Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-11-28
NATURAL GAS.
THREE TERRITORIES WHICH SUPPLY
THE CITY or PiTTSBUR :.
Tho Wonderful Westinghouse Gusher-
A1urraysviils's Reservoir Of Free Fuel
-Tarentum and Its Three Neigh
boring villages works.
New York Tines.l


teen miles to the east and Tarentum,
twenty miles to the northeast Homework
has a history which reads like the romance
of q mining camp or an oil town. No finan-
cial ventur~ promised greater profits than
the city's gas field, and yet few have been
such complete disappointments
When gas was struck on the beautiful
grounds Of George Westinghouse on May
u, 1854 it was confidently asserted by ex-
ports in drilling that the whole East Liberty
valley OF the city was undertake with
great and practically inexhaustible supply
Of natural gas The Westinghouse gusher
predicted all this and even more The force
of the gas flowing from it was so strong as
to battle any attempt at measurement. The
sound of its roaring could be heard dis
tinctly four miles away. Its flame, tower
ing for 100 feet in the air, illuminated the
surrounding country for many miles and
turned night into day. The we'll that was
drilled to supply the wants of Mr.. Westing-
hou se's private residence was large enough
to furnish fuel for a half dozen of the
largest rolling-mills.
THE CAB FEVER.
People came many miles to sec the won
derful phenomenon. A syndicate offered
500, 600 for it in cash and were refused
Property owners of the East End took the
gas fever, and talked of putting down gas
wells among their flower beds. Within
week after the great Westinghouse gusher
was struck prepare tons were being made to
put down half dozen wells in the neigh
borhood. By August Westinghouse well
No. had touched the gas, and only to bring
sore disappointmsnt Ths volume of gas
sent out by itdid not bear comparison with
the great gusher near IL
Meanwhile the latter had continued light
ing the heavens with its fame and burning
q hole in the darkness, but there began to
be a noticeable diminution of its volume.
Its owner thought the gas vein had
been impaired in some way, and had it
torpedoei. with only temporary i'm
provement. BY this time the beautiful res
ident places Of the east end were dotted
with derricks, and many dancing drills hur-
ried on to the unexplored regions of the
earth in their search for the much desired
gas. Seventeen wells in all were put down,
and the result was failure; s4 900 would
hardly cover the cost Of drilling each well.
The piping expenses, too. were considerable,
and were almost o complete loss
/, To-day but five wells produce gas that is
worth collecting The total amount pro-
duced by them is Insignificant. In one day
they do not yield as much gas as the great
Westinghouse gusher did during its first
month in ono half hour 1t Is now a little
more than a year since the Homswood ter
ritory was first discovered, yet during that
time it has virtually beenexhaustsd, with a
total loss to spectators of $4,000.
MURRAYsvILIE GAS BELT.
Tho oraat snrn,v tarritorv Of pittsburg ia
E,rrovsviI,a ona;rt s,aa,,v barlat o.,
The old M t;onai ,;s1s With liz rasery,,;r If
sns, fraa &c yrat.r the tail old fashionaI
VILLAGE il no hmr,hia md ,,nrratantio,s ne n
craya Jnnrmarahya darricxs loom nm
about the place. The drilier, shifted red
and the pipe layer, clothed in blue wooden.
hustle about the village. The native ha~
not yet accommodated himself to the sud
den change in his fortune The discovery
of natural gas has, however, taught him :,
know good thing when he sees it. Among
other things, he knows that gas territory
is scarce and trifile hard to get.
He also knows that when gas well is
struck on his farm his fortune is made.
About nine years ago the Haymaker
OF northwestern pennsylvania, walked into
Murraysville. put up derrick, and began
drilling for OIL Six weeks later the great
Murraysvilie gas belt was punctured, tae
drilling tools were blown nc, and the new
fuel shot into tower OF lame that was
landmark Tor miles around FOR three
years ene wen roar g ana pew us valuable
1ue. ,nso Tue az -. non ppo was iaiu y
sSous, aaa sne 90 an Ae e ~ 49,; a's'
1Use.t ~. "a, - Mnv.';,,a 1913. nS e s,ne
hnen ~. .Sa 20 Nj .sr ~ saa a.ss.r
NY ". sro 7, t,p., =, IN ss s.y
Slu,e 10 a~s tha tatal IT, 49,
- 49,. : :. -.
~ a. ,,orIat ~ e., a., o.,,a sa,v co,,,aaads
q, nno . -, co. me-. "' Wv
~A'o' aA a
iAishNiuM uAa flhLDs'
Tarentum. northeast OF eittsburg, Is the
second IN Importance OF the city's gas
fields IL Is q thriving little town piantei
in magnificent valley, bounded by pict-
uresque hills, which extend Tor miles In
either direction, following the course or the