The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-02-02

sne charge Is zen Genus Per tnOus6nO
feet; in Pittsburgh the custom 10 ia
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 dwelling in
Pittsburgh varies from thirty-five 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
omical value becomes apparent.
IF il were only because of the
trouble il saves my wife, ! would cheer
fully pay more for it than for coal, I"
said a gentleman using it; and this ap-
pears to be the popular verdict.
Heretofore we have used it only for
heating purposes, its light-producing
qualities being very deficient, owing to
lack of hydrocarbons in its compost
ton. A company has recently been
formed, however, for the purpose of
utilizing it for light by process yet
remaining secret.
The pertinent queries concerning
this new fuel are: Can a regular sup
ply be- depended upon? How long will
il last? In reply to the first query, the
supply has thus far been regular. De-
fective pipe has caused il to run short
at times, but the wells have not failed.
More gas has issued from them than
could be taken care Of MANY millions
of cubic feet have been wasted. because
no measures were taken to husband IT,
1t is 10 be hoped that means NAV be
found 10 prevent tie loss of SO much
valuable fuel.
The second query is more difficult TO
answer. A natural gas well is an un-
certainty. 1t may last six months. as
many years, or cease to produce in a
few weeks. The supply at Fredonia,
n. Y, is still reliable, after being
drawn upon for nearly half century;
the well drilled at East Liverpool. o.,
in 1860. was cleaned out recently, and
responded with liberal flow; the orig
inal well at Murraysville, Pa, (eight
years old) is still pouring out hundreds
Of thousands of cubic feet of gas per
day. Many instances of this kind
might be cited. On the other hand,
many wells have ceased to flow after
short interval, or were non-productive
from the frst. The limits of the gas
field vet remain practically underlined.
New discoveries are constantly extend
inc il. As has been the case with
petroleum, one district being exhausted
new fields will probably be developed.
1; Is very reasonable to suppose, from
facts already CLEANED. thar natural gas
viii be extensively used in Pittsburgh
and vicinity for Years to come.
Our knowledge of this new fuel is
yet very limited. We knew that, being
free from sulphur, it makes excellent
iron and steel; we have good reason TO
believe that it is closely related TO
petroleum; We have identified il with
marsh gas and the deadly fire-damp Of
the mines; but just what produces il
and exactly where il comes from are
matters of doubt. 5 prominent gcol-
ogist saws that it is the result of decom-
position Of animal and vegetable life,
and that il Is not believed 10 be in
digenous to the sand-rock from which
il is obtained. but comes from a lower
level. rising through cracks or faults
in the intervening strata. As yet one
must be content with theories as TO its
origin, and as to the permanency of the
supply. Facts will be developed later.
H. D. Mason, in Chicago Current.