Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-21
THE SOURCES OF NATURAL GAS.
The Supply in the Earth Practically
Inexhaustible,
From BradstresF.

The Supply in the Earth Practically
Inexhsustible,
From Brddstreefs.
This is a vital question with the entire
western coal and iron districts, and es-
pecially with the country now adapting
all it's industries, as well as all its domes-
tic requirements, to the use Of gas as
fuel. The western slope Of the Allegha-
MES is the great natural gas field but IN
addition TO the coal formations proper a
vast area Of shale and Of limestone and
salt yielding formation is found to yleld
abundantly the natural gas, as the pro-
duct apparently Of chemical acuOh con-
stantly going on. Nearly all the land
surface OF central and western New YORK
is at least interruptedly, II not con-
neetedlv. charged with valuable deposits
of gas generating strata. 1t appears Inat
the late geological formations are all
permeated by hydrO-carbon COMPOUNDS
In some form. and that the presence
OF the gaseous forms is the result OF con-
tinuous chemical action or OF the decom-
position OF other mineral forms, and
therefore is now as tree In its weld OF gas
as at any time since the existence OF gas
springs or wells was known.
Now that four-6fths Of the iron and steel
works of Pittsburg have prepared for the
exclusive use of gas as their reliance Tor
fuel, il is a business necessity TO reduce
this scientific question to the most
practical form. All the cities and large
towns of the coal and oil regions west Of
the Alleghanies, or north of them, as
may be more appropriately said 10 re-
ference to western New York, are prepar-
ing for gas as fuel, as we'll as for purposes
of illumination. The plant of piping al
ready laid down is not unlike that Of
eho al nj. 1fr,ou frr a pa n a q
and it is probable that the Pittsburg re-
gion may send gas pipe line quite TO he
seaboard. Such a line Is already pro-
iected, but it would be a serious business
disappointment If the prolific gas wells OF
Butler county should in ayear or two run
dry.
Geological searches have been ordered
into the probabilities OF gas supply
throughout the western counties Of Penn
sylvania, and some partial report has
been made indicating a belief IN the
permanence OF some degree or underlined
measure Of supply, but not on the point
of continued and unfaihng fullness.
This is, however, the central question
in the case: Can these wells be piped
and tubed as far as the gas may be made
70 flow without the risk OF early exhaus-
lion.
In answer TO this question, it may
safely be assumed that the petroleum for
nations will yield gas even longer that
they will oil. The strata permeated by
the oil, will yield more gas, rather than
less, by the drain which permits some air
10 enter the cavities, or rather permits
the evolution Of hydrogen from the water
present with the oil. Any movement OF
these retained fluids brings new surfaces
in contact to work the OXygenatiOn and
INCORPORATION OF the carbon OF the oil
bearing strata. And as all the shales
are carboniferous, If not Oil-bearing,
these shales yield gas when they do not
yield oil. Such is the case in many parts
of western New York and Canada, as
we'll as in Ohio, although there are few
Of the deep shales west Of the New York
line.
The best scientific view OF the case,
avoiding scientific technicalities, Is that
this gas Is continuously formed by the
common presence Of the hydro-carbon
oils and water, and this without limit OF
quantity or prospective exhaustion. The
whole tody of these carboniferous strata
abOunds in free oils and in hydrocarbons,
which constantly change their forms by
further hydrOgenation or OXygenatiOn
or both. The dense liquid forms becomes
thinner, and If exposed TO the air il
changes rapidly to the volatile or gaseous
hydrO-carbon. II this change goes on in
the presence OF water the resulting gas
is carbonio oxide, which is the best
form for illumination. And the change
10 this form is increasingly favored by
the boring and extracting OF petroleum.
1t is in part generated when the
pressure on the subterranean oil is re-
lieVed when great new ''gusher" is
struck in boring.
The general conclusion is in faver Of
permanence in the productive capacity
OF the gas even more than the oil. 1t is
probable that atmospheric air would
be deprived of its nitrogen, and would
acquire hydrogen and carbon by contact
with these formations beneath the
surface could this contact be brought
about. The force with which the out
flowing gas Is thrown indicates con-
slant accretlons OF like matter. There
would be more gas If there was room for
more.
A change Of stupendous magnitude has
already taken place in the year elapsing
since the notice of the hydro-carbon
fuels was written in BrddStreers Of July
8, 1884. What was then speculatiyely
stated as being possible has become more
than practical really. The timid, who
thought it might possibly be utilized,
have become the most confident investors
IN the costly plant OF piping for trans.
pOrtatiOn Of the gas 10 great distances.
And, as before stated, four-fifths Of the
iron and steel works of Pittsburg and
Allegheny are now actually making their
productb by the use OF gas fuel alone. II this
should prove a merely temporary re-
lance, and if the gas wells should soon
exhaust the supply, the consequences
would be singularly disastrous. They
will not become exhausted. however, be-
cause the laboratory Of nature is even
more actively in progress TO create this
form OF matter as the earth's surface is
pierced to liberate it from the submergea
strata. II will continue to be generated,
10 the expressive language employed 10
describe the perpetual peace insured by
the early treaties with the Indians, "as
long as fire burns or water runs"