Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-24
OUR FUEL DEFENDED.
A Chicago Geologist Says Pittsburg
Has Lots of Gas, But
IT SHOULD NOT BE WASTED.
The Misleading kilograms Sent Out BY
Reckless Writers Make
ENVIoUs MANUFACTURERS CHUCKLE


telegram to a Chicago paper which an
nounced that the Philadelphia Company
had advanced the price of natural gas to the
large manufacturing establishments which
draw their supply from 1t, was read with
great interest by Chicago manufacturers.
There are about &c, 900 large or small manu-
featuring concerns doing business in this
city and its suburbs, nearly all of which
could do vastly better work for less money
if they had Pittsburg's natural gas. They
have given up all hopes of duplicating it
for Chicago, but any news that Pittsburg is
to be deprived of her important advantages
In this respect, and put on a level with the
rest of the world, is not received with very
loud wailing.
At first blush the telegram alluded to was
taken as an indication that the natural gas
supply of the Pittsburg district is rapidly
diminishing, and that it isonly question of
time when it will give out altogether, and
when the great iron-makers of that city will
be put on level with the rest of the coun.
try.
ARE THESE SOUR GRAPES?
One we'll known Chicago manufacturer,
who recently went to Pittsburg and care
fully looked into the matter said that in his
Judgment natural gas wasn't such a great
thing TOR Pittsburg after all. 1t cost nearly
as much as coal, losses were occasionally in.
Cured through Irregularities in the supply,
and he had found that the gas suppliers had
consolidated into two or three great compan-
les which had so far advanced prices
that the private consumer was
obliged to use the fuel with great
economy. Mr.. Henry G. Freeman
an engineer and geologIst, who expressed
his views OF Pennsylvania natural gas yery
fully in an interview, which was telegrphed
to THE DISPATCH of July 5, and who is an
authority on the subject, takes q different
view of the matter. NO" said he, in re-
ply to question this eJening, 81 do not re-
gard the action of the Philadelphia Com
pany as an indication that the Pittsburg gas
is giving out. They are acting very Judi
ciously IN checkinglthe excessive draft on
their source Of supply at Pittsburg. If they
continue to make an excessive draft on their
supply they are liable to meet with a very
sudden check which might almost cut off
the supply in the Pittsburg district alto
gether.
ECONOMY NECESSARY. ----
When asked to explain more fully what
he meant, Mr.. Freeman continued: "In an
interview which was published in The
PITTsBURG DISPATCH some time ago, I
said that, while il was impossible to tell the
duration of the Pittsburg natural gas sup
ply, yet it might be expected to continue
for very long time if the draft on the
source of supply was not excessive. said
then that the history of most of the wells
showed that they started with very high
pressure, which was rapidly diminished for
the first few weeks until q normal flow
was reached and that the flow then
continued for long time with compara-
lively little variation. I then said that il
the draft on the supply was limited to the
normal flow of given district, the supply
must be expected to continue for a very long
time without any serious lessening in guam
tity.
apparently the action Of the Phila.
delphia Company is right in line with the
suggestions which I made at that time,
They propose to limit the draft on the
source of supply by cutting of some of the
large consumers. They raise the price %
per cent so that certain factories which now
use very large amounts will have to use less
gas or stop using it altogether. Far from
indicating q failure Of the supply in the
near future, that shows that the Pittsburg
men have adopted conservative course.
in order to keep them producing ,
for the greatest possible length of time.
This action thus means q prolongation
rather than diminution Of their gas sup.
ply"
TEMPORARY SHORTAGES.
"You spoke q moment ago about the sup
ply receiving sudden check if the draft ID
allowed to become excessive2"
"Whst meant by that is" said Mr..
freeman, "the Pittsburg gas originates
from the Devonian states and is held in
certain strata above these states, which the
oil men term sands and through which it
passes for very great distances. The sands
also contain salt water. The natural gas
has to make its way through the salt water,
and, being lighter, it gathers at the highest
point in the folds or ridges in the sand and
hence reaches the surface through the wells.
In that way the Pittsburg wells draw their
supply from very large field, extending
hundreds of miles in northeasterly aud
direction and for consider
,ble distance easterly and westerly. Now,
4 the draft in the Pittsburg wells is allowed
% be excessive, the gas supply Immediately
the wells is temporarily ex-
,susted and the salt water is liable to ac-
simulate there and the gas can no longer
move its way through, or, if it does, it is
liable to be in small and irregular quanti-
les.
Sand torpedoing would not help the
ase?''
"No. To torpedo we'll after it had once
cached that condition would only make il
worse. 1t would make the opening larger, in
which the salt water would accumulate.
Thus, if the drafts on the Pittsburg wells is
Illowed to become excessive, the Pittsburg
district is liable to lose its gas supply Alto
,ether and suddenly. But if the draft 10
arefully limited to the normal pressure, il
nay last for many years. The course taken
y the Philadelphia Company is, therefore,
very wise one. 1t would be good thing
all gas producers in the Pittsourg field
vould do likewise. They should not kill
he goose that lays the golden egg"