne in 

 mind. 



Shell marl has been found in various parts of the county, but as yet 

 has been scarcely applied to the use for which it has considerable value — 

 the fertilization of farming land. The peat beds referred to above, and 

 which have taken the place of water in little lakes, are frequently un- 

 derlain by shell marl. All such deposits can be conveniently explored 

 by a screw or pod augur, with a handle ten feet in length. 



Iron Ore. — Patches of bog ore are found in many parts of the county, 

 but as they probably have no economic value, they do not require par- 

 ticular notice. A blast furnace was built in 1861 in the village of 

 Charleston, and is now owned by Mr. S. 0. Edison, of Cleveland. For- 

 merly some bog ore and " beach ore " (the latter washed out of the shales) 



