Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-08
1t Will be the Making Of this
section.

SCSshOAss
News of the most interesting and en-
couraging nature reaches Los Angeles
this morning. 1t comes from Pittsburg
bv way Of San Francisco, and is to the
effect that the Westinghouse of the
sm oky city at the head Of the Ohio, are
formulating their plans to jump into the
breach here in a way that will be the
making of this section. This interesting
programme is in the line OF developing
the large deposit of natural gas which is
known to sagacious people as most
assuredly underlying Los Angeles
and it's environs. For years the
HERALD has been a persistent,
advocate of this scheme, and some years
ago one of its editors went through por-
tions of this county in company with an
agent of the Westinghouse family. In
the course of that tour many topics
touching upon the resources and pros
poets of Los Angeles were discussed.
Among other subjects that of the depos-
its of natural gas was spoken Of at
length. The visitor listened with atten-
tive ears to the recital of what was
known about the gas supplies lying
undeveloped beneath the surface
of the country. Here comes
the fruition OF the seed 80
casually sown. Since that date many
rticles have appeared in these columns
touching upon the wealth awaiting the
capital and energy that were bold enough
to attempt the business of bringing this
cheapest, and, therefore, most valuable,
of fuels to the surface.
The signs Of gas are manifold in scores
of localities in and about this city. They
are of the most unmistakable character,
and they stretch 10 distances ranging
at from fifteen ito iorty miles in
all directions. Its existence in
abundant quantity is matter un-
doubted by any skilled person who has
made the question one of investigation.
The people reported as taking an in
terest in this great enterprise are not
novices in the business. They come
from region the most prolific in the
world in natural gas. All around their
home it is used to light cities, to smelt
ore, to roll out steel rails, to drive
machinery in all its forms, to bake bread,
broil steak and run sewing machines.
The development of gas here will
solve the only problem that stands in
the way of our permanent supremacy
over all other cities west Of the Missis.
sippi. The development of the gas
wells near here, the bringing of the de.
posit to the surface and the piping of il
to this city mean good deal. 1!
means fuel for domestic purposes for one.
tenth, or less, of its present cost. But
that is the smallest significance it has.
1t means fuel for steam purpose at cost
which will permit US to compete with the
most favored cities in the land as
manufacturing center. What boon
it would be to our foundries, to the elec-
trio light company, to the Touring mills,
and to every establishment where power
is needed! With natural gas the sugar
refneries would be an assured indus
try of the section. With natural
gas, we shall have rolling mills,
wagon and carriage factories, smelt-
ing furnaces, reduction works, and
all the various branches of the
modern manufactures. With natural
gas, the growth of the past, which we
have regarded as 80 phenomenal, will be
totally eclipsed by the growth of the
future. Los Angeles will at once spring
into great city of quarter Of milli on
souls, and the county will increase in q
few years to a population of half million
people.