All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

292 All About Inventions such frenzy as to spout high into the air like foun- tains. These are known as “ gushers,” and the name is excellent in its application. In other regions the oil is more quiescent or sullen, as if reluctant to be drawn from its bed. Then it can only be brought to the surface by means of pumps. The character of the oil is equally varied. In some places it is almost as fluid as water ; in others it is in a jelly-like form. Some is heavily impregnated with asphalt, while other is rich in sulphur. The latter, it may be mentioned, is an unmitigated nuisance. For many years sulphur oil possessed no commercial value, while it depreciated the value of nearly every- thing with which it came into contact. But a wizard of chemistry discovered a simple effective means of desulphurising the oil, and its value at once rose to a high figure. Again, one well, while rich in oil, throws out an almost equal quantity of water, which has to be eliminated; then another well is in such a violent state of agitation that the oil gushes forth heavily impregnated with sand, which must also be removed before the oil can be subjected to any subsequent treatment. Moreover, the precious liquid mineral is dis- covered in some of the most unexpected places. One would scarcely expect to obtain it in bounteous quantities amid the blistering sands of Persia, but such is the locality from which the British Govern- ment derives an appreciable volume of its supplies, the oil being pumped through some 180 miles of pipe line laid upon the sand from the oil-yielding territory to a convenient point for refining and shipment. The low-lying, dismal belt of seashore forming the sea-