Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-26

terrible reactions, have demonstrated be.
yond q doubt that the immense West can
not be developed with rush Of ~specula-
tors and emigrants. On the contrary, it
must be the work of years, almost GEN.
turtles. This is always the case where farm
ing alone must he depended upon as q
means Of livelihood, 1t is no wonder, then,
that the rich mineral deposits Of the East
have been left practically untouched; prac-
tically 40, because the enormous yearly
output is SIS yet nothing compared to what
will be developed in the next ten years.
Especially is this true Of that zone of
country lying west of the Appalachian
chain Of mountains, and extending from
Western New York on down south and
west through Pennsylvania, West Virginia
and Kentucky and to Louisiana. Under-
lying this immense zone are what are con-
ceGed to be the most immense aud valu-
able coal deposits in the country, and
which only await capital for their proper
and profitable development.
In addition to coal, the iron, gas and
petroleum kCown to be concealed under
the surface ere Of almost fabulous worth
when brought to the snrfaee by capital,
and this capital is now taking hold. In
addition to the rich mineral deposits, these
lands are covered with heavy timber inter
spersed with plateaus and level meadow
ground that cannot be Cqualled even in the
FIR Western land Of promise.
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohioan West
Virginia being already numbered among
the oil producing States, it Is only q ques-
ton Of time until Pennsylvania must give
up her claim of yielding light for the
world. There is no doubt, however, that
Pennsylvania is TO q great extent trying to
Weld heat for the world, and that is par
TALLY true IN regard to her coal output.
The discovery OF natural gas, however, has
almost created o revolution in the coal
trade in this city. The local demand has
fallen away to almost nothing, while nat
ural gas reiSns supreme in every house
hold.
There has another use Of this earth-giyen
fuel been found, however, that thIows far
in the shade its utilization in the homes of
our citizens. Ole manufacturer after an
other has taken up this new and strange
fuel until every mill Of note almost with
out exception has taken hold and is RUIZ
ming full blast, propelled by natural gas.
In addition to this, it is only whispering a
well-known secret, if that term may be
permitted, that these very mills are only
paying One-hali the yearly sun they were
paving for coal. The question Of why i'm
mtdiately presents itself, and it is easily
answeIed. Until o little while ago no
possible means were presented Of utilizing
the latent heat in coal without an enorm-
Gus waste, but the idea is slowly coming
10 a head, and the time is not far distant
when every ounce Of coal will yield willing
ly every iota Of heat and gas that is con-
cealed within it, ard that without a par
ticle Of waste. The free handling of this
gas by mills and dwellings suggests q fear
Of disaster, following the exhaustion Of
the Pennsylvania fields. This day of ex-
haustiou IS, of course, rapidly nearing, but
the drill is slowly and surely turning TO
the South and West, into West Virginia,
where the future gas fields are certainly
concealed, only awaiting the drill in order
TO shower the benefits of the discovery
upon the people. The waning gas belts Of
Pennsylvania, however, create no doubt In
the minds OF thinking people bat that day
will come when even the gas fields Of
West Virginia will be exhausted. That
day, however, will be anticipated, and
the immense coal deposits of West Yir-
GINA will be utiliz2d, and when the natu-
raj gasis exhausted, the coal of that State,
running in immense veins of from 80 to 60
feet, will furnish the gas fuel for the sea-
board cities. This is not prophetic, for
lust such a scheme is already forming, and
is in the hands of Eastern capitalists.