Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-18
REPRESENTATIVES, GROWTH
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF NAT
 URAL GAS,

GlIree Years Ago-Every Interest, Save
 That of Rum, Has NIarvelously Pros-
 pered--some Facts and Figures That
 Make Extremely Interesting Reading.
 PITTsgURG, Feb 1S.-The Times to-day publishes a complete review of the revolution which has taken place in western Pennsylva- mia, but more especially in Allegheny county, since the introduction of natural gas three years ago. The industrial development has been something wonderful, and the facts and figures given are sufficiently startling to ap- pear almost incredible But one branch of trade-the beer bottling industry-has failed to increase largely since Jan. l, 1885, and this has decreased about 10 per cent, attributable to the Murphy temperance movement, which has strong foothold here.
 The steel furnace capacity in twelve iron and steel mills has been increased 1,164 tons per day, or at the rate of 324 900 tons per year. In several mills the furnace capacity has been increased upwards of 100 per cent. in some 200 per cent. and in one nearly 300 per cent.
 Great headway has been made in the manu- fracture of wrought iron pipe. In 1884 the capacity of local mills was 174, 900 tons per annun; now it is ,2n0 tons per day, or 360, 900 tons per year, the greatest ill the world. The product of one establishment ill 1887 ex- ceeded the total outputDf 1884,
 The iron and steel wire mills have also branched out, and from 5000 tons per an mum they have increased to JOS, ,0OO tons.
 In the blast furnace business an increase of $50 tons per day, or 245,00O tons year, has been attained, while the coke field product is being enlarged g per cent An increase of 20 per cent. has taken place in the capacity of foundries engaged exclusively in the manu- fracture of mill machinery, and the same increase is noted in the boiler and tank industry.
 In the manufacture of railroad locomotives there has been an increase of 25 per cent. The glass trade generally has had an immense boom. In the window glass trade an increase of 5,976, ,000 feet per year has taken place; ill the table glassware branch the increase was about 10 per cent; in the manufacture of plate glass the increase has been fully 100 per cent. the monthly capacity now being 35O, ,OOC square feet.
 Similar advancement has taken place in the manufacture of fine brassware, fine brick and sewer pipe, in electric lighting, in to bacco and spirits, leather and shoes, lumber paper sacks, corks, etc.
 The growth of the natural gas interests, tc which the magnificent development of the country and western pOrtlOn or the state IS attributed, has been simply enormous, and is among the most remarkable things of the age. There are engaged in the enterprise twenty-six companies, with a nominal invest ment of S23,505, ,OO0 of which $1S,300,00O is invested in Pittsburg companies Experts place the total displacement of coal by gas ir Allegheny county alone at 10000 tons daily which is equivalent to 800, 1000, 900 cubic feet of gas every twenty four hours. The Phila. delphia- Charters Consolidated companies es timated daily capacity is now 654, ,O0O ,00( cubic feet, or more than enough to supply the county without assistance of the other numerous companies. There are upward o1 1000 mics of pipe used in the conveying o1 natural gas throughout the district, of which the Philadelphia and Chartiers control 66i miles, with sixteen mains from their ga! fields. The PhiladelphiaC Charters supplies upward of 19, 800 dwellings and 524 manufac turing establishments
 The largely extended oil territory is alst cause for general comn.ent, as indeed is every imaginable branch of trade in all the various counties west of tine Allegheny mountains