Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-13

the city limits.
An error in the synopsis of the article on
natural gas Yesterday morning gave it an
odd Interpretation. The matter following,
however, made the intent clear, that certain
apparently exhausted wells had regained
their pressure by accumulation. Natural
gas is found difused in permeable strata,
usually sandstone conglomerate, though
occasionally in other formations. The
driliholes. varying from five inches in
diameter to eight inches, drain limited
area of the rock until the supply is appar-
emily exhausted, but when these wells are
shut in there is a gradual distribution Of
gas to those exhausted areas from other por-
tions of the sand, which, together with any
accretion there may be from the original
source of supply restores the pressuse at the
old wells. OF course, it is impossible, from
any data at hand, to say what proportion of
the restored pressure is supplied from the
accumulation in the adjacent rock, or what
proportion is supplied by new distillatlon.
SUBSTITUTE READY, IF. NEEDED.
Manufactured gas is feasible in case the
natural gas supply should fail. The Penn
| sylvania Tube Works Company is con-
structing producers at its works, and will
be ready to operate with coal gas by the first
of January. These works were troubled
last winter by shortages in the natural gas
supply, and the trouble has continued since.
Some days they have enough, some days
they have not half enough. Meantime, the
pay of the men goes right on adding ma
terially to the cost of the total product.
They hope for an ample supply of natural
gas next winter, but if they do not get it
will have a supply of coal gas, which they
can make at cost not greater than the
present rates for the natural gas. They pre-
fer the natural gas, of course, because of the
incon venience of handling coal and ashes. in
the manufacture of gas.
Manufactured gas is used with satisfactory
results at the Riverside Iron Works, at
Wheeling, W. Va, by the Warren Tube
Company, of Warren, O., and by the Syra-
cuse Tube Works, Syracuse. N. Y. These
all use the system which is being adopted by
the Pennsylvania Tube Works. At none of
Pittsburg. At the worst then, Pittsburg
nufacturers can resort to the use OF coal
gas fuel when the natural gas supply is in
sufficient, still leaving
A PLENTIFUL SUPPLY
of the clean natural gas for domestic con-
sumption. The use of the coal gas in the !
works named is no longer in an experimental
stage. They have been working practically |
with it and are more than satisfied with the |
results.
Manufacturers differ quite widely in their |
opinions regarding the gas supply and most |
of them are rcticent. If their views are not |
fully expressed they are to blame for the |
failure. Some few talk without reserve. The |
officials of the Carnegie and the Oliver & /
Roberts Gas Companies declined to discuss |
the subject, for publication, when called on
and good many manu- tacturers haye taken
the same position. Some of them have
given their personal opinion, however, and
such data as they had at hand to aid in
making an intelligent estimate from all
points. I
MANUFACTURERS OPINIONS.
At the Office of c. G. Hussey & Co. a
member of the firm said they never had any
trouble about gas. They had had plenty all
the time; did not lose more than day and
a half from shortages. But they occupied,
perhaps, q somewhat peculiar position. In
regard to price they had nothing to say and
with regard to continuation of supply
were not willing to venture an opinion, not
having made study of the subject.
O'Leary Bros, not having their works in
the city did not want to discuss the question
in detail. They had a full supply ali along;
were near the Bellevernon field, and having
a long contract were not worrying about
price at present. Mr.. Tim O'Leary, arriv-
ing at this juncture, said The DIsP ATCH
could say Tor him that he thought the gas
supply was permanent Nature, be thought,
A. i lol,, L |
given us supply of natural gas would
maintain it and 1t would be just as perma-
nent as coal. The people were just learning
to economize In the consumption OF it, just
as they haG with coal and so it would sup
ply the demand.
Low PRESSURE PERMANENT.
Mr.. Bishop manager of the city Office of
the National Tube Works, said he could give
no definite information in regard to the gas
supply at the works. He sold pipe, but
they made it ct McKeespont. He could say,
however, the company owned good bit of
gas territory at Bellevernon, at Amity and
in Washington county, though he believed
they were getting all their supply from Muir
raysville and Grapeville. He heard they |
were short sometimes, but could give no
data. His personal opinion was that gas
was being distilled all the time at slow
rate, but the accumulation would be ex-
hausted. The pressure would not continue |
high, but when the pressure was off we'll
might last thousand years.
Many manu- lacturers complained of short {
ages in their supply. Some thought the |
fields were SO exhausted the companies
could not give them the gas. Some were of
she opinion they were wanted to get off the
lines =
TO CONSERVE THE SUPPLY
or the more profitable domestic service,
while still others thought there was no real !
shortage, but only desire to market gas at
higher prices Not few expressed them ;
selves satisfied with supply and price and }
Iaid they believed this desirable state of :
Ifairs would continue for some time. !,
Glass men were unanimous in their praises }
VI natural gas as a fuel, as it gives them a !
much better quality of glass. 1t is an ad- :
nltted fact in the trade that Pittsburg's
econd quality of window glass, or grade, :
s equal to the A grade of glass produced =
With other fires, and the A grade of Pitts
,urg brings correspondingly higher price. 7
Most of the glass men who talked at all, =.
alked of q continuation of the supply of
heir favorite fuel.
sPEUULATfNG ON POSSIBILITIES.
The finding of strong gas we'll in the
Jhartiers oil field has given rise to some
peculation on the probability Of finding
,as right in the city. Some interest is mani
ested in the well to be drilled on the Expo a
ition grounds the rig for which is now r.
eady. The Pittsburg and Allegheny Trac- a
ion Company is also going to drill we'll n