The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-01-22
THREATENED ABDICATION.
The Dethronement Of King Goal a
Possibility.

The Dethronement Of King Coal a
Possibility.
A visitor to the Smoky City, entering
che city after nightfall, frequently sees
aRenormous fame, or series of flames,
lighting up the dingy rolling mills and
their surroundings. If there be snow
upon the hillsides that shut in the city,
the glare of light upon their white
slopes form a striking picture. The
sides of the precipitous landmark
known as Coal Hill, frowning down
upon the head of the Ohio, frequently
glow and glisten beautifully all through
the night. When partially obscured by
fog or smoke, the flames CLEAN like red
pillars, waving and surging fantastic
ally. Their roaring may often be
heard more than a mile away, rising
and falling like the sound of heavy
surf, or the thunder of a waterfall
They give one an impression of pro-
digious power. 1t is needless to say that
they are the product of natural gas,
the wonderful fuel and wealth-pro-
Queer that has wrought such magical
changes in Western Pennsylvania
Such flames as those described burn
only at night, when the manufactures
have no use for the gas. They are
simply escapes provided to relieve
che pressure in the mains Natural
gas must have vent. Passing under
enormous pressure from the wells into
bhe pipes, its flow must not be checked.
If allowed to accumulate in the mains
a ic nrfo 10 Nry
srvoirs have yet been provided to re-
ceive the surplus, which is allowed to
escape into the atmosphere. Hence
the beacons seen about Pittsburgh ev-
cry night.
The general use of natural gas is a
comparative novelty; but it has long
been known in connection with petro-
leum. At FredOnia, N. Y, it has been
used as fuel for nearly half a century.
Drillers of wells in the oil regions of
Pennsylvania have long burned il un-
der boilers, and used it to a limited ex-
tent in their dwellings. In 1860 small
supply of gas was struck at East
Liverpool, O., in a well for petro-
leum. The product was first used for
domestic heating; later, it served as a
fuel for the manufacture of earthen-
ware. In other places it was also made
use of, but to so limited an extent that
public attention was not drawn to it.
Not until about 1875 did it find its way
into Pittsburgh, and it's use was then
confined to one or two iron mills.
1t may appear singular, now that its
popularity is so great, that its merits
were not sooner recognized. One fa-
miliar with the facts can readily under
stand it. 1t came to the surface in
and no necessity for it was felt. It's
supply was deemed irregular and in
sufficient, and danger was apprehended
from its use. Further, merciless COM
petition with other iron centers had not
then forced Pittsburgh's business men
tc utilize every advantage, natural or
otherwise, to retain their trade. These
are some of the reasons why natural
gas did not spring into general use
until within the past two or three
years.
The history of its introduction into
che Pittsburgh rolling mills and dwell
ings is of great interest. Its rapid
leap to popularity yerqes on the mag
ica1. People at q distance do not real
ize what aTcvolution it has effected. We
have not yet clean city, but our
smoke cloud is not so dense as for
merly, and we see the sun oftener
Less than three years ago not a private
house in Pittsburgh used gas as fuel;
to-day five thousand homes are heated
by it, and it is no longer a novelty.
There is scarcely an iron, steel, or
glass mandatory that does not use
it. The laying of the mains has pro-
duced some remarkable scenes in our
streets. For months pedestrianism
was a difficult, not to say, dangerous
matter. Deep trenches ran through
the principal thoroughfares, and the
LIQUID mud upon the crossings was
scarcely fordable Famous for its
dirt, Pittsburgh never before saw such
filthy streets as during this dismal
Reign of Mud.
The supply of gas comes mainly from
Murraysville, Tarentum, and Washing
ton County, the average distance being
probably twenty miles. No productive
wells are found within the city limits,
although many wells have been drilled.
A vein of salt water found under the
city has cut off all hopes of gas in al
most every instance. The depths of
wells range from one thousand to three
thousand feet, the average depth being
probably fifteen hundred feet. The
gas isfound in a stratum of coarse sand
stone, much resembling petroleum
bearing rock. At the well it has per-
ceptible ordor, which vanishes after it
is confined a short time in the mains.
Houseketpers will wish to know
about the cost. Different companies
supply it to consumers, and their
charges vary. In Allegheny City "a
village Of ninety thousand people OPP
posite Pittsburgh, which people one
hundred miles away never heard of
the charge is ten cents per thousand
feet; in Pittsburgh the custom is to
charge In accordance with the size of q
dwelling, no limit being placed to the
amount of gas consumed. The price
charged is generally based upon the
value Of anthracite coal, which basis
has created no little dissatisfaction.
The charge for heating a dwelling in
Pittsburgh varies from thirty-hve TO
two hundred dollars, and the average
is probably about seventy dollars per
annum. When it is considered that
there is no smoke, SCOT, dust, or ashes,
that the heat is more uniform than that
produced by coal, that is is equally eff
ficient in furnace, range, or CRATE, re-
quiring very little attention, its econ
omicaI value becomes apparent.
''If it We're only because of the
trouble it saves my wife, would cheer
fully pay more for it than for coal,
said a gentleman using il; and this ap-
pears to be the.popular verdict.
Heretofore We have used it only for