Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-11-06
A WONDERFUL FUEL.
FACTS ABOUT THE DISCOVERY
OF NATURAL GAS.
The First Well was Opened in New
York-The Principal Gas Fields
Some Interesting Figures.

York-The Principal Gas Fields
Some Interesting Figures.
The history of natural gas in the
United States dates back to the year 1921,
when well was opened in Fredonia,
Chatauqua county, N. Y, and the
supply applied in a small way to illuminat-
ing and heating purposes. More than fifty
i've years elapsed before its practical
utilization for both light and fuel.
In 1878 some men were drilling for
petroleum at Murraysville, eighteen
miles from Pittsburg, Pa. A depth of
nearly 1923 feet had been reached
when the drills were thrown high into
the air, and the derricks broken to
pieces and sea tered around by tre-
mendous explosion of gas, which, with
hoarse shrieking, rushed into the air,
alarming the population for miles around.
Upon application of light there i'm
mediately leaped into life fierce, dane
ing demon of fire, kissing and swirl
ing about with the wind, and scorch-
ing the earth in large area about it.
For five years did this continue. At
last, however, the gas was captured
and by means of pipes was conducted
to the city and utilized.
The discovery and application of
this natural gas opened up new field
of enterprise, the probable extent of
which was not at first fully appreciated.
Its Importance to the rolling mills,
glass works, and other industrial es-
Establishments of Pennsylvania, Ohio
and Indiana, may now be understo cd
when it is stated that the amount of
coal displaced by natural gas in the
United States in 1888 was 14,O63, $50
tons, valued at S22, 629, s75.
The discovery of the gas in Ohio (the
supplies of which are practically con-
fined TO the Counties of Hancock, Wood,
Anglaize and Mercer), was made in Nc
vember, 1884, at Findlay, when it was
found that the Trenton limestone under
lying the flat country of northwestern
Ohio was, in certain places, charged with
high pressure gas. In January, 1886, n
well was brought into use, large enough
to accredit the new gas rock as a first
class source of production, one which
could safely endure comparison with the
most prolific horizons of the new fuel of
Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
In two years, in consequence of the
discovery of natural gas, the population
of Findlay has increased from 6, 600 to
80, 900. The city itself owns n dozen gas
wells and the distributing plant connec-
ted therwith, and supplies fuel to citi-
zens at the rate of 80 cents per month per
stove. 1t also maintains high pressure
line for the supply of factories that have
been established there. 1t seems, how
ever, that the gas is more effective in
producing heat than in giving light, it
having the former power to much great
er extent than the latter. 1t is very
easily handled and the heat generated
is all sufficient for the purpose of making
steel. The glass factories use it espec-
tally in making fiint-glass, as the heat
can be better regulated while the burn
ing gas is free from smoke which often
dlscolors the glass. In making the
finest fancy ware it burns into the glass
flowers painted in different metallic
colors; the process requiring sometimes
as many as five separate burnings, ac-
cording to the number of colors used.
Some of these factories depend upon
wells of their own. The gas of the high
pressure line is practically free to the
factories that use it. The main reliance
OF the city for the past two Years has
been upon the famous Karg well, whose
original volume was $1,000, 900 cubic
feet per day. Several new wells have
been drilled by the city since it under
took this large supply, but no very i'm
portant additions have been made. The
supply has, up to a recent date, been
quite abundant enough to fill all the new
lines, both of high and low pressure, as
fast as they were laid, and no misgivings
as to its permanence or adequacy seems
to have been entertained by the resi-
dents.
In Indiana the total daily consumption
of gas during the cold weather reaches
about 200, 600, 900 cubic feet. In Hamil-
ton county the (gas) Trust Company have
sixteen wells, from which they claim a
daily flow of over 1000, 900 cubic feet.
1t seem almost impossible to keep track
OF the production of the field, so rapidly
is it increasing. Every city, town and
hamlet in the gas area is being supplied
The farmers are sinking wells for their
own use, and the neighboring cities, not
desiring to be left behind in the great
industrial race, are also making efforts
to secure their share of this best of fuels.
In Howard county there are twenty-eight
gas producing wells, measurements Of
most of which have been taken. The
estimate will approximate very closely
the actual product, which, by these
twenty eight wells, is about rs, 900, 900
cubic feet per day. This would be in
heating power equal to 800, 900 tons of
average bituminous coal per annum.
With regard to the supply of natural
gas in Pennsylvania, it may be stated
that in tho city of Pittsburg its use has
grown with such rapidity that it bids
fair ere long to completely supplant coal
for both domestic and manufacturing
uses. 1t is estimated that the natural
gas companies of Pittsburg are supply
ing more than 81, 900 domestic consumers
and 1900 manufacturing consumers
from 500, 900, 900 to $50, 900, 900 cubic
feet OF natural gas per day, VARYING
with the condition of the weather (Which
OF course, affects all consumers). and
with the activity of manufacture. 1t is
said that i'll the city of Pittsburp and
vicinity there was consumed during 1888
an amount of natural gas, which, if the
consumers had to depend exclusively
upon coal, would have required during
the year about $500, 900 tous. If to
this should be added the amount of coal
which would be taken by consumers in
other parts of the State, who now
depend upon natural gas as a fuel, the
amount would be increased to at least
10000, 900 tons
Much waste is occasioned by burning
the gas too high between heats and exces-