Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-09-24
each other out of the marker, and make
priucely fortunes.


| priucely fortunes.
KILLING THE LOCAL COAL TRADE
From these sources then comes the
cheap fuel that is killing the local coal
trade of Pittsburg and vicinity and
causing her coal kings to seek foreign
markets for the dusky diamonds which
are mined under the surrounding hills
by the hundreds of millions of bushels
| per year. The greater part of these
vast fields of coal has been supplying
J other markets, but that supply will
now be increased by the hundred thou
sand tons until there is not CRATE nor
fiery furnace in the neighborhood OF
4 Pittsburg's mountains of coal in which
one of the black diamonds will be per-
mitted to shine forth with its mellow
and cheerful warming glow of light.
This destruction of the Pittsb burg coal
trade is indicated now by unmistaka-
bic signs. Indeed. tho beginning OF
the end has already commenced to be
felt very sensibly. 1t will take little
time to accomplish it, perhaps a few
years, but, unless the promised supply
of natural gas suddenly. unexpectedly.
and very ANONYMOUSLY fails, it will
| certainly come to pass, and the next
decade may witness the utter decay OF
the coal trade in the home market OF
Pittsburg.
USES OF NATURAL GAS
Natural gas has been introduced and
is now IN use in almost every large
manufacturing establishment in OF
about the city, where it can be had,
and many of the smaller factories have
found the cheapness and advantage OF
it. But the use of the gas is not con-
fined to these places alone. Hundreds
of private families have given up the
coal and now toast their toes or cook
their victuals over the gas fire. As a
rule the gas meets with very warm
reception in private houses, and has
generally proved satisfactory. The
number of families that use it is daily
increasing, and in order to supply them
as well as the factories lines of pipe TO
carry the gas are being laid ali over
the twin cities. Only the other day
one of the large natural gas companies
sent an order to Cincinnati for 5000
tons of this kind of pipe.
This gives some idea of the present
supply and demand, US well as the fu-
ture prospects of the fuel that can al
most underscll coal in the mines, as far
as home trade is concerned
OBJECTIONABLE FEATURES.
But while its prospects are bright,
there are certain Objectionable features
always to be found in any new thing
OF general public use and Value which
must be obvlated before it IS entirely
satisfactory. Its penetrating qualities
are SO great under high pressure that
it will force its way through iron or
stone. 1t is also generally odorless,
though in some wells strong smell of
petroleum may be detected; and very
explosive; SO it may readily be seen
that fluid SO insidious must be thor
ou%hly understood and perfectly under
control to be perfectly harmless, or as
near so rs it is possible to make it,
lac difficulty of detecting it BIZ the
sense of smell, when it may be cscap-
M III large quantities, and its cxplo-
Sve qualities. have been strongly urged
yainst 1t, and yet, in spite of this, it
aas gained 4 strong foothold. SO far
no acc dents disastrous 10 human life
awe occurred from its use, but there
nave Dren many explosions, which re-
suited with more or less damage to
property, and on one occasion caused
the CITY. to institute proceedings against
one OF the companies to compel it to
cease laying pipe or TO give bond for
the safety OF their pipe system which
would be sufficient 10 maze good any
o,s that IN ght result To lite or prop
cry.
Another objection made by lie mill
own rs is 4 certain irrcgulAr.ly in the
supply, wh.cl is apt TO be suddenly di-
minis cd OF slGt off altogether. owing
% he bursting of /, pipe or other ac-
ci4cnts in tine Use OF imperfect pipe
Hnc serve. acre bciuI no reSer-
vnlrs tor tne Gas Ur.wcen its natural
,t0rcruomN ~ l. cc IA and the points
u conounpIpn, tho "a -cparated by a
distance OF many miles, this imperfec-
ton of service is often the occasion of
very inconv' nicnl delay; but. notwith-
standing. those who have commenced
the use cf it do not seem inclined to
Danish it on that account. but rather
to bear with necessary Inconvenience
until they can be remcdied by the skill
full application OF the proper mechan-
ical devices. Auxiliary pipelines and
the erection of tanks outside the city
in which to store the gas have both
been suggested rs a remedy.
A WEIRD AND BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.
As yet there has not been much
thought of saving the gas. because the
supply seems inexhaustible, but it is
argued that what is worth using is also
worth saving. and the chances are that
something will be done towards ac-
| complishing that end. For the pres
ent, when not in use, the gas is turned
up into the open air in immense escape
| pipes, where it burns with a great
| roaring noise.
No more weird or beautiful sight
could be witnessed BY one unaccustom-
ed to it than vision OF these natural
gas escapes, dotting the nils and val
leys of Pittsburg and surroundings, es.
| pecially in approaching the city from
the lower river ut night, when the
great volumes of burning gas, in strik.
ing contrast with the myriads of twink.
ling street lamps and long, regular
rows of electric lights. seem to LEAP
forth into the sky like the bclching
biazcs OF SO many volcanoes. Such are
the source, use, and prospect, in and
aboIt the soon to be no longer Smoky
City.