The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-01
NATURAL GAS.
Some Theories Regarding the Source OF
This Wonderful Fuel.

This Wonderful Fuel.
The industrial Importance of the sup.
ply of natural combustible gas in Pitts
burgh and its neighborhood can scarcely
be estimated and stated in figures. This
gas, rising from the numerous wells,
with almost explosive force, is fast dis
placing coal in the manufacture of iron,
steel and glass, and in domestic econ
omy.
The atmosphere of Pittsburgh is no
longer heavily loaded with soot and has
become pervious to sunshine. The gas
is making an industrial revolution. 1t
has cheapened the processes and pro-
ducts of existing establishments, and
new undertakings are multiplying by
reason of the great advantages offered
by the new fuel. Works long estab-
lished at other places are being trans
ferred to this more favored region, while
at the same time, bold projects for car
rying the gas in large pipes to distant
points are freely discussed, and the gas
producing area is being constantly ex-
tended by exploration. Yet the use of
gas in the manufacture OF iron and
ceramic products is nOtnew, for as early
as 1872 it was utilized at Leechburg in
pudding furnaces, and at the potteries
of East Liverpool before 1876. One of
the rolling mills at Pittsburgh introduced
the gas as early as 1875.
There are now several companies
organized for the purpose of drilling
wells and supplying the gas in regular
measured quantities to consumers. The
celebrated Westinghouse well was
drilled in 1884, and tapped the gas at
depth of about 1000 feet. One alone
of the companies draws its supply of gas
from forty-two wells, at a distance Of
| about twenty miles from the center Of
the city, and has over 335 miles of main
and distributing pipes, ranging in diam
eter from four up to twenty-four inches
1t is estimated that the amount of coal
daily displaced by the gas supplied by
this company is not less than 10000
tons. One pound of gas, or about
twenty-four cubic feet, is considered to
be equal in heating effect to two and a
quarter pounds of coal. The most
economical mixture appears to be one
volume of gas to eight volumes of air,
The explosive mixture is one volume of
gas with ten of air. So far, there have
been very few accidents from explo-
sion, and the gas is very easily man.
aged and controlled. Its value and
convenience in the house is simply in
describable, doing away with all kind
ling, dirt and ashes, besides giving a
constant, clean fire, under perfect con-
troll.
The gas issues from the bore holes
with great and varying pressure, rising
sometimes as high as $50 pounds to the
square inch. 1t escapes from the blow.
off pipes with a loud roar that may often
be heard for miles away. When lighted
it burns with a yellow flame, showing
the presence of salt, in small quantities
brought up with the gas. The many
escape pipes about the city light up the
heavens at night with a lurid glare
like that of burning barns.
There are already many theories o.
the source of this wonderful gas, anC
the widest theorists are the so-calleC
= practical men. Science finds many
difficulties and facts hard to reconcil,
5 with any theory The gas comes from
= sandstone formations, below the oil
bearing rocks, and, by many, is sup
l posed to follow the lines of the upwarC
folds or anticlinical textures of tn
strata; but it has been found also in tn
; synclinical depressions. Some believ
' that, owing to the enormous pressure
: where the gas is found, it is in liqui,
9 form, and that it fills cavities and grea
Q connecting caverns capable of furnish
= ing an ineXhaustible supply.
q There is room for a great diversity q
D opinion in regard to the permanence q
the supply of gas. Prof. Lesley, tn
s geOlogist of Pennsylvania, declare
r boldly and strongly that both oil an
= gas are temporary, evanescent pre-
: duets, sure to be exhausted and to di,
t appear. He regards the gas as III
o doubtedly evolved from the petroleum
n while others maintain that it is indC
a pendent in origin. In this connectio
: we must not forget that some of tn
d great cometary masses are forme
r chiefly of hydrocarbon vapors. But
It the supply of this most useful gas is
V give out in the course of a generatio
o or two, consolation is found N the b.
o lief that the advantages of gaseous flu
.e will be so fully made known and a
q preciated that we shall never return
o. the crude and wasteful WAYS of burnir
d coal, butrealize the assertion of Steiner
L that gas made of coal is to be the fuel
e the future.-M Y Independent.
@ "A well-known resident of Lambel
vile, n. j., afiirms that he has drank