The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-05-29
Things as | Find Them.


Editor Of Vermont Observation-Disclosures
perhaps some of my friends in your region
might like to learn something of this won
derful country and my impressions of this
place, and knowing no better way to reach
them than through your paper, l send you
this communication | will not at this time
describe my trip from the fertile Mad River
valley, but will begin at my arrival at this
beautiful city of Muncie. ! arrived Wednes-
day afternoon, May Sth, hot and dirty,
but still not very tired, and after a good
bath and nice supper felt as fresh as
rose. The gentlemanly clerk of the Kirby
house, Mr. Swain, courteously introduced
me to the agent of the Muncie Natural Gas
Land Improvement Company, Mr.. Milton
r. Smith-a genial gentleman of, I should
judge, some thirty-ive years. Soon after
dark Mr.. Smith proposed that we ride out
and see gas well "blown Off" 1 was not
fully informed as to what the operation
might be, but resolving, like the old lady
who took her first ride on the cars to
be ready for everything and not sur
prised at anything | readily assented. Mr..
Smith procured a carriage and we made our
way to Mr.. Martins well at the west side
passing under arches of fire that spanned
the streets at intervals and between side
lights innumerable, all furnished by kind
mother earth from the depths of her capa-
cious bosom. Mr.. Martin kindly consented
to blow off" and procuring wrench, we
W
was drilled. 1t was an ordinary-lool<ing
affair enough, consisting of a small house
with two-inch iron pipe some five and one
half feet from the ground and extending
about thirty feet away. Mr.. Martin turned
on little gas, and going to the end of the
pipe lighted it. A good light appeared, but
saw nothing like a blow off" Return
ing to the valve, Mr.. Martin proceeded to
blow her off " in good earnest, and-well,
| was glad adopted the old lady's reso-
luton, for the willy Smith had conducted
me quite near the outlet of the pipe. There
was rush and roar and | knew what was
meant by blowing off - a gas well. The
noise was like thunder all around you, with
one continuous roar. The earth trembled
as If the pent-up forces of nature were be-
ing let loose. The flame shot out into space
in broad sheet nearly one hundred feet
long and tried hard to reach back to the
pipe, bat such was the force of the gas that,
while il was turned on full head no flame
could come within several feet of the end of
the pipe. That was demonstration of the
power of the chained giant. Next we saw
an illustration of the giants usefulness.
| Visiting the electric light station, we saw
/ the gas used as fuel, Everything was neat
| and clean around the boilers. The partially
worn shovel was neatly painted and hung
up, appropriately labeled Laid to rest"
| Upon visiting the nail factory and glass
works, the next day | saw still further the
usefulness of this element of nature. Per-
| petual motion may never be discovered but
here was a mighty force at work and no
man need lend hand except to turn the
valve and then, like the brook of the poet,
| it ran on forever"
But words are powerless to express the
full bearing of this mighty factor upon the
worlds industrial enterprises. One must
see IL to realize its many great advantages
over all other fuels combined. Its great
cheapness is only one of its many advan-
| tbnnuh nj a 10 al nj
in manufacturing, for where there can be a
saving made of from S35, 900 to $50, 900 by a
firm employing from two hundred to three
hundred hands in the cost of its fuel alone,
and save also the expense of placing that
fuel where it will burn, one can readily see
| that one of two things must happen: either
the manufactures using natural gas for fuel
| will make large profits or drive the user of
any other fuel to the wall. That this entire
gas belt is soon to become a mighty throb-
bling center of manufacturing is as sure as
| that the sun rises and sets, II the gas hotdS
out. That, and that alone, is the great
question. All indications seem to point to
its being permanent agency. Manufac-
turing concerns all over the country are
recognizing the fact that their future eX-
istence depends upon their coming to the
gas belt, and many large firms are now
negotiating for room for their plants.
Not only is the fuel cheap but it has been
proved by the companies already located in
| the gas belt TO be superior TO any other
fuel, thus enabling them to turn out goods
superior to those heretofore produced by
them. This is true of the glass manufac-
| turers to a wonderful degree. Several of
them have already located here and more
must follow or go ont of business.
Natural gas is found over quite an extent
of territory here, but Muncie, through its
advantages of situation and railroad facil-
tiles, offers the greatest inducements. The
Muncie Natural Gas Land Improvement
Company has bought up the surrounding
land and built the belt railroad which
places all manufacturers on an equal foot.
ing, as any one of the three competing rail
road lines can, with the aid Of this belt road
place empty cars at and draw full cars away
from the very doors of the manufactures
The company also offers manufacturing con-
Germs ground free on which TO build their
manufactures, and all the gas they need for
fuel or lights without charge.
The future of Munce seems to me to be
| assured. That she is making wonderful
growth now is certain. Business blocks
and houses are going up on every hand
Several hundred have been finished since