The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-03

ignitcd shows every evidence OF hydrogen,
Ii is said TO produce dew, dampncss
when burned II is known TO be impos-
sblc of combustion ii not united with
oxygen. This shows that IL is not oxygen,
of course, "a ridiculous statement, but one
that serves purpose in making tplainer),
Ii is known that the gas which comes
from the well, has a great affinity for the
oxygen which il meets in the atmosphere.
So great is this affinity for oxygen that an
explosion occurs when it is ignitcd.
The force OF this explosion, produced by
the union OF hydrogen and oxygen, is
greater than that OF any two gases. ltsur-
passes the destructive qualities OF dyna-
mite or nitro-glyccrinc. IL is q well known
fact that the gases which compose water
are only these two. Every molcculc OF
water that ever existed contained two
atoms OF hydrogen and one atom OF oXy-
gen, and its chemical symbol is ll2 O.
wntcr. Now II this gas, which We call
natural gas, uni,cs with such force ~ We
know II does with oxygen in the air, II 1t
has 10 bo mixed with u certain amount OF
atmosphere in order TO get a proportion of
oxygen equal TO one in three, the hydro
gen being one aud the oxygen two, is II
not reasonable 10 conclude, when we
know that these gases only unite in that
proportion, and when they do unite water
Is formed, that II one of the gases IL oxygen
the other must be hydogenl Quod crat
dcmonstrandum. Since the oxygen OF the air
10y being united with the natural gas gives
every evidence that water Is produced, the
unknown quantity natural gas) must be
the other gas, which Is hydrogen. By
synihcsis We learn that the water results
from the combustion Of the two; therefore
tho natural gas is n component part OF
water. We know that, by intense heat,
the gases Of water can bo dccomposcd,
separated. We have every evidence that
the interior OF the earth is entcnsoly hot.
This heat is sufficient 10 separate these
gases, making OF water two distinct and
unlike qualities. We know that there are
great bodies OF water on the car,h's sur
face, and below its surface (much TO Mr..
kclley's rcgrcD aud that IL rains upon the
earth. We know that this water Is alb
sOrbcd 10y the earth aud plenty OF II reaches
the inner surface Of the carth's crust
and is there docomposcd by the intense
heat. The oxygen which has lost its
partner. is uniailhiul aud takes up with
all kinds ol elements. lie soon lorgcts
his recent companion, ior whom he hal
great affinity, gocs oil finding new COM
panions. forming oxide Of calcium, the
oxide OF iron, oxide Of barium, stiontium
or the oxide Of anything with which he
comes In contact hut Miss Hydrogen,
she IL ever faithful, Of light specific gray
ity. and not caring To form new associa-
| tions like the inconslunt oxygen, she goes
aud hides herself In the sand stone or any
porous stone in which she can find space
10 occupy, aud refuses TO bo comiortcd.
Man begins TO dig natural gas wells and
her dwelling In the porous rocks IN
given an outlet, aud she comes
forth like n thunderbolt, 10 anxious
to leave the scenes oi her sorrJw.
On she rishcs mp the pipe. but not until
| light Is furnished does she see her un-
faithful spouse, oxygen. But when light
IL thrown ON the subject she embraces
him with terrific force aud great cclat, AMI
Is again happy.
And Just US long as II mins ON the
earth, and ~ long ~ that rain pcrmcaics
through IL earth, Just NJ long Will We
have natural ga., aud II may bc found
anywhere, tho pfciicamlity oi hnding
depending only on the thickness Of the
cris, Of earth above the deposits oi hydro.