The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-11-14
GASEOUS FUEL AND LIGHT.
METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION OF
NATURAL GAS
Its Illuminating Powers-A Great
Saving in Observation-Disclosures
the Gas at Pittsburg.

HAo AiiE pHNa' - VI rsN'
Saving in Labor-Distributin
the Gas at Pittsburg.
Mr.. Charles Taine, the General Mana
ger Of the Philadelphia Company, says
Joel Cooke in the Philadelphia Lcdger,
has given me much information of the
nature, extent and application Of the
natural gas He says the method of
drilling the gas wells is similar to those
bored for petroleum. The hole is usually
inches in diameter, case with ) inch
pipe interior diameter, the hole below
the easing being inch. Boring these
gas wells goes on vigorously, the search
being extensively conducted Aleady
over fifty natural gas companies are IN
operation In Western Pennsylvania, be-
sides others in di ercnt States where
gas is found. Experience shows that
the amount of gas in any reservoir is a
limited quantity. Many of the smaller
reservoirs heretofore tapped have been
nearly or quite exhausted. Nobody
knows, therefore, but that, like the oil
pools, the largest gas reservoir yet
reached may be finally exhausted.
The thickness CT the porous strata,
however, and its great extent, seems to
llOlllloJ lpl1 NOll " Alt ehDllNs
The gas produces, besides the light and
heat, a superior lampblack, and also a
carbon, furnishing excellent pencils for
the electric arc light.
The Illuminating power of the natural
gas is low, being reckoncd by candles.
1t can be enriched to improve this, but
it evolves such great heat that it can
only be used in large or open spaces. The
gas torches make good light in yards,
streets and rolling mills, and are extern
sively used in those places. 1t has not
yet been successfully used in smelling
iron ores, although experiments of this
kind are in progress, but with this eX-
Ception it may be used for all purposes
requiring heat, and is better than any
other fuel. 1t is so thoroughly subject
to control as to quantity consumed and
distribution in furnace, kiln or oven, is
sol free from sulphur and other oh ectiona-
BILE admiXturcs, that all the manufacturers
are enthusiastic about it as the BEST
cheapest and most convenient fuel IT is
admirable in dwellings, and nobody who
has it wants to go back to coal.
The charge for supplying it is made to
the factory at price regulated by the
ton of output Of product, and this APP
pears to be about one.half the cost of
COAL besides the great saving made in
the labor formerly required for hauling
and handliug coal, stoking tn fires and
removing ashes. The gang of a score or
more who used to work about boiler
room and in the coal bins and ash heaps
are now replaced by single man, who
occasionally goes around watching the
steam gauges and adjusting the gas sup
ply under the boilers, and has plenty of
time to rest or read the newspaper be-
tween. When the gas has in some cases
been supplied 10y measure the charge has
been about eight cents per 1000 feet In
a dwelling the charge is by the size Of
the house and ;he number of fires An
ordinary house costs about $50 yearly,
and the most elaborate dwelling in
Pittsblrg i not over Sl25. This cost is
about one half that of coal, and in every
case the use of the gas is unstinted and it
flows Us freely as water.
Thirteen lines of pipes are laid from
the eastern gaswells to Pittsburg, their
lengths varying from seventeen to
tweuty.!UUr miles, These are connected
by cross lines at various places, and at
the edge Of the city they begin to
ramfy, ending out large arteries in
various directions, from which smaller
p pes d stlibuta the gas through all the
streets Of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, and
their suburbs. In the producing dis
n c.s the pipe connections are so ar
ranged that the product of any well
may be led into different pipe lines, thus
securing any requi ed pressure. A tele-
s'opir arrangement is also adopted for
the main pines, their diameter being in
creased at intervals on the route to Pitts.
burg, sc as to deliver fixed volume OF
ga, at designated pressure
The gas is also led over different
routes, 80 that each city main will have
several soWces OF supply. This avoids
interrupt on, in the low, for if accident
or repairs prevent the consumer getting
the gas from one direction it will reach
him from another. There are numerous
stations on the main supply lines, espe-
C ally at their intersections, for regu,
lat!ng pressures where agents attend
day and night and control the pressure
accord ne to telephone instructions
from the central Office. Variations of
con umptiou on The different lines makes
changes frequently necessary, and an
automatic system of regulating these
Iressures is being provided.
The superintendent is in complete
control of these pressures at the Pitts
burg central Office, watching and rcguat-
ing them, much as if he were moving
the traffic of a IA lway The business
is profitable, and over $50, coo, 900 of
shares Of different natural gas companies
have been issued in Pittsburg and its
uaighborhOod. The expansion of pipe
areas in reducing pressure makes nearly
twice rs much aggregate capacity Of
pipes at the litt,burg city line as at the
wells. The pipes varyin interior diameter
from three TO thirty inches, the greater
part being six inch and eight-inch pipe.
Nearly the whole of the business of the
gas territory has been absorbed by the
Philadelphia Company which owns gas
rights ia some 80, 900 acres around Pitts
burgh, and draws supplies from barely
half its wells, which are said to be
amp.e for present consumption. This
natural gas is the most wonderful
0pyplOnmpuf of IitrsIuro. and L. cg..pi,oF