276 SKETCHES OF CREATION. 



libly parallelize every formation with that of Venango 

 County. 



Another popular error was that of regarding beds of 

 coal as the source of the oil. This led searchers for the 

 coveted fluid to prefer the borders of coal-fields, or even 

 the regions underlaid by coal. Often it seemed to be a 

 matter of indifference whether it were calculated that the 

 oil would naturally rise or sink through the rocks. With 

 many the question was never considered. With most, 

 however, the opinion was entertained — and to this day is 

 cherished — that oil naturally descends through the strata. 

 I have seen it gravely stated in published treatises on the 

 subject that our native petroleum is the " drainage of the 

 coal-measures." Nothing could be more erroneous. What 

 connection can exist between the oil deposits of Enniskillen 

 (Ontario) and the nearest coal-beds, at least one hundred 

 miles removed? What between the oil accumulation of 

 Manitoulin Island and the nearest coal-beds two hundred 

 miles distant? Moreover, the coal-measures are every 

 where less saturated with oil than many formations of 

 more ancient origin. 



" Surface shows" have been the fascination of many. The 

 places of most copious escape to the surface were regarded 

 as the favored spots where the "drainage from the coal- 

 measures," in disregard of the laws of gravity and hydro- 

 dynamics, had obligingly deposited itself. Such 8 " shows" 

 were always illusory. A great " surface show" is a great 

 waste. When Nature plays the spendthrift she retains but 

 little treasure in her coffers. This was the lesson learned 

 at great cost by the confident capitalists who took " stock" 

 in the " surface shows" of Paint Creek, in Northeastern 

 Kentucky. The production of petroleum in quantities of 

 economical importance has always been from reservoirs in 

 which Nature for ages had been hoarding it up, instead 



