The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1890-12-19
NATURAL GAS.
Reasons for Steady Decrease and Final
Extinction of the Supply.

Extinction of the Supply.
Though the natural cenbustible
gases are destined to speedy exhaus-
ton, there effect on the economic
methods of our civilization are certain
to be enduring. says Prof. N. S. Shaler
in the Aressa, writing on the subject of
rock gases. The use of this new fuel
has accustomed the public to a better
method of bringing burnable material
to the factories and dwellings than
has been pursued since the dawn of
civilization. 1t will certainly be a
matter of surprise to the future his
torian of the economic science of our
day that we have SO long persisted in
the practice of bringing crude fuel to
to our furnaces and domestic iireplaces
and have patiently endured the trials
which smoke, dust and ashes have inn
posed upon us. 1t is not to be expect
ed that any of the thrifty cities which
have enjoyed the advantages of rock
gas will be willing to return to the
fuder processes of firing which they
have SO long abandoned. Nor is it
likely that other rival towns will be
content to accept the deprivation of
this good which their geologic con-
ditions force upon them, provided any
economic method whereby artificial
gas may be furnished them can be de-
vised.
The invention of water-gas seems to
provide an art by which we may hope
to supply a vaporous fuel at a cost
which will little exceed the average
tax laid upon consumers by the COM
panies which pipe the rock gas to many
of the western towns, This form of
fuel is produced by passing steam
through large vessels containing in
candescent carbon in the form of an
thracite coal; the result is a mixture
principally composed of one atom of
carbon and one of oxygen known as
drogen. The water of the steam is,
in fact, decomposed. the oxygen COM
binding with the carbon and the
hydrogen remaining uncombined.
When burnt at the point of use the
carbonic oxide (CO) takes up from the
air another atom of oxygen, forming
carbonic dyoxide (CO2) and the hy-
-drogen also combines with oxygen,
forming water. These processes give
rise to the evolution of great heat.
by enriching the gas with the vapor of
petroleum OF other hydrocarbons. the
material may be made to afford an
excellent light. Although only one
fourteenth of the weight of water-gas
is hydrogen, this element is extremely
valuable in giving heat to the flame,
for it yields caloric in burning in larger
share than any other known substance.
The question now arises how far this
resource afforded by gaseous fuel
drawn frem the earth is likely to en-
-dure. Some observers of an overcon-
fident turn of snind are disposed to
ahink that the supply is to be per-
manent, but all the evidence points to
the conclusion that the supply is of
very temporary nature. Owing TO the
fact that the gas has to creep through
interstices OF the grains which COM
pose the rock in which it is contained,
ahe pressure and consequently the
amount of gas discharged steadfastly
=diminishes from the day the we'll gives
access to it. The rate of this decrease
varies, as may be conceived. according
ITO the permeability of the rock and the
ioriginal amount of the pressure: but
in the end tie supply from every well
is exhausted. New wells in the same
.neighborhood may at sufficient distance
from The original boring, give access
tto other parts of the field, but in rel
,'.atively brief time large area may be
exhausted. At the existing rate of de-
mand for these light and heat-giving
gases, it is doubtful if in fifty years
from the present time they VIII have
any place in our economies. and ia the
regions of most extended co assumption,
=as in western Pennsylvania. it seems
quite certain that the exhaustion of the
J store will be accomplished in much
less time. In estimating the probability
! ef discovering strata containing gas at
depths below the levals to which the
search has been carried, we must re-
: member that the deeper the deposit the
I. more likely it is that the materials have
undergone great changes in their
eharacter-changes which would have
been likely to expel the gaseous ma
terial from the beds. In word, the
conditions which led to the formation
of the gases. which are of value as
sources of heat and light are common,
but those which lead to the effective
storage of the materials are of seldom
occurrence. 1t is, therefor, safe to say
that this. the last great economic re-
source afforded by the under-earth.-
though precious, is a most feetin2
gift.