Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-18
VERITABLE GEYSER OF GAS.
It's Operations Witnessed by Several
Hundred Citizens Yesterday.
PROPOSITION OF rngGAs COMPANY


Nearly four hundred prominent
citizens, including all classes OF business
men and several membera Of The
municipal government, went Quito the
gas well-, Mt Lake Shore, on special
train over the Rio Grande Western
yesterday afternoon, at O'Clock.
The run was made In twenty-five
minutes. Before leaving the tn,iu the
passengers were cautioned TO ex'
tiuguish their cigars as the 81 In that
locality was so heavily
LADEN WITH GAS
II was feared that II might again be
isnitod.
About half an hour was spent In look
ing over the ground and witnessing
series OF magnificent eruptions from
the big well, which has been sunk TO a
depth OF 502 fcot. When that level
was reached the pressure became 80
great that the pipe, which has ak
inch opening, could not carry oil the
escaping vapor and channel was
torn out along thc entire length ofthc
exterior Of the iron casing. \ noise
like unto the roaring Of cataract was
produced and the air was filled with
gas. IL became iguited by q spark
from tho engine aud the country fof
miles around was
BRILLIANTLY ILLuMfsATED
= Il all talNnl. lha
opening was filled and the blaze
thus extlngulshed. Unfortunately
the channel has been again blown
open and the gas now belches forth
with greater fury than ever before.
Several wagon loads OF sacked sand
and rocks are nnid to have been utilized
In filling up the cavity, but thoy were
elected with fearful force. Vast guam
titles of gas are instantly escaping,
and ut present there seems 10 be no
means Of saving, II and II II probable
that the well Will have TO De nbau-
ioned and another sunk near by with
greater precauiion.
BY order OF the management the
we'll was uncappcd anu the crowd OF
CURIOUS SPECTATORS
which had gathered close around the
shau rapidly ran Off distance 0i
about ONE hundred yards, where they
were given an ocular demonstration
OF the operations OF this wonderful
well. First Of all theIe was rum.
bling noise, Indicating the workings
Of some powerful force far below the
surface OF the earth. This was Inn
mediately followed by a terrific parox-
ysm, which caused the ground for
some distance around TO shake. a Kind
OF shnle and mud were thrown Into tue
air In repeated Jets nearly, II not quite,
three hun bred feet. II was a
GRAND SPECTACLE,
and one that brought forth many ex-
CARNATIONS OF surprise and admiration.
The gas In perfectly odorless.
Experts who have visited the locali-
ty and made a careful inspection OF
the ground are Of the opinion
that this well Is situated directly
over u cavernous recesss which Is con-
nected with subterranean channels
which extend under the lake toward
the island.
Two wells have been sunk by the
Natural Gas company, which has
represented TO the City Council that II
had several flowing wells Of gas on IT.
grounds In Davis county, twelve miles
north Of Salt Lake; that the company
had since It's organization expended
$4,000 IN the purchase OF lands,
machinery, etc., and had sufficient
capital to sink other wells ami conduct
gas by mains 20 this city and distribute
the same for mechanical and domestic
uses. The petitioners therefore asked
for franchise granting the COM
psny the right OF way 10 construct
gas mains through the streets OF this
city, for the purpose OF supplying gas
for heat, fuel and motive power. a
franchise for Illuminating purposes was
not sought for. In asking for this
franchise, the company offered 10 fur
nish gas TO private consumers at cost
OF 81 l.3 per cent. less than the present
cost of coal, and to municipal and
county buildings less than 80 per cent.
Of such cost, aud would guarantee 10
the city supply Of natural gas sum-
cient for oil present or future require.
ments. In making this offer the COM
pany had In mind the almost certain
stimulant TO the. city's growth which
such an enterprise M this insured, and
which had promoted growth In popu-
lation equal TO 100 per cent. In three
years In the gas fields Of the East.
The municipal street committee took
tho matter under consideration and
recommended TO the Council that the
same be granted ON condition that II
shall not take effect until the gas com.
pauy shall have laid Its mains to the
city limits, which must DO done within
ono year; also, on condition that tho
gae company satisfy the Council OF It's
ability tosupply gas as claimed by II In
the petition.
On this recommendation the city
attorney with the committee on streets
associated were instructed TO draw up
o franchise us asked for.
The company has sent East for new
and better machinery, which will soon