Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-08-22

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COLUMBUS, Aug. 1.-THE development of
the natural gas belts of Ohio has opened a
wide field for the genius and energy of pro-
gressive business men who are seeking in
vestments for capital. The product of the
gas well is now one of the great sources of
Ohio's wealth and the introduction of the new
fuel into cities has long since passed its ex-
perimental stages. There was danger for
awhile that the Standard oil company would
monopoliZe the entire natural gas business of
the country, but that time is very happily
past and the business is now largely con-
trolled by private capital. A report was re-
Gently sent out from Lima to the effect that
the Standard was organizing an immense gas
trust and the names of Calvin s. Brice, Oliver
II. Payne and Jamee B. Townsend were con-
nected with it. Mr.. Townsend was in the city
to-day and when asked about the report,
said: ''There Is not word of truth in it.
The facts are that instead Of the Standard or
ganizing an immense gas trust they have been
practically driven out of the business. The
Paynes are no longer connected with it, Oliver
II. Payne having retired from the directory
several years ago and has not been in the
Standard oil building for over three years.
"When natural gas was first found in Ohio
Col. W. O. Lemert leased large amount of
gas territory in northern Ohio. He carried il
for some time and when the load began to get
heavy succeeded in getting the Standard oil
company to purchase his leases. They went
into the business and supplied Toledo and
several other town in northern Ohio, always
controlling the plant themselves. They ex-
perienced SO much trouble at Indianapolis
and Toledo that they concluded to dispose
Of all their gas land except those supplying
plants already in existence. , - -
II spent much time investigating the gas
fields Of Ohio and had become an enthusiast
/ endeavored to get Mr.. Brice Interested and
soon succeeded. He is more of a careful
plodder in business affairs than IA oenerallv
supposed and makes those brilliant salIies
for which he 10 noted only after first becom.
ing master OF the situation. He expert
mented Tor some time, called in the mid of
science and was told that natural 0as conld
not be successfully piped 100 miles nm ac-
count of friction. Mathematical calculations
were produced to prove this, but MT. Rrice
doubted. When the line was buiit tc Davfon
ninety miles from the we'll, IL disproved the
calculation and Mr.. Brice now believes that
II the earth were encircled with a nine one
foot In diameter and attached to gas we'll
the gas would make its appearance at the 9TH
er END OF the pipe after completing the circle.
1t has been demonstrated that natural GAS
can be piped long distances and Mr.. Brice is
endeavoring to educate the people on the ad-
vantages and cheapness of this fuel even
when plped many miles. He is now an en-
thusiast on the subject and as railroad specu-
lation ID dull devotes most of his time to nat
ural gas plants. He has associated several
gentlemen with him and adopted the plan of
taking any desired amount Of stock in nat
ural gas plant and allowing the local stock
holders to have complete control. This is di-
rectly opposed to the plan of the Standard,
which always controls its investments. The
Standard people experienced SO much trouble
with their plants at Indianapolis and Toledo,
and finding Mr.. Brice making so much pro-
gress, sQld outto him all their gas leases in
Mercer county for $100, 1000. Mr. Brice and
his friends now own controlling interest in
gas companies at Dayton, Sidney, Piqua,
Troy, Hamilton, Cincinnati, Springfield,
Urbana and Columbus, where the local stock
holders have complete control of the COM
pany and run it to suit themselves. This in
sures a careful regard for local interests.
There are about 800 square miles of gas
territory in central and southern Ohio and the
Standard controls only portion of the north
ern Ohio. Mr.. Brice has considerable in
Mercer county and central Ohio. Indiana
has about sou square miles of gas territory
and on the same plan Mr.. Brice and his
friends own large interest in plants sup
Lying six cities in that State" 7'' "a
Then you do not regard the investments
in natural gas plants as very hazardous2"
''Not at all, that is what Mr.. Brice is trying
to disprovei and when he succeeds over half
the towns and cities of Ohio will be enjoying
natural gas. Experience shows that the sup
ply is enormous and that wells that have been
productive for several years show very little
fall Of pressure. When they do diminish in
pressure experience shows that q new well
drilled within a few rods develops as great
pressure as the old one, and often greater.
"Then you know nothing about Standard
oil gas trust?" as
II Know such thing is impossible now.
MIR. Brice has not lin the Standard oil COM
pany. The only men who have are all good
Republicans like the Rockefellers and Flag
iers." 81 ,a~ .sHsi -Fsa es. tHrzl So 4