Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-11-06
A CITY'S TRANSPORTATION.
THE CHANGES NATURAL GAS Is
MAKING IN PITTsBURG.
The New Source Of Light ana Heat
Used Everywh ere How Natural
Gas was First Utilized.


letter from the "smoky city" to the
New York Times. Every steel and iron
mill, glass factory, and manufactures
generally of any consequence, beside
many private dwellings, now depend
upon gas for fuel. Every day natural
gas keeps in motion acres of machinery,
heats thousands of tons of metal, and
molds into shapes for articles of COM
merce millions of pieces of glass. The
Philadelphia Company, which is the
largest concern, alone supplies with fuel
sixty-six glass factories thirty-four roll
ing mills, five steel works, forty-fve
large manufacturing establishments,
forty -Four other works, and 900 dwell
ing houses.
The advantages of natural gas over coal
are numerous. Gas is far cheaper fuel
than coal. The annual saving in this re-
spect is roughly estimated at $500, 900.
Still, the inexpcnsivennss of natural gas
as fuel is not the most important econ
omic item in its favor. The large num-
bers of men who two years ago were
required to attend to fires have lost their
occupation with the introduction of nat
vi al gas. L DG COdl hCdNGlSy lllCulCu, anu
ash haulers have been compelled to seek
other employment. The change is start
ling. Where formerly thirty, forty, 100
firemen were at work in one boiler house
hauling several hundred tons of coal, the
spectator now looks upon long row of
boilers attended by one man, with not
lump of coal in sight In many of the
great works a pound Of coal has not
been in use for year.
An ironmaster who has used gas for
the past year estimated his saving in all
quarters by its use during that time at
$25, 900. A glass manufacturer with a
similar estimation placed amount saved
at 5000 A brickyard owner said he
had saved $4,000. In private dwellings
the average saving of each for year by
its use is reckoned at $50.
Natural gas has been the salvation of
the industries of Pittsburg. When bust
ness depression was slowly smothering
the fires in the many mills and factories
nature came to the relief of the city with
this new source of wealth. The declin-
ing industries were endowed with new
life. Mills that have been idle for five
years have started up with their old time
vigor. Glass houses that have been idle
almost as long are at work again. New
works of different kinds are being built.
Capital from other cities has settled per-
manently at Pittsburg. Two Western
iron firms, and twice that number of
glass and tanning companies, have
adopted the city of natural gas for their
home within the past year. No part of
America holds out more golden promises
Pittsburg. The city promises with her
new fuel to distance all competitors in
the iron steel, and glass industries else
where. The sable cloud of smoke which
for generations has overhung Pittsburg
now displays its silver lining.
The Manchester of the new world is in
4 state of transformation. The grimy
buildings are fast Welding up their murky
refuse and present clean surfaces. From
a place of subdued colors Pittsburg,
! through the fairy like agency of natural
! gas, is destined to become one of the
gayest, brightest, and most picturesque
cities in the world The heavy mantle
of smoke is rapidly Disappearing leav
ing the beautiful outlines of the hills
of the three valleys clearly defined
against the blue sky. Iron mills with.
out smoke or SCOT gleam with whitewast
inside and out while the workmen EN-,
ployed within their walls once more
wear the compilations of white men, The
inhabitants of the city are already throw
ing aside garments of darker hues and
appearing in light costumes and white
hats and bonnets. The numerous houses
are without a coating of SCOT or ashes tC
try the patience of the careful house
wife.
In families where natural gas is used
there is no quarreling as to who shall be
first to arise in the chilly mornings tC
build the fires. Generally in cold weather
the gas is turned off at bedtime. In the
morning the henpecked husband or the
I submissive wife jumps out of bed, gives
valve on the hearth turn and returns
to the warm couch. Instantly the gas
is ablaze and the room is heated in t
iiffy. If the fire is allowed to 90 out al
night the process of starting it in th(
morning, or at any time, is the work of
second. A piece of blazing paper il
thrust into the stove or CRATE filled will
clumps of firebrick, the gas is turned on
and in moment a glowing and Cheerful
warmth is thrown out.
About nine years ago the Haymake
brothers, fresh from the declining oil field
of northwestern Pennsylvania, wake,
into Murraysville, put up derrick an(
began drilling for oil Six weeks late
the great Murraysville gas belt was pune
tured, the drilling tools were blown out
and the new fuel shot into a tower o
flame that was a landmark for mile
around. For three years the well roareC
and blew its valuable fuel into the air
Then pipe line was laid to Pittsburg
and the wealth of the new discovery wa
appreciated for the first time Then tn
man of Murraysville began figuring ol
the value of his property, and ever
time he has figured since then he ha
added a good round sum to the tota
value. Land that before the discover
Of gas was drug in the market at So
an acre now commands 81, 900 an acre.
AS soon as the value of natural ga
wis appreciated there was rush o
speculators TO the field. In the fierc
glare of the Havmaker we'll rival claim
ants fought bloody riot for its pos
session. One company held the wei
with thirty men armed with rifles an,
bayonets. The men of the other CON
pany to the number cf eighty, arme,
with revolvers and pick handles, charg
ed on the well. A bloody fight ensued
in which the leader of the attackin
party was bayoneted to death, hal
dozen others were dubbed and shot SC
riously, and twice that number wer
badly injured. Thus did the new fuC
receive its baptism Of blood.
Passengers who ride among the del