Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-05-07
A Great Source Of wealsn.


1t Is well known that there is plenty Of
gas in the oil fields Of Los Angeles coun-
ty. The recent explosion of gas at the
well OF the Chandler Oil Company
showed the existence Of vast supply Of
hydrogen that should be utilized for the
convenience Of mankind, but not for
their destruction. The gas in the hills
Of Petrolia and La Puen,e can be carried
to Anaheim, Orange and Los Angeles,
and there used for heating houses and
for the cooking of food Such plan
would be Of wonderful value to the coun.
try. Itwould use up an element that is
now wasted in the air, and would pro.
mote the general prosperity Of the coun-
try by decreasing the friction of domes-
tic life and reducing the cost of living
This no idle vogary. The gas is here
and all that is necessary is to drill the
wells and store the hydrogen for use. and
then harness it 10 the use of mankind
Our resources are wonderful, and 1t
will be permanent disgrace to our
people il we do not use them. In the
petroleum fields east Of the city, is
supply of fuel that could turn all our
wheels of machinery, warm our dwell
ings aud cook our food. Pipes could be
laid in our vineyards, and few Jets
would cause an air current that would
prevent any vagrant frost from doing
harm in the Spring time.
Persons who are not familiar with the
supply of gas from these subterranean
sources will be astonished to read
Of the revolution that it is caus-
ing in the country. The readers
of the HERALD who have in years gone
by passed by the sleepy town of Wells
burg. on the Ohio river, and wondered
what the town was good for, or what
was the reason that a town like that,
Which had been corpse for many years,
was not buried long ago. Such persons
will he as,onished to see how
gas wells have caused the dry bones to
live, and made bustling manufacturing
city, without the SCOT and smoke of
other places, Of the ancient sleepy Wells
burg
The recent development of gas at
Wellsburg is one of the wonders OF the
age. The Pittsburgh Post, of April oath,
speaks Of this business as follows:
1.-THE gas well OF the world was struck
at Wellsburg, West Virginia, ON Tues
day morning, and is spouting with
force that delies all eff rt to control it.
This well is known as the Barclay No.
2, and is situated between the first well
and the river. The town is all torn up
over it, and dispatches flew over the
country yesterday announcing it the
greatest gas strike the world ever knew.
On Monday evening work was suspend
ed on account of the belief that gas was
near at hand, and it was desired to reach
it early in the day. Accordingly early
Tuesday morning the men went to work
with the expectation Of soon reaching
the gas, which expectations were
shortly realized. About s O'Clock the
drills struck into the great natural reser-
voir, and burst of gas followed that
strueksfear into the heart Of every man at
work. When the tools were withdrawn
the flow was terrific, aud small frag-
ments of rock, earth and dust shot up
like blown from cannon. An attempt
was made to cap the pipe, but such was
the force it was abandoned for the time
being. A large rock was thrown over
the mouth, but was flung up into the
derrick like pebble. Comparisons
show the new well 10 be twice as strong
as the first one, and an experienced gus
well artisan says it is one-half stronger
than tho famous McGuigan well in
Washington county, Pa. One of its
greatest advantages is that it is entirely
dry and free from the formations which
impeded the formr one. 1t will be con-
nected with the town by gas pipes, and
will furnish enough gas for city nearly
a hundred times Welsburg's population.
The company will at once clear out the
first well, and the two will be used
jointly.
Wellsburg is sixteen miles above
Wheeling. on the p, w. h X. Ry. The
Barclay Well No. l now runs large
glass works, and supplies the town with
gas for lighting and heating purposes.
The town is one of the Oldest on the
Ohio river, and was an inactive and life
less place until the gas strike there
year or so ago. The facilities for manu-.
featuring purposes are great. and the Io.
cation tirst-cluss, being ON the Ohio river.
The distance from Pittsburgh by rail is
about fifty miles. 1t may be said that
Wellsbnrg now stands ont with un-
doubted manufacturing advantages, and
it is the general belief that in the near
future number of new industries will
locate there to utilize the gas as fuel.
There are now three flowing wells and
two more in process Of completion, while
Others are under contract.