Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-22

this question:" continued Captain Bigger,
'that arrangements have been made to
make public exhibition of gas-saving ap-
! pliances for the purpose of demonstrating
that great saving can be effected over pres
ent methods. The companies will supply
the gas for the purpose, and the manufact-
urers of stoves, etc, will supply the ap-
pliances. We intended doing this at the
| Exposition, but could not get the space"
Nothing has been done SO far about the
manufacturing end of the business. The
company would wait to see what gas it
would have TO spare when the domestic
| users had declared their minds on the mat
| ter
S. B. Kennedy, who has charge of the
bookkeeping department of the Allegheny
| Heating Company, was asked whether the
charge made by some consumers OF natural
gas that air was forced through the mains,
and that it run up the figures on the meters.
He said it was all nonsense. He said there
was an actual shortage, and the companies
could not possibly supply the demand. He
then entered into a disqusition to show
that to attempt to increase bills by forcing
air would be suicidal policy on the part OF
the companies.
NO MONEY VISIBLE IN IT
In this connection it is pertinent to re-
mark that although wells of considerable
pressure are being struck weekly in the
fields where oil boring is in progress, the
companies that supply gas to the cities have
competitors and probably see no money in
bidding against them, though the Mahoning
Company seems to be an exception, having
paid $4,000 for some territory in Moon
township within a week. To lay pipe
10 or 10 miles to bring gas to the city is an
expensive operation, but right in the oil
fields customers are readily found. During
the winter months the question of supplying
fuel to the bailers at drilling wells is a
serious one. The woods are hub deep with
mud in the winter and drillers sometimes
cannot get coal at any price. Besides they
can afford to pay more for gas fuel
than for coal on account OF
the saving of labor A six-inch main is
sufficient to supply large territory with
pressure of 100 to 400 pounds within mile
of the place of consumption. The output
of the roarer on the Martin Clever farm,
struck last week, is being consumed within
a short distance of the well
STRENGTH OF THE GAMBLING SPIRIT.
1t might be supposed that with oil under
40 cents a barrel there would be no induce
ment to drill, but experience has shown that
in a territory where gushers are occasionally
found, the gambling spirit is strong enough
to keep the drill moving. A 500 barrel well
will pay, even at 90 cents a barrel. and
every man who drills believes he will
strike il.
There is one thing comforting in this con-
nection. The nearer the end Of natural gas
appears to inventors the harder they work
to perfect appliances that will make artifi-
cial gas at price that will bring it within
reach as fuel. Years ago r. H. Smith held
that it ought to be made at 10 cents per
1,000 and there Is no doubt that it will find
ready sale at 10 cents, as the saving that can
be effected in domestic service and the at
tendant cleanliness are strong arguments in
its favor among people who have not only
experienced the bliss of using natural gas,
but who have the appliances already at hand
for using its successor.
LOW PRESSURE ON THE PIPES.
1t is said that the pressure on the natural
gas mains in this city is not at present above
eight ounces, and it is also said that before
a wear passes the artificial product is ex-
pected to course through the natural gas
mains. Some say the only thing to be
overcome is to proftably purify the product
so that it will not clog the mains with re-
siduum.
J. y. Pew, of the Peoples Gas Company,
saws the rate will be uniform in all the COM
panies. "The increase is not exactly at
to the fact that the supply of
gas is petering out. The rate
charged under the meter system was only a
test. We have found that at old rates the
meter system was big saving to the con-
sumer, but was not money in the pockets of
the company. 1t does not pay the company
for production to furnish gas at 10 cents per
], 900 and in order to make money that the
price must he increased Gas is falling in
the new wells and the old producers Also"
Joseph Abel, of Abel, Smith & Co., said |
they were notified some time ago by the |
Philadelphia Company that it would be I'M
able TO supply them with gas sufficient to
run their plant for the coming season. This |
will affect the melting department, which is
the most important one. eve have not |
vet decided what to do said Mr.. Abel,
'but are holding under advisement the |
plan of using our Western factory entirely
the coming winter and shutting down our
works here. But nothing definite has been
decided upon. 1 understand a number of |
factories are going to manufacture their
own gas 1t is a great pity the gas is play.
ing out. 1t will be great loss to the city,
both financially and otherwise"
"Then you think the natural gas is play
out, and that eventually the supply will
cease entirely?"
''Yes, it looks very much that way, and
what little is being used now costs almost
twice as much as it did year ago. 1 don't |
think we will return to coal if we can pos
sibly help it, as the expense for the change
would be too great. The tearing out of the
natural gas fittings and valves, and prepar-
ing for coal would cost nearly as much as
one years gas bill.