Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1892 — ASPLHATUM. [ARTICLE]

ASPLHATUM.

A PECULIAR MINERAL AND ITS USES. Asphaltum Was Formed Through Some Tremendous Convulsion of Nature—lt is Utilized In Many Ways. Among the minerals peculiar to this State, and which is destined to provo an almost unlimited source of wealth, is asphaltum. This is found in large quantities in Ventura, Santa Barbara, •Korn and Los Angelos Counties, and the deposits already known to exist there aro the most extensive in the world, while new discoveries are constantly being made. It is found in both liquid and crystallized form, and also in the shape of bitumon-impregnated roo!t or sand. There are many springs iu the localities mentioned from which there is a constant flow of the liquid asphaltum, made so by the presence of petvoloum. In other cases groat ledges or masses of the crystallized product aro found. Some of these take on the character of what might be called true fissure veins. It would appear that some tremendous convulsion of nature had occurred in the remote past by which the surfaoo hnd been cracked and riven in every direction, and into the fissures thus created a subterranean power had forced the liquid asphaltum from its source beneath. Ages of tremendous pressure have expelled every partiole of volatile substance, and the result is tho existence of vein* of crystallized asphaltum which are praotioally free from any extraneous substanco and are of tho highest value. In many oases these veins have, in tho course ot time, boon oovorod over with a coating of earth or gravel of greater or less depth and only the practiced eye of the export oan detect their existence from certain surfaoe indications that tho tyro would puss unheeded. Somo most remarkable deposits of this character hsvo been discovered in Northorn Santa Barbara and in Kern county, tho produot of which, in its natural state, is far purer than tho rofiued produot of tho only other extensive asphalt deposit in the world—that of Trinidad island, in tho West Indies. None except, those who have investigated the subject has a correct conception of the variety of usos to which asphaltum and its products may bo put. For that mutter its various industrial usos aro only just, being learned by experts, und new dlsoovcrles of its adaptability are being made continually. To say that tno wide range from street pavements to chewing gum is covered Is to state only u literal fact, The horses of Sun Francisco tread beneath their feet exactly tho sumo substance that the school-girls and oven their elders masticate between their more or loss pearly tooth. In other words, the bulk of the chewing gain now consumed is nothing more nor loss than a bye-product of asphaltum, appropriately flavored and coloi ed.

Another use for asplmltum has boon found.iu tho manufacture ot waterproof tarpaulin cloth, which, by the way, is the Invcn.ion of a resident of this city. Two sheets of a course grade of cotton goods have a thin layer of asphaltum spread between them und by pressure the compound is made one homogeneous whole. Tho product is a heavy waterproof sheeting. far cheaper than uuyiiow in use, and answering every purpose. Suoh a material will be a grout boon to farmers of the East uud of Europe, where it is frequently necessary to protect partially harvested crops, stacks of grain and hay, etc., from the rain.

Still another use for asplmltum has been found iu the preparation of a fuel by combining tho liquid material with coal dust. In tho coul-ininiiig regions of Pennsylvania and othur Eastern States are literally millions of tons of oulrn, as it is catted, for which no use has ever been found. There are mountains of this finely-powdered coal at tho mouths of every anthracite coal pit, and ingenuity bus exhausted itself in the vain effort to hit upon some device by which it may be turned to commercial account. Not until tho valuable properties of the asphalt deposits of California became partially understood was any solutiou of the difficulty reached. It has now been demonstrated, however, that by an admixture of about 0 per oent. of liquid asphaltum this oulm may be moulded into briquettes of any desired size, which makos a most admirable fuel. Tho small percentage of asplmltum, which Is of a combustible character, is just sufficient to add largely to the desirable qualities of these oulm briquettes for generating steam or warmth, and tests made have boon highly satisfactory. As already stated, there are millions of tons of this rofuso which can bo turned to account at small cost, and it is evident that in its utilization through tho uso of asphaltum is a most inviting field for enterprise. For uudorgrounl pipes or conduits the uso of asphaltum has been found most advantageous. Nearly all water pipos now laid on this coast are required io be previously dipped in liquid asphaltum, which operates as a preservative from tho action of moisture or of chemical agents. Pipes carrying water for domestic use are lined with a coating of the same material, yot no hint of that fact could possibly be obtained cither from the taste or odor of tho water.

As an underground conduit for carrying electric wires so great an authority as Thomas Edison Ims pronounced emphatically in favor of pipes made of asphaltum, which, lie states, is one of tho b st non-conductors that can be found. As the movement for the removal of all overhea»electric wires is rapidly spreading, it oan be seen that this fact will have an important bearing upon the asphaltum interest of California. The utilization of asphaltum in the laying of street pavements is familiar to all, but few realize tho vast extent to which it is carried. Hundreds of thousands of tons are used in this country alono each year, and nine-tenths of it comes from Trinidad. The amount so used is increasing constantly. The extent and exceptional purity of the deposits in this State are scarcely known beyond our boundaries and the operators of the West Indian deposit appear to have almost a monopoly of the market. But thic /tato of affairs cannot last for any great length of time. Enterprising men have taken hold of the development of this remarkablo feature of California’s mineral wealth, and it will not be long before our asphaltum and its products will obtain a foothold in the markets not of America alone, but of the old world as well where, by the way, the annual consumption is something enormous.—[San Francisco Chronicle.

A Fyzabad Hindoo has been restored to his caste by the following process of “purification:'’ He lost caste eating eoaked food in a railway carriage in which persona of another caste were traveling. He had to Day his own weight

r first in rice, the value reaching 180 rupees, and then in wheat. After being twice weighed in this way he was made to sit on a square stone, while his body was covered with manure, the face only excepted; he was then taken up by two men and thrown into the river, and after a bath he was received by the Brahmins, fully restored to caste fellowship.