The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-11-25
NATURAL. GAS.
Cheap Light ana Fuel In tho OIL Region
OF f'enusytyhnfR.

| OF penhSytynnfR.
Bradford, Pa. Correspondence New York Times.
The steady decline III tho yield OF petro.
leum In the Pennsylvania oil regions is
causing capitalists TO turn their attention
10 tle'greater utilization OF the natural gas
which Is a peculiar feature Of the region.
The drilling Of oil wells Is always attended
by the appearance OF inllammable gas In
larger or smaller quantities, but its pres.
ence Is not q necessary attendant OF the
finding OF oil. Many years ago natural gas
was discovered In Fredoaia, ChautauGua
county, N. Y, and It Inns been in constant
use, both for. fuel and light, at East
Liverpool, OHIO, for twenty years, and
no petroleum is found In either place.
The presence Of this gus In tho oil regions
has been one Of tho main causes Of the lie.
velopment Of the territory TO 30 great m
extent that the exhaustion OF The petroleum
deposit has been accomplished years before
1t otherwise would have been, for its
adaptability and economy rs fuel has per.
mittcd operations TO be carried on where
otherwise they must have been attended
with loss 10 the producers. It takes from
twenty-thrcc to twenty-five days to drill
well, and companies controlling the supply
Of gas furnish fuel for the boilers ut an
average cost Of 81 Is per day per well. 10
buy coal or wood for this purpose would
cost several times rs much. Bradford and
nearly all Of the oil region towns are lighted
and heated by the natural gas.
Less than u Year ago the Rixford gas
reached this city by It's natural force at tho
wells-a force sufficient to supply Bradford
with 100000 cubic feet. 10 drive the
gas that distance now requires tho use Of
400-horse power engine aud tho natural
force OF l7O pounds to tho inch hus declined
TO %. The machinery for pumping
the gas cost $4,000. Tho natural
gus Ia found in the largest ouan.
tlty and greatest force in the third oil
sand, and seldom deeper than Is feet in
tue sand. 1t Is present however, in all
three OF tho sands In some wells The
wells are drilled just as oil wells are, and
gus territory ranges from $50 to $500 M
acre.
In many parts Of tho oil regions tho
pipes are laid on the surface OF the ground,
but in the larger towns and cities they are
buried. For heating purposes q pine is
conducted from the main into the stove or
range. The end OF the pipe in the stove is
perforated to give a spreading flame, A
stopcock on the outside Of the stove repu.
lates the supply. The fire is kindled sim.
Ply by turning on the gus and throwing |
lighted match in the stove. In CRATES the
effect OF coal fire is obtained by the plac.
ing OF pieces Of earthenware inside. These
become. red.hot, md glow with the true
anthracite cheerfulncss
For illuminating purposes a uniform
charge Of 90 cents u month is made to the |
consumer. Where twelve burners are in
use discount OF 20 per cent is made. To
large consumers, such us hotels, stores, &C.,
further discount from the twelve burner
rate is given: An ordinary family family
parlor or cook stove pays 81 a month for ]
fuel, while range and large heater cost So |
month. In the early days OF gas burning
In the region IN ordinary stove consumed |
about 800 cubic feet m hour. The subject
was given much scientific study, however, |
and regulator devised by which tho
amount consumed is much reduced with. |
out affecting the heating power Of the fuel |
me gus Is not measured. 1t is 1. matter OF |
much surprise to the stranger visiting this
region to see tue gus in buildings and on the !
streets burning all day as we'll rs during
the ght. Noone takesth the trouble to turn
oil their gas. II is believed that the gas
would be consumed and wasted in other
ways even if it was turned off, and SO it |
burns from one years end to the other. |
For heat and lighting the gus companies |
require pay i'll advance per month, but
we'll drillers pay at the end Of the month. |
at one time the Keystone Company had |
500 drilling wells attached to their pipes |
but not. one quarter of that number arc
drilling now. The traveller through the oil |
regions will sec great pillars Of flames high |
IN the mountains, in the depths OF forests, |
and down in the deep valleys. These arc |
made by the waste gus coming from pipes
inserted in thewells. They burn constant
~. Many OF the smaller oil towns are rs |
light by night as they are by day, owing toll
the presence Of these pipes in their streets |
>, Gus Is found in large quantities in the |
Sheffield district Of the Warren oil field. !
One OF the heaviest wells ever struck is at |
Sheffield. It has beon burning with u
flame fifty feet high for years. and its roar |
may be heard for miles. Another heavy |
well is the Murrayville well in Washington |
county, There is great gas streak in that |
region, and company has been formed
and chartered by the State to supply Pitts
6tnrgh and other places with light and fuel |
from it.