Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-08-20
GAS EXPERIMENTS.
The Natural Article 10 a Window
Glass Works
And Operating SuccessfulT-Another Test
in Boiling Iron at BsilIiant-The
Central Well and the Deep
Buchanan Hole.

The most recent experiment in natural
gas is that now in progress at the Pan
Handle window glass works at Wallsburg.
The gas has only recently been conveyed
to the works and the Company is now max
ing a test OF the gas, though with full con-
fidence of the result. On Saturday RE-
IsTER reporter accompanied Mr. J. Z. Curtis
to the works to examine the plan for the
public benefit.
The melting furnace IN window glass
factory is esseLt tally different from that
of a hollow ware establishment. In
the latter there is a huge stack to
contain the pots, but in the former the
furnace is perfect rectancle and is heated
somewhat after the fashion OF kitchen
range, with the melting pots running
along each side. At either end of the fur
mace, an inch and a half pipe runs from
the ground and is discharged into the in
terror. When lighted, great jet of gas
shoots out and plays about the furnace,
from either end, nearly meeting in the
center. The heat is supplemented BY
pipe running along the crate bars at the
bottom. This is an inch pipe, perforated
with q series Of small holes, from which
Jets spring up and increase the
heat from the end pipes. The
works are not running, at present.
and no glass has been melted yet, but Mr..
Curtis is confident that this heat will fuse
the mixture in one-third less time than
formerly, with coal. As result, the ash
pit below is entirely clean and free of re-
fuse, and there is q remarkable absence OF
smoke and sOOt in the ROOM
On either side of the melting furnace Is
a finishing furnace, and into these the gas
has been introduced with best possible re-
suit An inch pipe runs through
the furnace and in 20 min
utes it can be brought to
the requisite heat. Three furnaces
are pierced on each side by three mouths.
The workman gathers his ball from the
melting furnace and after blowing the
globe, brings it to the finishing furnace to
complete the cylindrical shape. The
floor is provided with three pits, on each
side in which the globe is swung into the
cylinder. The finishing furnaces are new
and will save time and labor. The ash
pits are there, and should anything happen
the gas supply, the crate bars can be put in
and in fifteen minutes ii is converted into
an ordinary coal furnace.
The flattening and annealing room is
also Supplleu Win gas, WHERE IL OpeIdbSS
to a charm. When the cylin Ter is cracked,
it is brought to this room to be tiattened
out and annealed. For the former purpose
it is placed upon an iron car and carried
around through a circular furnace.
Heat is applied, the cylinders grow soft and
by their own weight are hatteGed out.
The cars are then switched oil and run
through the annealing furnace, to prevent
sudden equalization, or as it were, to
prevent the particles of glass to get
we'll acquainted with each other
before hardening. These furnaces have
been heated by two mouth furnaces OF coal;
for the use of gas, the mouths have been
bricked up, save a small aperture, into
which the Jet is thrown and carried about
the furnace. 1t does its work we'll and sat-
istactorily and Mr.. Curtis is quite pleased.
At present the Pan Handle is using the
general gas, but they will shortly ntract
Tor well OF their own, to be sunk on their
own premises.