The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-03
FROM GAS WELL TO CONSUMER.
How Natural Gas Is superintendent Inn
provementa in the SYatem.

provements I'm the System.
Pfttsburg Letter in New York Tribune.
The manufacturers of PIttsburg were slow to
adopt natural gas fuel. In the first place.
they were in doubt as to the extent of the gas
fields and the permanent character of the sup
ply: besides, there was an inexhaustable supply
of good coal at their very doors, which could be
had cheaply, and they were generally disposed
TO let we'll enough alone, and not be led away by
what they regarded strange gods. 1t is true
that as early 1874 firm doing business near
the city began piping gas from Butler county,
but all knowledge to the advantage which
the firm thus obtained over their competitors
was closely guarded and the impression was
created generally that it was enjoying an ex-
pensive luxury in having changed from coal to
gas 1t not until tho use of natural gas be-
came more general that It's superior advantages.
both as regards economy and the character of
the materials produced. were fully appreciated
In fact, many manufacturers are still loath to
admit all that may De said in its favor, their re-
ticenee being due to q desire not TO encourage
further competition by inviting establishments
located in other parts OF the country to remove
TO this vicinity.
In the early history of piping gas from the
Hickory. Murraysville and other districts, a
large number of companies were formed which
were subsequently consolidated into what Is
now known the Philadelphia Company. For
long time there appeared to be no practical
way of controlling the gas, and hence 1T was
turned directly from the mouth OF tho we'll into
mains which were aid from the gas districts to
the city. OF course, the pressure on these
mains was very great and much twenty
cubic feet of gas were consolidated into one
Quent retardatlon of the flow, that by the
time the gas reached the city, the pressure on
the pipes was very much reduced. 10 some ex-
tent this is the condition OF affairs to-day; but
by placing heavy beams weight ted down to the
ground in proper position, it has been possible
Ito shut in the gas at the mouth of the well and
to permit its escape in such volume only as de-
sired
In order to regulate the pressure before the
gas entered the city limits. stations were estab-
1ished where the gas was passed through valves.
which regulated the flow. AT the same time,
the size Of the pipe into which it was permitted
20 escape and by which the city was supplied
was materially increased. Thus. at the Jones
& Laughlin works to which referred, the other
day, the high pressure main pipe was only
twelve inches in diameter, and at the time
that / visited the works it carrying
pressure of about ten pounds to the square inch;
the pipe which received the gas for the works
was twelve inches in diameter, but carried only
one pound to the square inch, the re-
ductiou in pressure being effected IN part by
the expansion permitted by the use of the larger
pipe, and partly by holding back the gas in the
hgh-pressure main. The movement of the
valves is automatic, keeping the pressure In the
city pipes steady. These reducing stations, as
they called, are less needed now than former
1y, because it is possible to regulate the amount
of gas that leaves the gas district, about twenty
miles away. At other stations which have
visited, the how was so well regulated In this
way that the pressure IN the pipes. as they en-
tered the city, greater than that needed
for consumption, and hence the valves were left
open.
Ranized in 1883 by some manufacturers In Pitts
burg, for the purpose of supplying their own
mills and other establishments with natural gas.
1t has since extended its lines however, to
many dwellings in both Pittsburg and Allegheny
City, in addition to other manufacturing estab-
lshments, and to-day the capacity of its lines is
equal TO that of the Philadelphia company. This
has been secured in part by the improved con-
struction of its pipe lines, the size of the pip
being increased as il approaches the city, thus
aiding in a gradual reduction in the gas pressure
end reducing the friction. The company has
the largest wroueht-iron pipe In the world, lead
ing from it's wells at Murraysville TO Pittsburg.
For the first eight miles, the line is sixteen
inches in diameter; the next six miles have a
diameter of twenty inches, and this IS succeeded
by a pine twenty-four inches in diameter.
For some time it thought that q heavy
pressure in the pipes sup plying the gas to the
factories was absolutely necessary to their sue
cessful working. and it was pracrice to carry
the pressure from fifteen to twenty five pounds
to the square inch. 1t is now conceded, how
ever, that the best results may be obtained with
q pressure of few ounces. The inventive genius
of the community has been taxed to devise a
meter that will keep accurate record of the
gas passing through il. The ordinary gas meter
does not serve the purpose. In the absence of
any satisfactory appliance. it has been the prac-
uee OF the gas companies to charge given sum
per ton OF iron manufactured. or in the case or
dwelling houses fixed sum per month for the
whole house. This crude system is to DO aban-
doned, as II Is believed meter has been devised
which VIII answer all tue purposes desired
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