The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-01-15
A Revolution in Fuel.

Pittsburgh and the small towns
near there, ard especially its i'm
mense value in manufactures,
should cause-a thorough investiga-
tion of the gas fields already discov-
cred in different parts of the south !
1t is possible that natural gas can
be found in the south as abundant
as in Pennsylvania, and its value
may be judged from the following
extracts from Pittsburgh letter IN
the Philadelphia Press:
Pittsburgh is passing through a
transformation wonderful almost as
The tales cor the Arabian Nights.
For months past gradually, and
now almost swiftly, is so changing
from a city of smoke and CRIME To
enc OF the fairest and cleanest cities
in the land. Day by day it less and
less deserves its world-renowned Ii
tie: The smoky city"
The agency in bringing aboat
this remarkable change in natural
gas and it has completely revolu-
tionized some of its manufacturing
methods. The general use of natu
raj gas for fuel, instead of coal, will
be of great advantage to Pitts
burgh. The city will be vastly
cleaner; no more coal; no more
coal dust to blacken its streets; no
more smoke and SCOT TO bcgrime the
buildings and darken the sky; no
sulphurous fumes to blight the
trees, kill the grass and prevent
flowers from blooming. Instead, it's
manufacturers will burn. an odor-
less, colorless and inofensive gas,
that viii produce no smoke or SCOT,
but in place thereof, two and-three-
quarter ounces of pure water for
every pound of gas consumed.
A wonderful phenomenon is ex
hibited in the burning of natural
gas. 1t is fiery fountain from
which water fows-pure, Iimpid
water, fresher than that which
rnshes down the mountain SLOPE or
gurgles from the spring. 1t is the
liquid ashes resultant from the
com bustion of hydrogen. When
Pittsburgh and the vicinity is fully
supplied with gas, it wilfthen pro
dqce from twelve to fifteen tons of
water per day. Thus water will go
from furnace stacks as steam into
the air, moisten the atmosphere,
and fall as gentle dew to treshen
and fructify every living thing.
Within a single year great strides
have been taken here il the natu-
raj gas industry. In the city alone
not less than 100000 are inves-
tel in practically applying the gas.
Add to that its introduction as flu
ell in surrounding towns and the
villages of adjoining counties, and
it will make an additional $4,000
600, or a grand total of $40, 100000
invested in an industry in Western
Pennsylvania that was practically
unknown few years ago. This
sum embraces the cost of boring
wells, labor and machinery requi-
site for the work, purchase of the
land on which wells are located,
purchase of right of way for pipe
lines, increase in machinery of pipe
mills for the manufacture of thou
sands of tons of pipes, the cost of
these iron pipes, freight bills on
the delivery of pipes, the wages OF
thousands Of laborers in laying
pipe lines, plumbing and pipe-fit
ting in mills, factories and dwell
ings, changes necessary for the
adaptation of furnaces and stoves
for the use of natural gas, and the
manufacture of gas fittings, gauges
and meters. A year ago the sub
ject was insignificant. TO day it
ranks in Importance with the iron,
steel, glass and coal interests of
Western Pennsylvania. Each aad
every one of them has become de-
pendent on the resource of the new
fuel
That the gas for heating purpos
es will eventually drive all other
combustibles cut of the field in Pitts
burgh is inevitable. Already the
consumption of gas, instead ofcoal,
is enormous. 1t is estimated that
from 100000 to 100000 cubic
feet of gas is burned each day il
Pittsburgh as fuel. Already ten
iron and steel mills in the city and
six in other parts of Western Penn
fsylvanlasare using it-in their pud-
ding furnaces and under their boil
ers. Within three months a dozen
more mills have it in operation, and
every other manufacturing firm is
eagerly awaiting the completion of
the various pipe lines. Six glass
factories in the city and seven in
near towns are using it, Every
brewery in the city uses it, instead
Of coal. There has not yet been
enaugh gas to spare for domestic
purposes, and only few dwellings,
comparatively speaking, have been
able to get it for their stoves and
gratos. Two of the largest hotels
use it entirely in their kitchens.
Safety inventions have been made
and much of its dangerous possibil-
tiles averted. AS q result house
holders are anxiously awaiting more
gas.
Within an area of fifty miles
about Pittsburgh at least a dozen
small towns have discarded coal en-
tirely, and every dwelling house
has gas in its cook stove, parlor
CRATE and. bedroom freplace..
Among these places are Butler, (
Freeport, Clarion, Tarentum, Kit |
tanning, Oil City, Wellsburg, Apol-
10 and Aurrayville. There are no
ashes to.remove, no sooty freplaces
to kindle in the morning. A thumb
valve regulates the fame, brick bats
in the CRATE distribute 1t and re-
tain the heat, and it may be kept |
burning low all night to have the |
house warm in the morning.
Already three iron mills have gas
wells at their doors and other firms
are boring private wells. A single |
well produces anywhere from 40
600 to 100000 cubic feet of gas per /