The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-04-11

Natural Gas is found only in few favored locali-
ties of the world
The Chinese discovered it two thousand years
ago, and used it in their porcelain furnaces. 1t is
also found to some extent in southern Russia.
In this country it has been discovered in Penn
sylvania, Ohio, and Muncie. Indiana The latter is
The largest field an The tgorld and manufacturers
seeking this city of free fuel and splendid
shipping facilities. The use of Natural Gas is but
in its infancy. The world as yet has not realized
how great and valuable the Natural Gas fields,
although capitalists seeking every opportunity
to invest and in many cases are piping it fifty
miles and more to some of our large cities.
Natural Gas is the king of fuels-the mighty
spirit of heat. 1t comes the latest and most
wonderful gift of Nature to man.
The gold mountains of the Pacific, the mighty
Hematite vein that traces its iron way from New
York through Alabama; the great black diamonds
of the broad coal-feds of America, sink into in
significance when couSp pared to Natural Gas.
MUECIE, INDIANA.
Two years ago the glad tidings went forth that
Natural Gas had been discovered at Muncie then
thrifty county-seat with 1909 inhabitants backed
bya county of unusual richness and fertility of soil
but with the discovery of Natural Gas new era
dawned. and Muncie began to loom into promi-
neuce as manufacturing city. Factory after fac
tory came, attracted by the offer of free fuel and
free land, until during the past eighteen months
eighteen new factories have cast their fortunes
with this charming city-which has grown from
seven thousand to fourteen thousand within two years
Munce has the finest courthouse in the State out
side of the capital; beautiful hghschool building
besides four others, twelve churches, five hotels
rows of brick and stone buildings miles of brick
and stone sidewalks, splendid water-works and
sewerage system, paid fire department and mac
adamized streets, fringed with beautiful maple
shade trees.
Twenty splendidIy graded and grayeled turn
pixies radiate from Muncies center like the spokes
of wheel from its hub. forming charming drives
and penetrating everywhere the wealth OF agricul-
ture Historic White River, upon whose banks
the Delaware and Miami Indians settled century
ago. forms half circle around the city. 1t was
here that Tecumseh that willy Indian chief made
his last stand and fought till overpowered by the
hardy early pioneers, and was driven west across
| the Mississippi.
TEirty-tliree mighty Natural Gas sgeIls, lgithin
radius of eo miles of 3funcss center pour forth
l0OCOO 600 cubic feet of gas per day only about one
third of which is now consumed. The amount OF
saving in fuel and light to Muncies residents and
manufactures now aggregates the enormous sun,
| of $4,000 annually.
| The supply is inexhaustible. Centre Township,
six miles square, in the center of which is located
the City of Muncie, will supply gas in abundance
for thousand wells too billion cubic feet per day
enough for manufacturing city Of million in
| hdbitaHtS Taking these facts into consideration
| who can anticipate Muncies magnificent future
| Conservative people estimate its population at
$1,000 within five years others at 100000 There
has been no tod boom in real estate and values
are exceedingly low when compared with western
cities of less brilliant prospects Prices have grad
| ually advanced and each year will now undoubt-
adv nf tn
per cent in real estate; especially will this be true
| of lands Immediately adjoining the city.
| MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
Among the prominent and large manufactures
| located here during the last eighteen months are