The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-10
THE GAS PROBLEM
AS N ArFEcrs wnrELlNa
discussed at Small but Respectable Sized
Meeting of citizens Yestorday-rhe vari.
Gus Wells That May be Taken up-An
Expression of vlows-oommIttsO

The meeting OF manufacturers, business
men and citizens generally, called in yes.
terday mornings papers for yesterday af-
ternoon, at the City Building, was not so
we'll attended as 1t should have been,
when there is taken into consideration
the importance OF the subject the meeting
was called to discuss-that OF procuring a
natural gas supply for Wheeling in order
to allow her to successfully compete with
Pittsburgh and other places where this
strange and cheap fuel is being used to an
advantage in more ways than Que. At 2
o'clock, the hour for which the meeting
was called there were not half dozen
gentlemen present. By3 o'clock probably
twenty persons were gathered in the Sec
ond Branch chamber, but among that
number there were not more than five or
ak men prominently identified with the
| industrial establishments OF the city.
On motion OF Mr.. n. b. Scott, MIR. james
B. fancy, business manager Of the Regis
Ter, was made chairman and the represen.
tatiyes OF the two daily papers present
were made secretaries. Then there was a
pause. Mr.. Scott finally asked that Mr..
8. w. Brockunier inform the meeting
what the meeting was called for and what
action, II any, it was expected would be
taken. Mr.. BroCkunier said that it was
well known that considerable money had
been expended hereabouts In an endeavol
to find a flow OF natural gas, but thus fol
with no great success and that there were
now in existence several wells bored to 9
depth OF 1000 feet and UNDER He refer
red to the advantage possessed by Pitts
burrh, in having good supply Of the ma
tural gas and that Wheeling TO hold hel
own against that city must either find II
here or pipe from Il distance OF fifteen OF
sixteen miles. The idea as talked oyel
among several, was that to secure gas If
this vicinity well must be put down 3,OOl
or $500 ieet. The Benwood mill had pu
one down 9, 400 feet, but had found no gas
The La Belle was down about 1000 feet
with but few encouraging signs.
TIE cESTRAL's GAS WELLS.
Mr.. Scott said that he was greatly sur
prised TO note the small representation O
manufacturers present. For long time
he had been impressed with the necessity
OF securing gas. He had noticed the arti
Giles that had appeared in the press the
past few DAYS and had made few in
auiries OF the borers at the Central glass
house we'll. 1t was down 1920 feet. The
borevs would be willing to 90 down l,00I
further for 81 per foot, and after that al
additional 500 feet for s. so per foot. Mr.
Scott said that the company was nov
having this well cleaned out for the pur
pose OF securing better flow for the sinai
vein that had been struck and was now
being used in certain portions OF the fac
tory, but that 1t would be willing to sur
render it as it now stands, with the under
standing that in case it should be taker
hold OF by pool for the purpose OF goinL
Hover to ascertain whether gas in large
quantity could be found, that in case such
supply was struck, the glass company
should have the same on paying back tC
the members OF the pool their Contribu
tons with interest, and he further sale
that in addition 10 the expense already
gone to by the company in putting down
It's two wells, it would contribute to The
development OF any well in the vicinity
Mr.. Scott gave some very interesting in
formation concerning the developments a
the two wells sunk at the Central. In the
first, at 500 feet very good flow waE
found that was the one that caused SC
much excitement here. 1t was finally
cased Off and the well sunk lower. Al
!, OPS feet the salt water was struck. Thai
was cased or and the boring continued
down to It's present depth. The seconC
well, about As feet distant, was sunk fol
the purpose OF striking the 800 feet flow
but nothing was found until the salt water
, flow was encountered and then that vel
was abandoned. He gave some figures
showing the comparison between gas and
coal for fuel purposes that were interest
ing,