io6 The American Geologist. February, i904. 
The "death valley" in Java and the "grotto del cane" near 
Naples have already been mentioned, and man}- other examples 
could be cited. Bischof estimated that the volume of carbon 
dioxide evolved in the Brohl Thai amounted to 5,000,000 cubic 
feet, or 300 tons, in one day. 
5. The immense deposits with extreme localization of pe- 
troleum, as at Baku, and of asphaltum, as in Pitch lake, in 
regions of volcanism. 
6. The association of petroleum with heat and solfataric 
action, as in Louisiana, Texas and California. 
7. The occurrence of solid hydrocarbons, as gilsonite, oz- 
ocerite, albertite, etc., in vein systems like ore bodies, and 
reaching to great depths. 
8. The capricious occurrence of gas and oil in all geologic 
horizons, and usually with no clue to their derivation. 
9. The localization of oil or gas in strata which are other- 
wise barren in the same material ; thus proving its foreign 
origin. 
10. The failure to discover any rocks which have certainly 
lost a carbonaceous content. 
Here are only ten counts in an indictment which could be 
extended. Doubtless there are hydrocarbon accumulations 
from organic sources. Like other natural products their origin 
and history are complex. But if the organic theory applied 
truly to all the hydrocarbons it should explain the facts, while 
most certainly it does not : and the theory has been a hindrance 
to the study. It is time that the geologists ceased to grope in. 
the darkness of this inadequate theory. The volcanic theory 
seems to fairly explain the essential facts, and it should be 
placed on trial. The close association of hydrocarbon accum- 
ulations with volcanic phenomena is a very striking and im- 
portant fact, although generally ignored. It illustrates the re- 
pressing afifect of a wrong theory, when once established. 
It will be seen that under the new hypothesis the geologic 
processes are not made more simple, but instead are given 
greater complexity. The hypogene forces are brought into 
present intimate connection with the epigene agencies. In 
other words, to the complex processes operative on the surface 
of the globe there is added a widely distributed and presently 
active volcanism. This added complexity is only what should 
