Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-05-19


The following account OF the sal, and Gas
works on the kanawha river, written by a WIS.,
tier gives, as we are informed. but a partial
idea OF the extent of the works or the gas. II
Is believed b. those who have visited these
works that the gas is inexhaustible. If so
would it not be grand operation to under
take to convey it by pipes to the eastern cities
and light them all with it. 1t would paw,
we suspect. Who goes for trying it2
or all the remarkable phenomena which
this par, of our country produces, prolific as
II Is III every variety of Natures bounty, there
lsnothinS winch can equal in novelty, or sur
pass IN mystery the dcvelopement OF the ex-
lstencc oil an inexhaustible reservoir of Gas
hundreds OF feet below tho surface of the earth,
Our attention was first called TO an investi.
CATION oil this truly astonishing discovery. by
an interesting article which appeared under
tne editorial head OF your paper a short time
since, winch seems TO have attrac ted very gem
eral notice. Since that time, however, other
more ois'inct and Interesting exhibitions of
the character and effects of this new and sub
tie element have been made, and beg tn offer
them TO tn curious and philosophical. with
out attempting to invade the laboratory OF Ma
lures store house, or offering any spcculations
as 10 their origin
such Is the hmm ense power with which the
Gas escapes from the wen, opened for the us,
al purpose OF obtaining the salt water. that il
seems at times TO be almost uncomfortable
The proprietors found themselves i'm danger of
losing all the benefit of their requirement.
nom the quantity that rushed upon them
Alter considerable delay and exertion they
succeeded IN p!acinSit in its present position,
4 in
only SO much to escape as would be- usefni
Even now, it bids fair to burst asunJer all
the artificial restraints which the cunning
hand OF man has placed around it, and assert
It's freedom and power by their destruction. -
Although the proprietors have taken the pre-
caution, IN suppressing it, to allow some ex-
ira means OF escape by attaching tubes to the
main conduct from which the gas and water
are continuously pouring, sometimes with
less force, resembling the escape pipe of n
steamboat, yet it has forced itself through the
lntersIlces oil the strata of rock and the pores
Oh the earth and comes up under the bed OF
the river. To one who will stand on the
oahk, The river presents novel and interest
appearance. 1t seems to be undergoing the
raniying process OF boiling, for IA considerable
distance above, below, and opposite the well
whlchis immediately on the verge of the river.
As to the quantity of this material OF man
uiacturlng-new, it is true, but not the les,
| valuable ON that account-we see no reason
ior supposinS 1t will not last as long as the
water with which II is found which has been
the source unililling of great gain for many
ars, and promises to continue equally pro-
| life OF profit.
Vi the quality of the Gas we can only saw.
mat II seems, so lar as we are able to Judge
from observation, 10 BE- not unlike other gas
SEES, lnilammable, and possessing peculiar
ooor. 10 the feeling is cool and refreshing.
and to the eye il resembles the heat which
escapes furnace.
An individual possessing such rare pro-
uuctlon near large city. we would think.
might have "the light of LIES way and the
lamp OF Us path" without much cost.
Inc proprietors are at present only using a
s"Iheient quantity TO force Tx: v-atar tn their
furnace; but II the expense of constructing
and laying pipes was undergone, there is
doubtless not only sufficiency for the manu-
featuring purposes Of every furnace in the Sa-
lines, but for lighting every city in the Union
But promised not to speculate, and must
conclude Dy rcmarking, what all will readily
oeileve, that though there are some remarlsa-
ole things lii our country, yet this is decidedly
the most mysterious. and at the same time the
most palpable freak which Dame Nature has
ever condesccn1ed to show us.
would remark, that there are other fnrna-
c,s than the one to which | have referred,
winch are IN the constant use of the Gas as n
iual Tor boiling the salt watcr-thos, superse-
ding the necessity of coal, with which the
country abounds of the best character, entire
~. SPY.