Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-10
PUSHING A GAS LINE.
Chicago Rejoicing at the Prospect Of
Soon Obtaining
A SUPPLY OF PITTsBURG FUEL.
Large Territory Leased in Hoosierdom
From Which Pipes
WILL BIZ LAID STRAIGHT TO THE CITY
rsrncrAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH. ]

lsPKcIAL TELKeRAM TO THE pIsPATcH.l
CHICAGO, September 9.-The Chicago
public, which has long been envious of Pitts
burg, indianapolis, Detroit and other cities
which are supplied with natural gas has
just discovered that an abundant supply is at
their very doors, and that the only things
that remains to be done before the new fuel
blazes brightly at their hearths, are the ar
ranging of dicker between their City Coun-
Gil and the Standard Oil Company and the
laying OF few miles of pipe. The field
from which the gas supply is to be drawn
lies in Madison. Grant, Howard and Upton
counties, little north of the center of
Indiana and about 130 miles distant
from Chicago. There at least $4,000
acres of land have been put under
lease within the last year mainly through
the efforts of John Ziegler, Pennsylvania
German, who has long been in the employ
of the Standard, and who secured ior it
large part of its gas land in the Lima field.
MADE GOOD BARGAINS.
Ziegler made his headquarters at Kokomo,
in Howard county, and obtained the leases
in his own name, or rather in the name of
Smith & Ziegler, but the Smith of the firm
has never yet been made known to persons
dealing with it. Being an old hand at the
gas and oil business, and the Indiana
farmers being inexperienced, he was
able to make very good bargains,
and SO the Standard people. being
the first on the ground, have
been enabled to obtain their property at a
minimum cost. The pipe line has been
built by the Columbus Construction Com
pany Tor quite distance southeast from
la1o
done during the last few days has been to
cross the Kankakee marshes while they are
dry enough to admit of work being done.
Pipe is also being delivered this week at the
southern extremity of the line near Koko-
mo, and presumably the work of construc-
tion will soon be under wav there.
The pipe line is remarkable in some re-
spects. 1t is only eight inches in diameter
and uniform throughout its entire length.
Besides it is made of cast iron pipe. 1t
puzzles great many people, even those who
have had experience with natural gas, to
see how, with that sort of conductor, the
gas is to be conveyed in sufficient quantities
for so great distance. If the pressure is
great the leakage must increase and the
friction slso is a serious obstacle.
'There would be some sense in it il they
were building 3O-inch pipe" said we'll
known Chicago engineer. "It would carry
15 times as much gas and with much less
resistance to overcome"
A BIG TERRITORY LEASED.
The men who are doing the work do not
talk about their plans. It is said that nu-
merous wells have been sunk and plugged,
and the results have been so encouraging
that the force of drillers has been doubled.
Seven gangs of men are now at work. 1t is
said that the wells average about 8, 900, 900
feet per day, and that the usual pressure is
in excess of 300 pounds. Ii that is true the
supply to be obtained for Chicago, from 75,.
900 acres of gas territory, is large one and
sufficient not only for private consumption,
but for light manufacturing purposes as
well.
But, welcome as the new fuel is, the fact
that it comes under Standard Oil auspices
makes everybody suspicious of it. Under
cover of the franchises of the Hyde Park
Gas Company, it seeks to lay an eight-inch
pipe down the country road which has been
dignifed with the name Indiana Boule- |
ward, to the Indiana State line, which, Cor |
short distance, is Chicago's eastern boun- |
dary. The pipe is on the ground, and |
there is great uneasiness lest the Standard |
people may, by a sudden stroke, put down !
their pipe and fight it out with the City Coun- |
Gil afterward. If it does not an ordinance |
Is likely 70 De passed TINS 1all granting the |
privilege with restrictions which shall limit |
the price and compel the natural gas people |
TO supply manufacturers as well as private |
and at a rate which will enable |
them to compete on even terms with like |
consumers in other cities. Doubtless an at
tempt will be made also to compel payment |
for the franchise of abou. per cent of the I
gross income of the company. The opera
lions of the Standard people just over the
Indiana line has created a great boom for
7 Tndi rea1 estate