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DE ROTTERMUND, ESQUIRE, CHEMICAL ASSISTANT TO THE GKOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE PROVINCE. [TRANSMITTED TO THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY, UNDER DATE OF THE 17tu APRIL, 1816.] ^|?rrt;sr of ll?c Slegi^lalilrc %ii,tm\\i- .i 'ii iUontvral : • • « rniNTED BY LOVELL AND OIBSON, ST. NICHOLAS STREET. 1846. 0)'O^'5Col>. J'Jrii3 1935 .jttiaiumm REPORT OF E. S. DE ROTTERMUND, ESQUIRE, Chemical Assistant to the Geological Survey of the Province, TRANSMITTED TO THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY, UNDEK DATE OF THE 17tii AFBIL, 1846. ■\ Ai'TKR having analysed the waters of the St. Lawrence and of the Ottawa opposite the city of Montreal, I again proceeded up the River Ottawa as far as the " Graisse '' River, and from thence continued to the Township of llawkesbury to Caledonia and George's Lake; I canio down to Lancaster and then went up the St. Lawrence again as far as Kingston. After visiting the mineral springs on Prince Edward's Island, I went in the direction of Toronto by Belleville and the River Trent. I visited Lake Sinicoe as far as the Township of Gcorgiana. I went afterwards to Hamilton and ex- amined its environs. I continued as far as Brantford and Wood- stock, and then returned to Hamilton by St. Catherines and took the direction of Niagara, and finally returned to Montreal by the St. Lawrence. The mineral springs which exist in the different localities I have just mentioned are divided into magnesian, iodu- rated, saline, antimoni-ferruginous, sulphureous, and gaseous. The magnesian and iodurated springs are principally at Caledonia, on George's Lake, and the '• Graisse " River. Those which I visited in the neighborhood of l-sphcre being t spring there ! of them dis- acid. These ombined, but 4", that of the receding ones, wood, there is niilar to those lino and more ; at a greater 3d by the higli J it evolves, of t not quite so blue. But these springs cannot be brought into use, on account of their being covered by the waters of the river in the spring and autunui. THE C'AI.EUONIA J^lMllNGS. The mineral springs known under the name gf Caledonia are three in number. The Hrst, near the Hotel, is a gas spring : its specific gi'avity is 1.0038. The second is sahne : its specific gi-avity is 1.0087. The third is sulphureous : its specific gravity is 1.0002. The temperature of all three is 44°, and they are situate in a ravine at a few paces distance from each other. The first dis- engages a great quantity of carbonated-hydrogen gas mixed with carbonic acid and oxide of carbon. The second disengages the same gases, but in a very small quantity. The third hydro-sul- phuric acid also in a small quantity. These gases are disengaged in much greater quantity before a storm ; they diminish with the heat, and are in still less quantity in very hot weather. 1 think this is owing to the atmospheric pressure which may condense the gas by its action on the surface of the water, while another cause may exist with relation to the springs which disengage hydro-sulphuric acid. It may bo supposed that it arises from the sulphurot of iron or pyrites with whi' i he country abounds, and which is found in the difierent bed;, of earth, being dissolved in much greater quantity by the water in the seasons in which they arc most abundant, and in which the decomposition of the sulphurot is more facilitated than at a period when the spring is fed from one part of the bed only. An analysis of the Caledonia waters had already been made by Mr. Chilton of New York. 1 am sorry to remark that they do not agree with his analysis, not as regards the quantity of matter, but princi[)ally as regards their composition and the existence of substances in them. According to him, these waters contain sul- phate of hme, iron, and potassium. 1 have not even been able to detect any traces of these substances ; consequently I think that Mr. Chilton has taken cai'bonate for sulphate, and has found the iron and potassium in the ashes which may have been blown by the wind into the springs, or in the bottles which contained the water, if they had not been well cleansed. As magncsian, ioduratcd, and sulphureous springs, they arc very useful, and on account of the temperature wiiich is always regular, are excellent for rheumatism and gastric diseases ; they arc besides useful for diseases in the nature of go'dres, for which Si^MK /1 . ! ' G iodino is so oflicaoious a remedy. The sitil is rcildish day ; uiulor- noath, at a depth of one foot, the soil is bhie clay of the same nature as that of Ilawkcsbury. The Caledonia Springs are in a plain, surrounded by marshes. The atmosphere, however, is always liealthy, as it contains nothini^ of that heavinesss generally produced by marshes. The soil is good for the purposes of agri- culture, for, though argillaceous, it contains a very thick layer of vegetable earth ; but the country people lose all its advantages by burning it, as by doing so they leave nothing but the clay. Tho vegetation is very rich before tho fire has passed over it, which proves tl^at agriculture would succeed very well in this country if tho mam er of clearing were diftcrcnt. Tho soil might easily bo improved by lime which abounds at a distance of a few miles. Near Caledonia, in tho direction of Vankloek llill, there is a marsh twelve miles in circumference, which contains turf of the thickness of a foot. It might be made use of with groat advantage as regards economy, especially when wood becomes scarce. Besides the three springs above mcutioncd, there is another in tho wood at a distance of two miles from the settlement. Pro- fessor Williamson, of Kingston, anjilyscd a spring at this place, which he stylos intermittent. It must have been of great value ; for, according to tho analysis, it contained 1.7 gr. of bromium, and 0.3 of iodine. Unfortunately the spring answering to this description has disappeared. Two paces from its site another has formed itself, of a totally different nature. It is entirely of a gaseous nature. Its gas is carburetted hydrogen, and no traces can be discovered of the hydro-sulphuric gas which the former spring contained. This new spring disengages tho gas in great abundance, and not at intervals. It is situate at a distance of about thirty paces from tho marsh, near a ravine which is filled Avith Avatcr. Tho soil is blue clay, a little reddish at the surface. This spi'ing is separated from the Cale- donia springs by a marsh two miles in width, and which has no solid bottom, unless at a very great depth. This marsh is full of moss and plants in a state of decomposition, on which various trees grow, of the fir species, and the Labrador tea-plant. J think that formerly a Lake must have existed, the waters of which have partly run ofi', and the surface has been covered with vegetation of different sorts. This spongc-liko substance formed of moss and inarsh plants imbibes tho water, Avhich (with the plants in a state of decomposition,) serves as a nourishment for the trees, which form a complete forest. If report be credited, several mineral cliiy ; iiiitlor- r of tlio siimo rings arc in a liowovor, is oHss generally posos of agri- thick layer of idvantages by 10 clay. The over it, which ;his country if isjlit easily bo a few miles, ore is a marsh the thickness advantage as ircc. is anothei- in emcnt. Pro- at this place, groat value ; . of broniium, rerinj; to this e another has s entirely of :;on, and no jas which the asros the c;as situate at a icar a ravine ilay, a little ■oni the Cale- which has no larsh is full of I various trees 1 think that if which liave ith veo;ctation \ of moss and mts in a state I trees, which vcral mineral springs arc to bo found there. But on account of the groat diffi- culty of making a passage through the wood and marsh, [ resolved not to make expensive researches which might perhaps turn out of no use. oeouoe's spuing. From Caledonia I proceeded to (jieorge's Spring by land, so as to judge better of tho changes in the soil. Three miles from Caledonia there is a marsh which extends north and south, and through which the road is cut. Before reaching the springs you descend three rocky ledges towards the north, and you then come to George's Lake, to the south of which there is a mountain. At tho foot of this mountain is a mineral spring which flows into the lake. Its components are tho same as those of tho Caledonia springs, besides a certain quantity of sulphate, and more iodino. This spring flows from under a rock of calcareous shale which contains a very great quantity of iron pyrites; the water con- tains no traces of iron nor of hydro-sulphuric gas, which would lead one to suppose that it proceeds from another bed. As tho pro])rictor of this spring does not reside on tho spot, and the house which contains it being shut, I could not examine nor ascertain tho nature and quantity of the gas which disengages itself, nor could I find out tho correct temperature. Tho rust which deposits itself at the mouth of tho spring is in consequence of the water discharging itself through an iron tube which is covered with rust. The water which I analysed, though it had passed through this pipe, con- tained no traces of iron. This spring is situated at a distance of from twelve to fourteen miles from the Caledonia Springs. It is at least two hundred feet lower, and flows to tho north ; those of Caledonia flow to the south. Proceeding from Caledonia to Alexandria, I passed by Vankleek Hill, where the streams are very clear and contain carbonate of lime in solution. Lime which contains fossils is found as far as Alexandria, and the soil is covered with hard wood of different species. KINGSTON. The Kingston mineral springs are of a salino natui*e, and con- tain salts of lime and magnesia. Tho spring belonging to Mr. Morton has been analysed by Mr. Williamson ; he found hydro- sulphurio acid, but 1 could detect no traces of it, cither by tho gaits of silver or by the salts of lead. Not that I doubt tho cor- 8 rcctnoHs of Mv. Willianison'sftnalysis; hut, on secinjj; this ilift'croiu'c, 1 could not undorstiuul how tho uiituro of this spring couhl hav« changed ; and after u more attentive examination 1 f(»und out tlio cause. Mr. Morton caused tho spi-ing to h«' duj; to tho depth of one hundred and forty feet, liy this means tho oritioo hecaino much wider, and allowed tho water Howing from the different beds to fill the well. This water being of a different nature from that of the spring, by mixing with tho latter has caused tho cliange. lie had also inserted a leaden pipe and an iron pump ; it is natural that if tho spring dontained hydro-sulphuric and car- bonic aeiil, tho lead and iron would bo attacked and form sulphurot and insoluble carbonate of lead. It is difficult to form exact con- clusions as to tho gas, for, by tho motion of tho pump, it is separated from the water, the temperature of which is increased by the same cause. But in order to bo certain that this supposi- tion is correct, it would bo necessary to know the temperature of the water in the spring ; Avhen it comes out of tho pump its tem- perature is 4!.)'^. PniNCK EDWAIin's ISLAND. At Bloomfiold tho spring is situated in a garden at a distance of a hundred feet from Mr. Stewart Christie's house, on tho eleventh lot of the second concession. The soil is blue marl, under which lies fossil lime. The water of this spring is very saline, and may bo used with advantage for tho manufacture of salt. It contains lime in solution, which diminishes its value in a commercial point of view. Its depth is forty-five feet, and its specific gravity 1.00721. Tho level of the water in tho <. lOst season is five foot below the soil. This spring is in very bad order, filled with pieces of rotten wood and leaves of trees. It was difficult for mo to ascertain the nature of tho gases which it contains. It is cer- tain, however, that it is not hydro-sulphuric acid. Tliis spring might easily without expense bo so improved as to servo for the manufacture of salt, inasmuch as there is another of tho same nature at a distance of twenty feet further. At Picton there is a spring on the southern declivity of the mountain ; the soil is tho same as at Bloomfield, but it only contains water in the spring and autumn. There aro several mineral springs on Princo Edward's Island, but they dry up in tho very hot weather. If care were taken to prevent evaporation by the rays of tho sun, they might possibly bo made use of with advantage throughout tho Avholo year. tills tlittbrcijcc, ng could havt! Coiiiul out tlio tlio depth of oi'ifico Ix'canio tlio dirt'oront nt nature from iis caused tho vn iron pimip ; •liuric and car- form sulphurot )rni exact con- pump, it is li is increased ; this supposi- ;einperature of pump its tem- t a distance of n the eleventh I, under which ilinc, and may . It contains nraercial point •ccific gravity on is five feet !r, filled with lifficult for mo ns. It is cor- Tliis spring servo for the of the same ton there is a the soil is tho n the spring s on Prince weather. If 3 of tho sun, e throughout Near IJoUoviUe, at a few acres distance from tiio landing place, there are several gas springs in tho river. In two places tho ebullition is more than two feet in diameter. This gas can be no other than marsh-gas or carburetted-hydrogcn, caused by tho decomposition of organic substances. At a short distance there is n marsh covered with water ; the presence of fish in this marsh is a proof of the nature of tho gas, for if it contained any signs of hydro-sulphuric acid gas, no fish cduld exist in it. Four miles from Helloville on the road to Trent, there is a saline sj)ring at tho foot of a tree t>n Mr. Leman's property, on tho border of Prince Edward's Island, Victoria District. Tho soil is calcareous. Not far from this spring, on G. Caly's pro- perty there is lead ore. I visited several mineral springs at Trent, among others one on Mr. Ford's property, on the broken front of Lots 7 and 8, in the Township of Murray, two miles from JJellevillo. The inhabitants of the locality consider it as the most important one in tho vicinity : I found it to contain magnesia ; the gases are disengaged in very small quantity. Mr. G. C. Hull, a merchant of the place, assured me that in spring and in autumn they are disengagcul in nmch greater quantities. In my opinion these springs are of no importance, as tlicir strength is not always tho same. TORONTO. There is also a mineral spring here, on Lake Ontario, almost opposite tho Wellington Hotel. It is magnesia, but too weak to be of much use as a medicine. It is more worthy of notice by its low temperature of 42'' (that of the atmosphere being 76*^) than by the quautity of salts in solution. This spring is of no uso from tho manner in which it is kept. LAKE snicoE. In tho Township of Georgiana, near Lake Simcoe, there is a mineral spring known as Jefferson's Spring. It is near Thorah, on lot No. 10, in the third concession, in a small ravine which inter- sects the Thorah road. There are two springs there very close to each other ; one of them gives very good drinkable water, the other, notwithstanding the quantity of water it affords in a season so dry at this period, contains enough magnesia to give it a taste ; there are hardly any traces of tho presence of hydro-sulphuric gas. The proprietor states that at other seasons this spring disengages a very remarkable quantity of that gas. The soil is u l! f 4 10 . 1 1 the same as that of Trent. It is tlicrotbro possible that tlio iron pyrites or otlier sulphurets contained in a certain portion of the layers of earth, are decomposed by the organic matter, and tho hydro-sulphuric gas disengages itself. Ton miles from tliis place the inhabitants of the locality have discovered three other springs in the woods, also in the direction of the ravine ; but these springs disappear with the clearing of the forests. LAKE OXTAKIO. Between \Vellingto?i Square and Toronto, in the fourth con- cession of Dundas street. Township of Nelson, on Henry Sovering's farm, two arpents from the road and three from Lake Ontario, there are two saline springs close to each other, and a few arpents further there are two others. These springs are in a soil of red shale and contain a very considerable quantity of chloride of sodium or muriate of soda, without lime, in which they differ from those of Kingston and Bloomfield. The depth ot these saline springs is fifty two foot ; it is a great pity they are not made use of. The specific gravity of the water at the surface, is 1.0159. Four miles from Brantford, on the Grand lliver, in the third concession, lot 26, of the Township of Tuscarora, there are springs known as " Sour Springs." I think it vould bo necessary to change that name for one more characteristic, according to their composition and nature. I will therefore call them antimoni- ferruginous. These springs are in the centre of a splendid forest of oak, beech, fir and maple trees, at a few miles distance from the liiver. They are rather on a table land of the mountain than in a plain. There are four springs constantly filled with water, even in the driest season, and seven in tho throe other seasons. They are all acid and disengage yiydro-sulphuric and carbonic gas, bubbhng up with great violence. These springs contain sulphate of protoxide of iron, sulphate of alumina and of potash, chloride of antimony, chloride of zinc, sulphate of magnesia and of lime, resinous substances, and vegetable albumen. The temperature of the water is 47*^. These three .springs arc at the base of a small hillock seven feet in height, which was once covered with trees, which have since boon cut down, leaving only the stumps. The earth is filled with sulphur crystallized in very fine grains. It appears to be in the state of decomposition of organic substances. Tho soil is clay, covered with several inches of vegetable earth, it is so acid that it changes blue paper into dark red, and finishes hy destroying it as strong acids do. What is more remarkable ib 11 »lo that tlic iron portion of tlio nijitter, and tlio from this place )c other springs ut these springs the fourth con- cnry Sovering's Lake Ontario, 1(1 a few arponts in a soil of red of chloride of ich they differ 1 ot these saline c not made use 30, is 1.0159. 5r, in the third icrc are springs )e necessary to wording to their ;hom antimoni- splcndid forest stance from the ountain than in ith water, even seasons. They carhonic gas, )ntain sulphate ish, chloride of L and of lime, temperature of )aso of a small cd with trees, stumps. The ine grains. It nic substances, igctablo earth, d, and finishes remarkable i:» that the oartli which has this property is taken from the sumniit of the hillock. Notwithstanding the composition of all these springs is the same, they must be of different strengths as regards th(> the quantity of salts in each — for tlie effect of each is different, ami so is the taste. Their relative situation is shewn by the following figure : O 4 The numbers are in tlio order of the quantity of water which each spring furnishes. No. 1 furnishes more than twenty gallons per minute. The inhabitants make use of these waters in different diseases; Nos. 1 and 2, Internally; No. 3, for inflamation of the eyes ; No. 4, to wash scorbutic and venereal sores. No. 2, is con- sidered very efficacious for gonorrhcoas. As Nos. 5, 6 and 7 do not exist at all seasons, they are not made use of. J have taken these waters in tolerably large quantities. I have found that they act chiefly on the nervous system and the circulation of the blood, and cause at the same time diarrhoea. I did not at all feel that heaviness and fatigue generally felt after drinking other mineral Avatcrs. 1 know that several diseases have been cured by means of these springs. A woman of Brantford had a disease of the skin, and the epidermis was so attacked and the blood so corrupt, that the flesh under her nails was affected. By drinking No. 1, and washing with No. 4, she was cured, as several persons of the locaUty affirm. A mechanic who had wounded his hand with a piece of glass, more than a year before, was completely cured by washing with No. 4. Another cured a gonorrhoea by drinking No. 1. A third a venereal sore by washing with No. 4 ; and there are a great many other examples of various cures. It is to bo remarked that the strength and quantity of these waters increase with the moon. It is my duty to call attention to the importance of these springs, so that Government, in the interests of humanity, may encourage any person who would provide con- venient means for using them, so as to obtain the benefits and 12 advantages whicli might result therolVom in a medical point of view.' It may be useful to remark that if water containing zinc and pot- ash, as well as alum combined witli potash, is very scarce, water containing antimony is still more important on account of its still greater scarcity and medicinal power. The alts of antimony are of the greatest value, on account of the great difijculty of pre- paring them properly ; for the chloride of antiinmiy becomes decomposed in water, while here it is produced by the presence of the acid and of organic matter. The discovery of antimony in a mineral spring is undoubtedly an immense advantage for the science of medicine ; for the same substance prepared artificially is never so efficacious as when found in water, and no one has succeeded in imitating mineral waters, such as those of Carlsbad, Baden, Aix-la-Cliapelle, &c., &c., &c. No imitation could have the same medicinal virtue. I will take tl\e liberty of explaining the theory of the formation of this antimoni-ferruginous spring, and of explaining the cause why the antimony is in solution without being decomposed or precipitated by the water. According to geological researches it is knoAvn that this place contains a great many marshes, iron pyrites, lead ore, zinc and antimony, as well as beds of gypsum. Water running through iron pyrites or gypsum, by some chemical or other phenomenon, becomes decom- posed and charged with a quantity of sulphuric acid ; (the waters of this spring prove its presence in a very decided manner;) the water so acidulated, passing through turf or a marsh covered with vegetation, must contain vegetfible albumen, (which I have found,) organic acids, resinous substances, &c. If the water thus charged passes afterwards through beds of ore of antimony, it is natural that it will dissolve the substance without precipitating it. I will not enter into further details respecting this spring, for as I consider it of the greatest importance in medicine, as well as to the scientific world, I will communicate to you a memorandum when I shall have been able to procure the several instruments which are most necessary for making the complete analysis of tln.'se waters, and which I have not in my laboratory ai present. I think it would not be useless for me to communicate here my ol)servalions on this place, with respect to ils commercial and industrial impor- tance. The {geographical position of Tuscarora, with its fine navi- gable river uniting Brantford with Lake Erie, is most advantageous. Great benefits would arise if it were occupied by inhabitants having a legal right of possession, and not by persons who seek only to avail themselves of possession they have obtained without right. 13 il point of view.' g zinc and pot- y scarce, water ount of its still f antimony are flieiilty of pre' many becomes the presence of antimony in a ntagc for the red artificially id no one has ;e of Carlsbad^ could have the explaining the us spring, and oliition without According to Dntnins a great limony, as well on pyrites or •ecomes decom- l ; (the waters manner;) the h covered with I have found,) ;r thus charged y^, it is natural ing it. spring, for as I s well as to the randum when I ents which are f tln.'se waters, nt. I think it \y olwervalions idustrial impor- ;h its fine navi- t advantageous, labilants having 10 seek only to without right. For this reason, the Indians ought to be allowed to make legal sales. Several settlers have already established themselves there under the simple protection of the forests, without having any right to acquire lands. Without improving the cultivation of the land, they destroy the forests which are of (he greatest value, especially for this country, where wood is required for building and for navigation. If they con- tinue, these forests will disnp|)(;ar without being of any advantage to any one. The soil as well as the climate of this township are of the highest value for agriculture. I think that if Government allowed the Indians to sell the land, it would be of great use if it were in the hands of able and educated persons who would know how to turn it to as much advantage as possible, and thereby contribute to the commercial and industrial interests of the neighbouring towns, such as Hamilton, Brantford and London, WOODSTOCK. The mineral waters near Woodstock are magnesian, and disen- gage hydro-sulphuric acid. These springs are of little value, being flooded by streams. If the course of these streams were turned the springs might possibly be of some use in medicine, espe- cially for the inhabitants of the locality. There is a spring, in the Brock District near Mr. Riddell's lands. As it was dried up, I was not able to ascertain its nature. ANCASTEH. On ihe way from Brantford to Hamilton, in the village of An- caster, there is a road on the left at the corner of the hotel, which leads t) a magnesian sulphureous mineral spring. It is in a deep ravine on the left of the road going up the stream, on Mr. GrifTm's property. The nature of this spring is the same as those in the Townships on Lake Simcoe. The spring known as the " Burning Spring," is in the Town- ship of Salt Fleet, 4th Concession, six miles from Hamilton and three from the road leading from Hamilton to St. Catharines. This spring is on the same stream as that of Ancaster, a hundre, There is now nothing left for me but to describe the Niagara Spring above the great Fails. It is called the " Burning Spring," on account of the carburetted hydrogen which it contains. This spring is of no greater value than any other cold spring. The water is calcareous; it proceeds from calcareous rocks impregnated with hydrate of iron, which is not however in solution in the water. These ga*;es can only proceed from the decomposition of the organic substances existing at diiferent depths in the soil. I will now give the description of a mineral spring containing bitumen and petroleum, and which Mr. Logan found in his fnst trip to Gaspe. According to the specimen he gave me, this spring is composed of creosote, naphtha, petroleum, bitumen and paroj/ine or suifde montagne. By means of a chemical |)rocess a substance can be formed having a strong smell of musk, and imitating that which comes from China. I think a (lescrif)tion of tliis kind of spring which is found in foreign countries, will be interesting, as I am not acquainted with that of Gaspe ; it is of the greatest importance to have more details on this spring, as it may conduce to other re^scar- ches very useful for the country and for science. These springs of naphtha and petroleum exist in Persia, on the northern side of the Caspian Sea, at Baku near Derbent. The soil is argillaceous marl impregnated with naphtha. They may also be found in the Birmese Territory. The Town of Bainanghong is the centre of a small District which contains more than five hundred of these springs. The soil is sandy clay, which lies over alternate beds of sandstone and hardened clay. Underneath is a thick bed of argillaceous shale of a pale blue, which forms part of the pit-coal strata, and this argillaceous shale rests immediately on the pit-coal, which is im- pregnated with petroleum. At Coalbrookdale in England, there is a similar spring of petroleum which originates in a bed of pit-coal. Near the Cape Verd Islands large masses of petroleum have been seen floating on the surface of the sen. Petroleum has been found in the River Thames, near Lake Erie. It has also been found on Mount Osmund in Dalecarlia, in Sweden, but has since, disap- peared. The most remarkable feature in this appearance of petro- leum, is that the country consists of transition limestone, surrounded by granite. It is then probable that the petroleum owes its origin to a bed of aluminous shale on which the limestone of the Osmund Mountain probably rests. These springs exist also in France, not far from coal-pits. As to the soil of that part of Gaspe where the above mentioned spring is found, having nothing to guide me but the specimen furnis-hod by Mr. Logan, I can make no comparison ^^•ow— 17 bo the Niagara irning Spring," lonlains. Tliis 1 spring. Tlio ks impregnated in in the water, ri of the organic ring containing I in his first trip e, this spring is in] parojjine or a suhstance can ing that which kind ol' spring ng, as I am not it importance to to other resear- rhese springs of lern side of (he "srillaceous marl n the Birmese itre of a small these springs, ds of sanilstone of argilhiceous strata, and this il, which is im- ngland, tliere is bed of pit-coal, enm have boen has been found i been found on IS since disap- irance of pelro- )ne, surrounded owes its origin of the Osmund > in France, not aspe w lie re the to guide mo but no comparison with what is k lown in the other parts of the world, and thereby facilitate the theory of the formation of creosote. There are several circumstances to be considered, which are of the greatest importance. If the Gasp6 spring comes from pit-coal, where is this bed of coal from which it originates ? Can it be accidental like that of Sweden.!* This mio-lit be ascertained from the Indians of the place, and whetiier it is of old date or of very recent existence ; this would enable me better to explain the theory of the formation of creosote in this kind of spring. And if this spring resembles those of Asia and of Europe, would it not be a sign of the presence of coal. In many points of view this spring is remarkable and may be of great value to the country ; for it may furnish naphtha in abundance (more than 60 percent.) which is very useful for light, varnish, niin(!ral tar for ships, and creosote, whicli, if it can be obtained in any "Teal nuantity, will be of real advantage. Until now creosote had been obtained by treating substances derived from the distilling ,)( w