The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-10-18
From a Natural Gas Town.
Correspondence Of the Journal. |

MARION, INDIANA. Oct. 4. lSSS. Can your
readers spare time in these days Of politi-
cal activity to read letter from the Hooser
town rapidly rising into prominence through
the agency of natural gas. Your political ex-
citement is about over; ours is hardly at its
height. Your battle is fought; ours is hardly
begun; we are as yet only on the skirmisb line.
The forces. however, are being marshaied and
the contest will be a severe one. Grant county,
of which Marion is the county seat. Is strongly
Republican, but It's you are well aware the
State is one of the doubtful ones. and | am free
to confess that my information Is too limited to
forecast the issue in November. Indiana has
had large increase in her population In some
centres. and this may charge the vote consider
ably; but as did not design writing a letter
on tie political issues and prospects | will
| come to the subject of my letter,
MARION AND IT'S NATURAL GAS.
Marion lies in the central portion Of the
State, go miles n. f. of indianapolis, and 151 s..
Z. Of Chicago. AS noted above 1t is the county
scat of Grant county, one Of the finest sections
Of country n the State. The Court House,
built of stone, Is one OF the finest we have seen
in our journeys, for the size Of the place. 1t
occupies the middle Of the public square and
contains excellent facilities for the county Off
cials. court. etc. a chain fence runs around the
square and hydrants with watering troughs
are placed at the four corners The outer cir
Gle of the square. with the exception OF one
dwelling house owned and occupied by Samuel
Mcclure. Esq. one Of the early settlers, dis
tant relative. presume, OF Capt. Mcclure, Of
Searsport. i. filed with stores. The residences
have been heretofore largely south Of the
Square, but the west and north are now filling
up rapidly.
The census Of 1880 gives the population of
Marion as 3.lS2. Eighteen months since, it
WIS not. probably, 1000. Now careful observ-
crs place it all the way from 1000 to 10000. |
think II Is safe to assume that the population
has doubled within a year, and the prospects
are fair Tor very large increase IN the neN
few months. Business Is booming, rea! estate
Three lines of railroad pass through the bu>-
ness portion OF the place. Two daily, three
weekly and one monthly paper are published.
The occasion OF this increasing prosperity is
the discovery and utilization of
NATURAL GAS.
Less than year ago the writer's attention
was drawn to The subject, by the receipt Of d
Marion paper. Six weeks ago. Il few miles
north of Marion, he first saw the gas burning.
More recently he has begun to burn 1t as fuel,
for cooking and heating purposes. Marion is
all ablaze with natural ga>. Gas in the streets.
gas in the stores. ga> in the houses, yas in the
factories. 9as for heating ,as for light, gas for
power. | have not seen a load Of coal. and
only two loads of wood, since have been in
the town. At the passing of one Of the loads
of WOOD a friend remarked to me: "Where
can they be going with that load OF wood? 1t
is an unusual sight" But what about the gas:
What is it: Where is it found: What is it
good for: Your correspondent is not compe-
tent to give scientific answer to these que>-
tioL>, but he can give to your readers all an
swer in popular language.
The natural gas does not apparently differ
materially from the manufactured article, eX-
ceit in quantity and power. 1t is conducted
from the wells through pipes in the same mani
ner. except that it is in no danger of freezing.
II i 50 dry that the pipes are frequently laid
on top Of the ground. ana conducted to any
point YOU choose to have 1t. L; is found only
IN y certain belt. called the gas belt. Thus 90
miles north of Marion, in the town Of Wabash
they bore the earth in vain trying to find il.
Here. however, il is found in quantities unlim-
ite' at depth Of 800 to 900 feet. There are -
wells in Marion. and plenty Of power running
to waste. One well. \. W. of the city. is kept
burning night and day to no purpose except to
consume the escaping gas. Others are set on
fire frequently for the amusement or inslruc
ton Of visitors. Niagara hardly gives grand
er conception OF power than the gaS wells of
Marion.
WHAT Is II GOOD FOR.
Rather ask, For what is it not good: 50 far
As | have heard as Vet il Is adapted to every
thing to which fire Is adapted except melting
iron ore. 1t will heat furnaces, drive wheels,
melt class, heat and light YOUR dwellings with
a constant. unyarying supply from day to day.
with less attention than Is needed in regulating
the flow OF water on your East side stream
No patent on it either as vet: no monopoly
Free gas, free water and free land are offered
as an iAduceheh' 10 manufacturers 10 iociiIe N
,,,, l';ol, r. r,t .r, nm. ,ana,
eno,'S3h ,nmn sl ooo to ~ 5on r,n hnrn :, wc
,iti ro,t, ',an, .artint -, GnI;n.r 81, NO
% l., an, ,.Iar,.l;,., in u;nh ha
7n.,, n,.ta,,n
,,,<,,,,,rr,,prps
are awaiting themselves OF the privileges offered.
"Eightceh months ago. when came mere there
was rot single manufactory in NORTH Marion"
sad merchant to me the other day. Now
there are eight. as follows: Bei', Iaper. Iu'p'
bottle. t'iass. skeWer, orayeh ana wagon:
On me west ana south, stove. glass etc, ana
ma!iahie IRON works to employ doo persons are
10 h2 erected shortly. ihls Is pv no means
complete ilst. Hiding over the territory about
tour weeks since with very observant gentle
man he inquired as I" the humhef OF houSes
we had seen Wiilcs had been erected within
few months or IN process OF erection. re-
piled 400 an estimate In which he agreed. But
th'S ieller IS aifea,l longer lhln IL ouSht 10 DE
ana must BRING 1t to close. III any OF your
reuters iHtcnl moving NtSlN iiti--hOl W est,