Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-13
/ PROSPECTS OF NATURAL GAS.
The Geological Society Considers the Life
of the Flow in Ohio.

The Geological Society Considers the Life
of the Flow in Ohio.
Natural gas engaged the attention yes
terday morning of the members of the
American Geological society, who are
holding their first annual session at the
American Museum of Natural History.
Professor Edward Orton, state geologist
of Ohio, presented an elaborate paper on
the "Origin of the Rock Pressure of Ma
tural Gas in the Trenton Limestone of
Ohio and Indiana" Professor Orton
said:
"Natural gas derived from the Tren-
ton limestone has supplied during the
past year and is now supplying all the
fuel and considerable part of the arti-
fetal light that is used by at least 400, 900
people in northwestern Ohio and in GEN.
tral Indiana. Within the same line it is
the basis of varied line of manufac-
lures, the annual product Of which will
make an aggregate Of many million dol
lars. More than forty glass furnaces, be-
sides steel mills, potteries, brick works
and a long list of factories, in which
cheap power is desideratum, have been
built up on all Sides"
Professor Orton discredited the theories
that the rock pressure of the gas is due
| to the weight of the everything rocks or
to the expansive force Of the gas He
went into an elaborate argument to show
that the rock pressure of gas in Trenton
limestone of Ohio and Indiana is hydro
static in its origin. ''There is no dan
ger" he said, "that the great gas reser-
voirs of today will cave in or 'blow up
after the gas is withdrawn from them.
The gas will not leave the porous rock
until the salt water drives it out and
takes its place.
"This doctrine lays the ak at the root
of all the optimistic theories which bios
som out in every district where natural
gas is discovered, and especially among
the real estate operators of each new
field, to the effect that nature will moi
fail to perpetually maintain or perpetu
ally renew the supplies which we find 81
delightfully."- adapted to our comfort ant
service. So far as we are concerned, i
is certain that nature has done about al
that she is going to do.
| "No doctrine could exert more health
full influence on the communities tina
are enjoying the inestinaable advantage
of the new fuel than this. If it were a
once accepted it would add to the dura
ton of these precious supplies Of power
The ignorant and reckless waste that i
going on in the new gas fields is lament
able. The most of it comes from cit
and village corporations that are bring
ing the gas within their boundaries t
give away to manufacturers whom the
can induce on these terms to locate anon
them. To characterize the use of mi
lion feet of natural gas day in singl
town for burning common brick, for ez
ample, or in calcining common limt
stone, there is a good word at hand
vandalism.
"The geologists may make themselve
temporarily disagreeable thereby, bu
just as far as they convince those ths
, are interested they lengthen the life {
! the precious supplies. Judging from tf
present indications, the Trenton lin,
stone gas in Ohio is not likely TO be Ion
lived. 1t seems entirely probable tn,
the term of its further duration can
expressed within the limits. of n,lmb'
! of one digit. In considerable sections (
| the field the saltwater is very aggressiv
: It requires steadily increasing pressul
: on the wells to hold ii back.
|. "There is likely TO be great disappoin
/ ment in what is called gas tefritor;
O The, pressure and volume Of large are
are found to fail together. Wells dra
their supplies from long distances.
: force OF even q section mile quare ms
be effectually drained Of It's gas withoJ
q well being drilled upon it Natur
!; gas is very admirable product, but
q highest office, after all, should be to pr
j pare the way for something better tn;
d itself, viz, artificial gaseous fuel--bett
q for the reason that while it furnishes ;
. the intrinsic advantages of natural &
! it wiil'be free from the inevitable disa
= vantages Of treasures secured in the W;
!. this gas has been, secured. New Yo
SUN. gc3sll aosd Jcn sci ea5 gad H8aI
Q A servant girl living with q fam
. near Bostenl recently gave her mistr
? "notice.n Elm, not used to these ke
!, lsene lamps,n she said. II can't u
d n ~ xxrhora ,yhoro fhnv don VI ave- iylls