The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-20
RirIlntond 1ispattlr.
MoNDAY..............MARCH 90, 1871.

THx CIRCULATION or THE DISPATCH
Is LARGER THAN THE CONFINED CIR
CULAT1oN OF ALL ThE OTHER DAILY
OF THE CITY.
- - ------------------
The F,rst Gas wela In Ohio-A Revo-
surlon In Light and Euel-Naturnl
Gas W.. Artificial Gas and Coal.
From the Cleveland Leader, March ~
Since the first discovery Of oil in Penn
svlyania il has been supposed by few Sci
entitic men that vast gas-bed or field eN-
listed, undertaking the stratum from which
oil had been drawn, and that it only de-
pended OH the energy and enterprise of our
people to bring it into use. Rumor has said
that it could be found anywhere between
Huron and Buffalo, along the lake shore,
and that nothing was necessary to be done
hut to bore q few hundred feet into the
ground to find supply of gas sufficient for
all wants for fuel and light.
Last January Captain John Spaulding, of
Rockport. paid Il visit to Erie, to investi-
gate the operation of gas wells in that place.
For several years the Erie wells have been
in operation, and their fame has become
we'll known. A number Of the Scientific
american, in considering the subject, says
that one well there furnishes gas enough TO
supply heat for one tlour.mill with forty
horse power engine, with heat and light to
the owners house and the miller's house,
warns the heating apparatus of "a brewery,
furnishes steam for tcn-horsc power en-
CINE, for nine manufacturing establish
ments, warns the buildings, gives light and
heat 10 the houses of the proprletors,
and that over forty per cent. of the gas
escapes from the safely valve. The know
ledge OF this fact caused Captain Spauld-
ing, of Rockport. to visit Erie, where he
found that not half Of the facts relating to
the matter had been reported. He here
learned that q large number of houses were
lightea-with gas from wells, that lime. kllns
were working with the same gas, that it
furnished better light than the manufac.
tured gas, aud that it gave a fire that could
be used Tor smelling iron and for all other
manufacturing purposes, and he came back
to Cleveland, determined to Immediately
sound for gas. His endeayors have been
crowned with success, and many persons
have already initiated his example, and
their work may lead to q complete revOlll-
lion in light and fuel in Ohio.
On the 30th Of January, 1871, little more
than 4 month ago, Capt. Spaulding began
the work in his well, and has dug on an
average 20 feet per day. The aperture is
six inches square. and sinks down through
stone and sand into material that, per-
haps. is richer than gold. During the work
many persons told Captain Spaulding that
he might "strike ile,* but he answered
that he was after gas, and preferred it to
anything else. lie found gas several days
since in small quantities, but it was not
until yesterday that 1t appeared in a
large quantity. At O'Clock yesterday
morning, while the workmen were drill
ing, they were surprised at hearing a
roaring noise, and moment after stream
Of water arose four feet high from the gas
well. The tools were Immediately pulled
out of the we'll and an ordinary gas pipe,
without Il burner, put on the aperture. A
light Was applied 10 this, and u bright White
blaze Immediately arose eight feet high in
the air. As there were apcrtureS in the
wood about the well, through which the
over the shed, and Captain Spaulding was
called No the spot. He guzed Il mo-
ment, hardly caring whether the shed
and derrick were consumed. lie had
been digging for gas and now saw it
blazing before him in rs bright and brilliant
light as could be desired. BY smothernS
the box with rags, and stutiing them down
into it, the contlagraticn was soon eXtin-
guished, and the men We're enabled To go
on with their work. The well is now tive
hundred and sixty feet deep, and is capable
of supplying all the gas desired. The COM
pany, however, which Is engaged in digging
1t have all the instruments necessary, and
will Dig one hundred feet deeper while at
work. 1t is desired to furnish gas enough
for eight families, and to light the streets in
the neighborhood. AS the gas costs moth
iuv, il is intended to keep it burning day
and night in the street.
Capt. Spaulding informed our reporter
that he was the first person connected with
a newspaper that had visited his well,
though MeSSrS. Richardson, from the oil
regions, George Marshall and Edward
Sanford, of Cleveland, together with many
others, had visited him to investigate the
subject. Throughout the county the
greatest interest is manifested in the SUBJ
jcct. 1t is known that a bitumlnous
shale, $50 feet thick, is under our soil
that it is equal to ~ feet of coal, and eX-
tends from Huron to Buffalo. Wherever
the soil is sounded deep enough along
the southern shore of the lake, within
the distance mentioned, gas can be found.
II can be utilized for fire and light, and is
capable Of answering all the purposes to
which coal is applied. A well was bored
ut Rocky river seven years ago, but has
never been utilized, though when lighted
it sends forth Il flame eight feet high. 1t
can be found anywhere about Cleveland,
but learer the surface Of the soil ut dis
tancc of two or three miles from the river.
The effect this discovery is destined to
have is incalculable. If AL that is promised
is realized, houses will soon be heated and
lighted with this gas, and all the manulac-
turing establishments of the city will be
worked by 1t.