190 University Geological Survey of Kansas. 
suppose that the crystalline rock masses below the stratified 
rocks contain sufficient quantities of carbon to produce large 
amounts of oil and gas should conditions be favorable for the 
conversion of such carbon into such forms. Further, it may 
be added that recent observations tend to show ground-water 
more nearly universally present in lava and other crystalline 
rocks than was formerly supposed, which view, if correct, 
would make the chemical theory all the more plausible. 
Dr. David T. Day, of the United States Geological Survey, 
Washington, D. C., is not a strong believer in the organic 
origin of oil and gas. He was requested to express his views in 
writing in order that they might be included in this discussion, 
and accordingly, early in May, 1908, wrote the following letter: 
“TNORGANIC ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM. 
“The most essential evidence in regard to the inorganic 
origin of petroleum is that given by N. V. Sokoloff (Bull. Soc. 
Imp. Nat. Moscou, new ser., vol. 3, p. 720, 1890), citing the 
finding of hydrocarbons in meteorites. The existence of such 
hydrocarbons seems to admit of only one explanation—that is, 
inorganic origin. This has led to what may be called the ex- 
treme view of the origin of petroleum—that is, that all bitu- 
mens are of cosmic origin; that they were formed at the time 
of the consolidation of the planet and have been emitted gradu- 
ally ever since. 
“What seems a far more acceptable conception of the inor- 
ganic origin of petroleum, as I have it in my own mind, may 
be formulated thus: Electro-metallurgical processes have 
shown that the compounds of different elements which can 
exist at the highest temperatures are most frequently carbides 
of metals. The conception is easy that, in the first combina- 
tions of elements as the earth cooled, carbides predominated 
throughout the earth. These carbides suffered decomposition 
at the surface when, much later in the cooling, the combdina- 
tion of oxygen and hydrogen became possible in the form of 
water. The reaction of this water upon the carbides led, of 
course, to the formation of various hydrocarbons which es- 
caped into the atmosphere. As the water penetrated deeper 
and deeper into the earth the carbides suffered continual de- 
composition with the formation of gaseous, liquid and_ solid 
hydrocarbons, the proportions depending upon the increasing 
pressure and temperature as the reaction was more and more 
confined. 
“There is no reason to suppose that, if this reaction ever 
took place, it is not still taking place, as it 1s not reasonable to 
suppose that water has succeeded in penetrating to any sig- 
nificant depth beyond what we recognize as the “‘earth’s crust.” 
The irregular temperatures produced by such reactions would 
