Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-17

The Sources Of Natural Gas.
From Bradstreet's.
This is vital question with the entire west
ern coal and iron districts, and especially with
the country now adapting all its industries, as
we'll as all its domestic requirements, to the use
of gas fuel. The western slope of the Alegha-
MES is the great natural gas held, but in addi-
1n to a ane % Vast
nation is found to yield abundantly the nat
ural gas. as the product apparently of chemical
land surface of central and western New York
is at least interruptedly, if not commercially
ting strata It that the H
formations are all permeated by hydro-carbon
compounds in some form, and that the presence
of the gaseous forms is the result of continuous
chemical action or of the decomposition of other
mineral forms, and therefore is now free in
s Sisla OF gas as at any Tune since the exist
Now that fOur-fitth of the iron and steel works
OF Pittsburg have prepared for the exclusive
use of gas as their reliance for fuel, it is BUSH
ness 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 in reference to western
New York, are preparing for gas as fuel, as well
as for purposes OF illumination. The plant of
piping already laid down is not unlike that of
the earlier pipe lines for the transit of OIL and
it is probable that the Pittsburg region may
send a gas pipe line quite to the seaboard Such
line is already projected, but it would be q Sc
rious business Disappointment ifthe prolific gas
wells of Butler county should in year or two
run dry.
Geological searches have been ordered into
the probabilities of gas supply throughout the
western counties oil PENNSYLVANIA 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 con-
tnued and uniailing fullness. This is how.
ever, the central question in the case: Can these
wells be piped and tubed as far as the gas NAV
be made to flow without the risk OF early eX-
haustiOn.
In answer to this question, it may safely be
assumed that the petroleum formations will
yield gas even longer than they will OIL The,
strata permeated by the oil will yield more gas
rather than less, by the drain which permits
some air to enter the cavities or rather perinits
the evolution of ny drogen from the water pres.
ent with the OIL Any movement of these re-
tanned fluids brings new surfaces in contact to
the carbon of the oil-bearing strata. And as ali
| 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 FORK and Canada, as well As in Ohio al
though there are few Of the deep shales west of
The best scientific view of the case, avoiding
scientific technicaii1es, is that this gas is con-
| tinuously formed by the common presence of
| the hydIO-carbOn oils and water, and this with.
out limit Of quantity prospective exhaus-
! ton. The whole body OF these carboniferous
bons, which constantly change their forms by
further INCORPORATION or oXygenation, or both
The dense liquid forms becomes thinner, and
| II exposed to the air it changes rapidly to the
volatile or gaseous hydrO-carbon. If this
| change goes on in the presence OF water the re-
suting gas is carbonic oxide, which is the best
form for illumination. And the change TO this
/ form is increasingly favored by the boring and
extracting Of petroleum. II is in part gen.
Grated when the pressure on the subterranean
OIL Is relieved when great new "gusher'' is
| struck in boring.
The general conclusion is in favor of perma-
| nence In the productive capacity OF the gas
| even more than the OIL 1t is probable that at
nospheric air would be deprived of its nitro
| gen, 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 Outtlowing gas is
| thrown indicates constant accretions OF like
matter. There would be more gas If there was
A change of stupendous magnitude has al
| ready taken place in the year elapsing since the
notice of the hydro.carbon fuels was written in
specuIatively stated as being possible has be-.
come more than practical reality. The timid,
VINO thought II might possibly be utilized. have
costly plant OF piping for transportation Of the
gas to great distances. And, as before stated,
four-fifths of the iron and steel works of Pitts
our. ana Allegheny are now actually making
their product by the use of gas fuel alone. II
this should prove merely temporary reliance,
supply, the Consequences would be singularly
disastrous. They will not become exhausted,
More eeean ix the laboratory Of nature Is
iorm OF matter as the earth's surface is pierced
70 liberafe IL from the submerged strata. 1t will
guase employed to describe the perpetual
peace insured by the early treaties with the
ihoiahs' las long as fire burns or water runs"
"A petition is about to be circulated in Lynn
Mass, asking the Legislature to transfer the
eontroi Oh Lynn's police force from the municipal
70 tue state government There is talk in othel
: | taken.
feopIe living In pine forests are said to have
I iminuhity nom climatic and contagious dis
: 1855 anu singers have found their Influence
p pe; 70 the voice. So says the. Metlico
, Inc remarkable tendency in this state d
nominate bachelors to the highest once Is due
3 no uouot, 70 the sad conviction which has com
6 over the people that married men cannot GOV
eIn. Inc family Is the school Of the state