Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-12-20
GAS FROM PETROLEUM.
Alleged Solution of n stupendous
Problem.

PITTsBURG, December There is a
balm in GiIead and there Is hope for the
unfortunates who do not possess the
blessing of natural gas. / had talk to-
day with sumo gentleman who are con-
fident that they can furnish O substitute
for the gas that the earth supplies and
do IL so cheaply that its use will be pre-
fenlble tn that of the other.
These gentlemen say they can make
gas from petroleum which can be used
either for heating or lighting, but which
is especially intended to he used as fuel.
They say that by forcing air through
petroleum it becomes so impregnated
with the gases held in solution that it
can be burned. They have obtained
patents upon the process in this country
and in Others, and they are now putting
up large plant here, where, as they
say, the entire practicability of the pro-
cess will be demonstrated.
There are a number of methods of
manufacturing fuel gas, but so far none
have, when put to actual use, proved
satisfactory. A large establishment in
the East has been trying one, and spent
several thousand dollars in the pur-
chase Of necessary apparatus. but the
whole thing blew up a few days ago,
and that has excited prejudice against
that particular system of manufacture
ing fuel gas. Other processes have been
found Objectionable for various reasons,
and all have called for the expenditure
of from 500, 900 to $40, 900 for buildings
and machinery, with the attendant un-
certainty as to results. If it is possible
to make fuel gas of a peaceable dispo-
sition, warranted not to tear the earth
in fragments at intervals, and whose
manufacture will not require the out
lay of many thousand, there will be re-
joicing through the land, for the mani
| fold advantages of fuel gas are so well
understood that there is q universal de-
sire for it.
Tie inventor of the method which
was explained to me says that all the
necessary apparatus and buildings for
the production of 1000, 900 cubic feet of
gas a day eau be put up for $S, 900, while
for $40, 900 plant can be constructed
thatEwill furnish 5000 900 cubic feet per
day. Fifteen thousand cubic feet OF
this gas, it is claimed, will give heat
equivalent to that given by ton of
coal, and from one barrel of petroleum
costing not over fifty cents 1000 cubic
feet of fuel gas can be obtained. The
inventor estimates the total cost of Is,
900 cubic feet of gas, taking into con-
sideration the cost of petroleum, salery
of the one man required to keep the
machinery running, interest on invest
ment, etc., to be about thirty cents or
So less than is paid for ton of the coal
that is used for heating boilers. After
the gas is extracted from the petroleum
a good lubricating oil remains which
can be sold for good sum, thus lessen
ing the cost of the oil materially.
The persons whom talked to about
this new process are naturally very SAN
guine. They see great possibilities be-
fore them, and if it is demonstrated
that their claims are we'll founded then
there will be great revolution in the
fuel supply of the whole country, and
the coal ring that is squeezing the con-
sumers of Cincinnati will have no more
terrors. The gentlemen promise to
have their specimen plant completed
within seventy days, and then it can be
determined whether they can succeed
where Others have failed.