Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-08
GAS WELLS.
Where They Are and When First
Discovered.
10 the Burning Springs county-At Rey-
nann's Brewery-The Great AcGregOr
Well in Pennsyyania-Howlt 1t
Looks to a Visitor
LIGHT VISIBLE TWENTY-FIVE MILES.
Ner Co,rcspOndencc Of ne Register.

lSaD Correspondence Of the Register.
GARFIELD, Pa, July I'm every
part of the carboniferous areas OF
the Country where oil wells are sunk,
gas wells are of common occurrence. In
the oil region, so called, large gas wells
have been burning for years and the gas, in
some cases, serves rs 10 ghe ma ftiel for
good sized towns.
The gas we'll at New Cumberland, Han
cock County, sends forth large flame
that is distributed to pans, from the sur
faces of which carbon enough is collected
to Yield handsome dividends to an enter.
prising lamp black company.
Near Parkersburg, for many years the
gas was conducted from a well to stores
and furnaces and took the place OF other
fuel, there being suitable means for regu,
lating and controlling the pressure.
Twenty years ago an oil well was sunk
between the Hempfeld Railroad and creek,
half a mile below Triadelphia. No oil was
struck. but fame of gas four or five feet
high blazed so brightly from the pipe at
the top Of the derrick that a person pass.
ing along the pike could easily read small
print.
has supply of natural gas that has given
all the light needed in the establishment
water for brewing, Mr. Beymann sunk a
we'll six feet in diameter to the depth OF
seyenty.one feet without success. A six
inch hole was then drilled from the bottom
of this we'll to the depth of five hundred
and forty.seven and one.half feet, when a
vein OF salt water and gas was struck.
The flow OF water was small, and, being
salty, it was worthless for brewing pur.
poses; but the gas has been used constantly
for light and If coal were not so cheap and
convenient, could also he utilized as fuel.
The pressure is just as strong, il not
stronger, than when struck, four years ago,
and to prevent any trouble from an accumu-
lation some jets are kept constantly
lighted. Forty-four burners are used in
the brewery, each one of which will give a
flame several inches high when ali are
burning.
OF natural gas ever known in this locality
is from the McGugin oil well, near Middle
town, Washington county, Penn. A tract
of land was leased from Mr.. McGugin about
year ago by party OF gentleman from
Buffalo, n. y, under the name Of the Nj
agara Oil Company, and the work OF boring
for oil was actively prosecuted till large
reservoir of gas was struck few weeks since.
The weight of five men on plank placed
over the open four inch pipe could
not confine the escaping gas. 1t was led in
q pipe across small ravine up into mead
ow, where the gas now burns, fifty yards
away from the derrick. When the gas was
first lighted it escaped from the pipe which
had been bent at right angle several feet
from the ground, but the intense heat
Melted the Iron Pipe
like wax, and the flame now seems to come
directly from the earth the pipe, as itlay
on the ground, having been covered deeply
with dirt. The pipe blows cold as we'll as
hot, for ii is kept at such low temperature
by the cold current Of air rushing through
that it sweats like an Ice pitcher, and is drip
ping with water condensed from the atmos-
phere. When the wind is favorable the
roar of the escaping gas can be heard for
five or six miles, and sounds like rapidly
running railroad train. The sound and sight
of thelimmense flame give queer impress
sions to one approaching on dark night
over the road that winds down around the
hill through the trees and swaying branch
es, and the sullen roar rumbes along the
ground under your feet, and Kisses through
the leaves over your head, one is almost
prepared 10 come suddenly toa
Volcanic w Orkshop,
and see lame Vulcan and his swarthy work.
men, the Cyclops, hurrying hither and
thither, heating, beating, striking, welding,
forging armor for the gods. Descending
the hill you come to the edge OF the woods
and suddenly find yourself facing the
light and heat and noise. The dark Ii1h
green OF the heavy woods to the right, the
lighter shade of the beautiful meadow that
slopes up behind and to the left the blue
sky above and the moon that seems trying
to hide her pale, modest face among the
tree tops, all combine to form lovely pic
ture, in the fore. ground OF which is the
roaring fame of burning gas that reaches
up for fifty feet and has circumfer-
ence of fifteen or twenty 1t is
in the centre Of circle OF a
A Hundred Feet I'm Dianeter
that was formed by running furrow and
removing the grass. In this circle the
ground is covered with miliers and large
moths, millions of which are seen in the
air huttering down 10 the flame and drop
ping suddenly with singed wing They
are probably generated in such large mum
ing the blackberrics and had whitened the
elder blossoms and reddened the grasses, all
Of which had not begun 10 turn outside OF
this natural green house. The garden OF
the nearest house, down across the road,
three hundred yards from the fame is very
far advanced, and all OF the vegetation
within considerable radius shows the ef
fects of the genial raysof heat. The refec-
tion from the flame in the sky can be seen
from some places
Twenty-Five Miles Distant.
1t can be seen from Steubenyille, and some
have seen it from Cadiz. II can be easily
recognized from the high hills near here.
Many visitors go every night TO see the
grand sight, which is worth a ride of many
miles. Several parties have gone from
Washington and Wellsburg, starting from
home in the afternoon and eating picnic
lunch at Walkers Rocks. a beautiful place
about half mile from the well and about
a mile and q half north OF Middletown,
which. by the way. gets its name from be-
ing twelve miles from Washington, Wells
burg, Claysyihe and West Alexander.
BafIied Safe Burglars.
ROCHESTER,, July 7.-Wouid.be burglars
broke into the hardware store OF Vim. M.
Evans last night. carried their safe out and
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