The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-11-03

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reservoir of natural gas, which il
now being so extensively and prolita
bly, utilized by other towns and cities
in heating, lighting and running thu
machinery of all kinds of mills and
manufactures.
This fact is so evident that i
hardly needs an experiment to dem
onstrate it. The gas bubbles up on
of the water ways of the neighbor
hood, and Kisses cut OF the marshe.
and low-lands of the Monongalel,
valley as if to notify and invite thu
experiment and enterprise Of cul
people to the great source Of wealth
and profit which nature has stored
in this locality for our use.
Even the genius of a boy was latel,
directed to furnishing practica
example of the accessibility o.
this element. He noticed a jet
Of gas oozing from the water
edge Of the Monongahcla. Building
a small mud reservoir over the jet
lie then inserted n hollow weed In
the top Of his mud mound, applied a
match to the end, and was rewarded
by seeing a bright flame shoot uT
from the end Of the weed which con
tinued to burn with steady light
while the product of his boyisll
genius was permitted to remain.
This boyish experiment furnishes
forcible cxhortation to our people
our men OF means and cnterprise-te
utilize this great source of wealth
tits Morgantown's great opportunity
1t would soon make of this commu.
nifty busy, prosperous and populous
place It would realize for us the
cherished hope of years in all that
pertains to material growth and de-
velopment. Our hills and valleys
would rcsound with the hum of in.
dustry and hustle Of active business,
Manufactures would spring up on
all sides. Capital would come un-
hidden TO share the opportunity. Our
great sticks of timber would no longer
be foated down the river in the crude
and least profitable form, but in
the shape Of various profitable manu-
features that would give employ
ment to thousands OF hands in our
midst.
If any one questions the value and
possibilities of natural gas to com
munity, lie has only to take the
town Of Wellsburg for an example.
That old town, until a few months
ago, was rs dead rs our own. 1t was
fairly dried up and stagnant. 1t
possessed all the characteristics of
an old Virginia village whose popu-
lation were chiefly employed in won
dering how each other managed to
live and trying to figure out the COM
ing of q business millennium without
capital or enterprise to invite or help
it along. Two or three enterprising
citizens pooled their capital and paid
the expenses of boring a gas well.
They bored into a fortune at the
depth Of about one thousand feet.
Now Wellsburg is lighted throughout
with gas at a nominal cost. 1t is
heated by gas. 1t cooks with gas,
that makes no ashes, no smeke, no
dirt. The cost of living to every
family is greatly reduced, the labor
Of housekeeping immensely curtailed,
and the comfort of the home adj
vanced fifty per cent. Every engine
and machine in the town is run by
gas. But this is not all or the least.
The whole business of the town is
reyolutionized. The owners of the
well have made their fortunes. The
price of property is largely enhanced
Capitalists are offering large sums
for gas privileges and sites for man
ufactories. Already a large gas fac
tory is in operation. Iron and nail
manufactures are projected, and real
estate is everywhere in demand, while
new life and spirit has been diffused
throughout the atmosphere of the
town. This old town has taken a
jump from a Rip Van Wrinkle sleep
into dizzy boom of profitable bust
ness and development.
What gas has done for Wellsburg
it can do and may do for Morgan
town. While we are talking and
mourning for railroads we have with
in our reach an element of more i'm
mediate and certain wealth than a
roslrooxl N,f,,,cI q.