The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-04


correspOndent in another column,
who Is an intelligent man and well INFORM
ed on all matters, presents some suggestions
in relation TO boring iOr natural gas which
are worthy OF consideration. That the
scheme IL u ieaSbIe one is without queS'
tiou, but whether it would be proper for
The CITY 10 undertake It is u matter OF doubt.
His figures are rather attractive, and may
be, 10 iar w an intelligent estimate goes,
entirely correct.
Gas is abundant iu this region, conss-
quenty thu risk would not be great. The
town Of Wellsburg, sixteen mile north oil
Wheeling, obtains an excellent supply
from the well recently sunk there. AT
Brilliant, O., Just across the river, the sup
ply is equally US good, ut II less depth than
At Wellsburg. The ReymRnn Brewing
Company, in boring for water, struck gas
which now supplies thirty burners in
that establishment, and not more than half
the gas escaping is secured bystoraed. Last
week company began operations at Mar
tins Ferry, o., with capital Of s5O,OOO'
with ialr prospects OF success. The result
OF this venture is anxiouSly looked for il
gas is struck, ii is very likely that the Top
Mill will make an attempt TO secure 1t on
this side OF the river, for with such cheap
fuel the cost Of production would be greatly
leSsened.
However, the use OF natural gus need not
be confined to illumination. The finest
lampbIack in the market is made iromfil,
and strange to say there are only three fac
tories in the country engaged in mann.
featuring it. One isloCatcd at Saxon, Pa,
another at or near Warren, Pa, and the
third at New Cumberland, Hancock conn.
ty, W. Va. Here is chance to establish a
profitable industry in this city at a small
outlay. Ii we arc not. mistaken there IS
already good supply gas at Elm Grove
and those who have money to invest could
not use tito better advantage than develop
ing this well and utilizing the gIs by max
ing lampblack.
The largest factory is at Saxon, Pa,
where twenty thousand gas gets are burning
night and day. The building is about 70
feet square. The mOdw OpcrdnM Of the
manufacture OF lampblack, in this estab.
lishment, is the burning Of gas against
uheetiron plates. From the gas well, few
yards distant, four inch pipe extends TO
the factory. At tho main entrance it
branches Oh in two directions, and from
these two distributing mains eight long
pipes running the entire length Of the build
ing, draw their supply. Along each OF
these pipes are small jets, thin and very
close together. Over each "bench" on
which the long pipe rests are continuous
plates Of sheet iron, aud 1t is against these
that the tiny Flames from the myriad
OF Jets burn. The windows and doors are
always kept tightly closed with close fitting
shutters, SO as to prevent the admission OF
TOO much air. The temperature OF the in
terror must be sufficiently regulated to
avoid perfect combustion, and thus save the
carbon. Little by little the lampblack
forms on the sheet iron until small mass
larger than cherry, perhaps, hangs over
each jet. At regular intervals Of twenty
minutes small iron carriage" or sort OF
scraper is run along each OF the rows OF
iron, and the matter thus collected is
emptied into receptacle In another de.
partment.
The commercial uses Of lampblack are
varied. II forms the principal part OF
coIoring matter for paints. Printers inS
and marking inks are also made from II,
and it is becominga desirable article for
Tie polish and preparation OF shoe leather.