Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-10-22

SUBTERANIAN GAs.-Allusion has been
made, recently, to the supplies of gas obtained
in Erie, with which some of the largest manu-
factories of that place are heated and lighted,
as well for the comfort of the establishments,
rs for driving their motive power The only
expense of securing this is in boring into the
earth some three or four hundred feet. OF the
trifling outlay for this and the economy of
such an enduring supply, little need be said
One object OF the allusion heretofore made,
was 10 afford an occasion for the expression of
the belief, that the same benefits might, on
the same conditions, be enjoyed by the manu-
factories of Ashtabula. The only question in
the mind al any one, is, Is this substance to
be found here rs at Erie? and if so, what are
the evidences of the fact? Let us see if they
are worthy of attention and belief The pres
ence of this gas approaches much nearer to us
than Erie. As has heretofore been stated,
well was sunk several years ago at Conneaut,
in search for oil, which has been sending
forth steady current of gas ever since, not in
quantity, perhaps, to heat boilcrfor driving.
an engine, though we are unable TO say how
far the use of proper means of preventing
waste and an economic use of the article,
might 90, even in this case, of securing this end
The supply, at any rate with the rude means
employed for colining and applying the gas,
is sufficient for heating the Hubbard grist
mill, and supplying light for the establishment.
This is actual and to the point. There are un-
mistakable evidences of this gas at other points
between Conneaut and Ashtahula. A well
known spontaneous jet is thrown up in the
bed of Ashtabula creek, which may at any
time be ignited, some distance this side of
Kingsvllle not far from Hough's foundry, and
the same thing is known to exist in several
places along the stream, as has been tested
and proved on different occasions, by our own
citizens. One of our most intelligent and OBJ
serving citizens who has land through which
the creek passes, in conversation on the
subject but short time since, stated that he
had found this gas in several places in such
quantities rs 10 take fire and burn for limit
ed time. But a few days since, in digging
well in this village, the man engaged in the
work, at depth Of only l2 feet heard sud
den and unaccountable roariug noise, and feel
ing his caplaries rising made haste to put
himself out of harms way. But after watch
ing the operation of things while, concluded
that the bottom was not immediately likely to
drop out and land him where those of his pol
itics revel, returned to his work and began an
examination. He found, to his amazement
that there was to be sure something of an in-
fernal character shooting up from the regions
below, and he had only TO apply lighted
match to find himself envelopdd in flame, and
apparently nearer his ultimate destination
than he cared, at present, to be. The result
proved the presence of that agent about which
we are speaking, so that there can hardly be
room for doubt, that it could be obtained and
turned to as useful account here, as at Erie
All that is needed, therefore, would appear to
be, the energy TO bore forit, With these facts
before us, does not the prospect warrant the
ehOrt and expense of sinking hole few
hundred feet by the united contributions of
our citizens, TO settle the question, ana thus,
perhaps, of securing a cheaper fuel for the
carrying on and encouragement of home in.
duslry among us, thaR even the coal that il is
proposed TO land so cheaply al our doors by
the completion of the lines of internal i'm
provement to which we are looking forward
with so much well grounded confidence
That this will be done, there is good reason to
believe, and that too, at no distant day. As is
SD frequently said OF the finishing up of our
Jamestown Branch, "it is only question of
time" Perhaps we are justified in adding
that some OF the implements for making
such test, are in the village, and in the
rounds of one of our energetic citizens, who
is now enjoying the profits of two such holes
in the earth, sunk for obtaining oil, and who
Is prosecuting other operations of the same
kind, and who has, besides the proper ma
chiRerY for the work, an unwavering conf
dence, which. atsome more convenient season,
win probably lead 10 making, here, the test of
tue presence of subteranian gas