The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-23
BENEFITS OF NATURAL GAS.
1t Will Enable the Encaustic Tile. Works to
Save More Than Half the Cost of Coal.

Natural gas has been in use at the Encaustic
tile-works two weeks now, and to Journsl re-
porter Messrs. Cooper and Landers and the
superintendent and engineer yesterday stated
that they are all delighted with it. and every
days experience adds to their satisfaction. The
engineer says it makes better and steadier
heat. is more easily regulated and not so hard
on the boilers as coal The superintendent says
the same as to the kilns. The heat is more in
tense and better distributed. Pointing to one
of the huge biscuit" kilns, he said: 'sWe could
melt that whole thing down In lump If we
wanted to, contents and ALL" The heat being
more intense steady and better diffused. the
quality of the work is decidedly improved. A
material advantage is the saving in time. The
superintendent stated that 1t took from twenty
six to thirty hours TO burn one of the ''muff1e"
or enameling kins with COAL while with natural
gas the work was better done in twenty-five
hours. The introduction of gas dispensss with
the services of seven or eight men, including
stokers, coal handlers, etc. The tile-works coal
bills $40, 900 to 81, 900 a year They
more than so per cent. of this by actual contract
with the gas company, besides saving the wages
of seven eight men and turning out much
better quality of goods. "Ali things considered"
said Mr. Cooper. I'VE feel that we will save our
coal dust is material point and a great relief to
the men. The huge biscuit kilns are now black
and grimy from the long use of coal "In
them all whitewashed.n The plumbing at the
tile works is all overhead, none of the pipes be-
ing carried under ground. By this means es-
Gaping gas. if there is any, can pass off, thus
greatly diminishing the danger of explosion.
But there is no fear that score The tile
works intend to use the gas for Illuminating
purposes. and are preparing to utilize it.
Transporting Natural Gas In Reservoirs.
Special to the India>apoIis Journal
MONTPELIER, Feb. 22.-Much has Laen writ
ten about combining natural gas in reservoirs for
shipment to places where there is no natural
gas. Until yesterday the entire question was
only theory. c. Fl. Reznor, superintendent of
the Salamonie gas plant at this place, accom-
plished the experiment. and fully demons trated
the feasibility of shipping natural gas in rsser-
voirs TO any point in the country. The arrange
ments very simple He closed Pinch
gas pipe 20 inches in length, at both ends, and
provided the ends with escape pipes and valves.
This was fitted to the well tubing of Salamonie
well No. 2. the air was forced out of the reser-
voir by the gas, then the valves were closed and
an indicator screwed on Again was the well
pressure put on, and the hand the dial in
stantly denoted a pressure of 120 pounds: the
valves were closed and the indicator taken off.
A loss of thirty pounds occurred in Sc curing the
gas. The little 20nch reservoir was carried to
the plum bng house and 6-foot jun DO burner
attached The gas was lighted and turned off.
The reservoir was then carried to the Citizens
bank and re-lighted, where it was viewed by
eral prominent citizens. 1t burned out in three
minutes, giving bright light to the last the
experiment. was made at low pressure, but it
has clearly demonstrated that natural gas may
be utilized for lighting railroad coaches. A
train of cars could be supplied with natural
gas much quicker than the engine could take
water. There many and various
which reservoirs of natural gas can be applied,
which will readily suggest themselves to the
practical far-seeing mind.