The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-01-06
NATURAL GAS!


A citizen OF Princeton writes the fol-
10 wing interesting communication in re-
gard to natures last and best gift to en- :
Ierprising humanity. 10 the Princetonl
Democrat II shows that the ~, 500 SUBJ
scribed in jasper, 10 enough to develop
natural gas, II the officers Of the COM
pany would only 20 10 work. Whats
the matter with them nearly all the sub
scribers are asking.
Editors DEMocRAr Az you are TAX
ing quite an active part in the boring for
Natural Gas at Princeton, and having
been in the central gas belt Of Iadians
lately, ] take great pleasure in giving
your readers = description OF q farm
d dwelling heated BY Natural Gas, the
owner having sunk q well for his own
private nee. The owner Of the gas well
w. w. Hamilton. living one-hslf mile
north Of Greensburg, Ind, also owns the
elegant residence aud farm upon which
he resides, and is quite proud Of his gas
well and takes great pleasure In showing
his guests about the gas; First, the well
IL $50 feet. and the drill went into tren-
ton rock 20 feet. AT that depth drilling
was stopped and the well shot. Shoot
Ing well consists first, Of $50 worth Of
nitro glycerene in long tin cans. teing
let down 10 the bottom Of the bore in .
very gentle manner owing to the expIo-
sive nature Of tie nitro glycerine. After
II is sli safely landed ct the bottom. .
long sharpened iron rod, called Q '.go
DEVIL il dropped into the hole. By the
time II has reached the nitro gIycerine II
has gained momentum and force enough
to 60 straight through the tin cana, and
by its force exploding one hundred
quarts or more Of the nitro glycerine.
The object Of exploding the nitro gIyce-
rine 10 to tear the rock to pieces and
open up channels for the free fow Of gas
from all directions to the well. TIE ex-
piosion also clears the well hole Of all
water and mud, and the force OF the ex-
piosion throws the mud and water out
OF the we'll very much the same - though
that amount Of water and mud had been
shot from . cannon, going several hum
dred feet in the air.
The well IL now ready for casing, and
the casing is put in TO fit the size OF the
hole bored. After the outside casing is
all put in TO within about 10 feet Of the
top Of the ground, the inside piping, OF
the pipe through which the gas fows, Il
put down inside Of the outside casing,
and when the inside pipe II finished up
Ito the same point where the outside cas-
ing stops, . clamp Of iron Is fastened on
to the inside pipe, and the outside pipe
10 made TO 6t tight over this clamp be-
10 v and above, and gum packing IL forced
in between the inside pipe and out
aide casing TO prevent the gas from e.
Gaping The clamp At this joint extends
out with two strong iron arms. These
arms are bolted down 20 pieces of large
fiat mulberry logs. A square hole being
dug down ID feet deep, sufficiently
large to admit the logs, and they are
usually 4 10 5 feet long. Above these
logs 10 put two tons Of line rock. This
rigging and weight il called the anchor.
Here IL where the monster is chained,
- II were. aud made TO obey the will OF
man. The pipes inside and out. are ex-
tended TO the top OF the ground. and u
This point, and before the gas il disfri-
bu;ed, common steam gusge il used 10
indicate the pressure. This steam gusge
shows = steady pressure Of 200 pounds TO
the square inch. At this point com
mences the distribution Of gas pipes laid
in the ground similar to those laid to
convey artificial gas.
HOW THE GAS Is USED TO HEAT FfRE-
PLACES, sTovEs. ETc.
The fire-places and stoves. including
stoves, are filled with broken
fire brick, and into the 6re-brick plain.
common gas burner IL inserted. aud on
the outside Of the stove 10 plain stop
cock, which by turning of or on, admits
4 large or small flow Of gas. which can
be increased or diminished, owing TO the
heat required.
IL was really . pleasure to look Il Mrs.
n amiton. the lady Of the house. sitting
by her cozy fre-side. and with . slight
movement Of her baud regulate, at her
will, the heating Of the whole house.
The heat of Natural Gas IL very strong
for heating purposes; but As yet il is not
used for illuminating purposes In the
residence where ! was visiting.
There are some very strange freaks Of
the nature Of the Gas, which one be-
comes acquainted with before he uses Il
long. II the gas IL turned on . moment
before match il applied, AZ explosion 10
the result. and the tops Of several stoves
were blown on before its use was fairly
understood.
The fame. a. Il escapes from the e.
cape pipe. makes considerable noise. and
" hen lighted the blaze burns about feet
from the end Of the pipe, IL coming out
vi ith such force. The blaze next TO the
end Of the discharge IL blue and looks q
though IL was . sulphur flame. Beyond
the blue flame 10 bright red OF i'm
mense heat.
Another strange feature Of Natural gas
il that around the point where the pipes
radiate, IL small house TO protect the
machinery from the weather. The floor
Of this house Was covered with quantity
Of horse manure. where upon l was in
formed II was for the purpose Of keep
ing the pipes from freezing. Ito keep
the pipes from freezing I asked In a.
tonishment. .Yes, and they freeze Al
the end Of the pips v here this frey elc.
mentis burning ! took hold OF tLs
pipes and in very short time my hand