Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-12-23
From the Ps-toria Review
THE CHEAPEST FUEL YET DIS
COVERED.
CoiumhIana County's Great his.
u. covery. -. % ~

Many of our readers have recently
noticed an article in the press of the
country giving particulars of u process
in operation at COlumbiana, o., fOI
manufacturing gas from petroleum
In order to learn something as to the
reliability Of the reports sent ont, the
editor of this paper wrote to a pewspa.
Der friend Mr.. John Flaughpr, of the
rnlnrhiana RegisiCT) and is in receipt
of the following:
COLUMBIANA, o., Nov. %, 1886.
To ]. p. DeWOIf Esq:
DEAR SIR:-Yours of the 26th inst.
ut hand. In reply would saw that Mr.
J. ]. Johnston of this place has perfect
I'd an apparatus for manufacturing gas
from petroleum oil can not vouch
for the accuracy of some of the state
ments you may have seen in print in
reference to Mr.. JohnstOn's discovery,
hut give you such facts as L am ac-
quaintPd with, together with the claims
Of the patentee. Gas by Mr.. Jhhnston's
process is formed by passing air through
crude petroleum contained in some
half dozen cast iron cylinders. This il
done by an air pump operated by steam.
After passing through the cylinders,
the air--nOw converted into gas-is
conducted into a gasometer and is
ready for use. The apparatus is simple,
and quite inexpensive as compared
with the cost of works for the manu-
facture of coal gas. In Illuminating
and heating power it has been pro.
nounced by practical men, manufac.
turers and others, who have witnessed
the tests, as superior to natural gas
The inventor claims that it Is the
cheapest fuel yet discovered and that
it can he made at a cost Of from one tC
two cents per 900 cubic feet. With
his little experimental works in this
place, (cost ng perhaps not over 81 ,00n
he claims he can manufacture 1,00(
cubic feet of gas per minute, and thai
coal gas works of an equal capacity
would cost 81 100000. His apparatus
gas, occupy but little room, and could
be set up in the rear Of any business
bloch, doing away with the necessity q
laying long and expensive mains, and
avoiding, to large extent, the loss and
danger from leakage.
Mr.. Emerson, saw manufacturer al
Beaver Falls, Pa, was here last weel
witnessing the tests of the heating ca
pacity of the gas, and was so favorablN
impressed with it that he immediately
secured the right tn use 1t, and will i'm
mediately construct the apparatus fo
making it, discarding the natural gas
he is now using. Mr.. Disston, of Phila
delphiA, leading member of perhaps
the largest saw manufacturing estab
Iishment In the United States, was als'
here last week investigating Mr.. John
ston's process. He also secured the
right to use it, and will introduce it in
to his extensive works as soon as tn,
apparatus can be constructed, which
he expects will be about Christmas o
the present year. The actions of thes,
two leading manufacturers may be re
garded us important testimony as t,
the merits Of Mr.. Johnston's discovery.
The above are some facts in regard II
Mr.. iiJOhnston's creased air." as tn
Pittsburg papers factiously call it, ant
give them to you as an observer VIII
has no interest in the matter financi
ally. Yours truly.
r. JOHN FLAUGHER.