The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-02
ONCE MORE THE SMOKY CITY.
The Supply OF Natural Gas Failing--Pltts-
burg Has to Return to Conl.

ago PlttSburg discarded the name Of
Smoky City and has been rofe1red to
since that time as tho Gas City. The
change was proper, because the general
introduction OF natural gas in tho mills
and factories Of the city drove away the
smoke which had made Pittsburg IA
nous. But time has demonstrated that
relief from dark clouds and constant
showers of SCOT was only temporary
Tho natural gas bubble has burst.
Pittsburg is again overcast and it's citi-
zens will return to tho old habit of
measuring tho city's prosperity by tho
density OF the smoke that ascends from
the thousands of tall black stacks that
arc clustered together like forest trees
along the river fronts and in other
sections where manufactures arc To-
Gated.
Assertions that the supply Of natural
gas in this locality was failing have
been made It intervals ever since tho
first surprise over the wonderful tales
that followed it's general introduction as
u iuel Tor manufacturing purposes had
abatcd. These wero promptly and
truthfully met with Observation-Disclosures
that the supply Was apparently exhaust
less, and lnsinuations that tho reports
jealous of Pittsburg's good fortune, Now
tho manufacturers have formal notice
from the gas companies that they must
find another fuel, because the supply is
not great enough to justify its continued
sale on the wholesale plan; private CON
sumcrs have notices of increased prices
that place the cost Of gas so con3idcra-
bly, above that OF coal as To make it n
luxury to be enjoyed only by the we'll
to- do, and, although the weather. is still
moderate, many housewives are com
prlled to put wood in their stoves to get
enough heat for cooking.
Natural gas il not absolutely gene 1t
Will continue for some wears to be used
as Il fancy domestic fuel by such persons
as are disposed 10 pay Il good price for a
G. can and cheerful fire. But no person
attempts To drny that tho day OF nat
ural gas IS = fuel Tor manufacturing
purposes is past. a few concern3-les:,
tAan Il dozen which located their cstab-
!iShments in The midst OF great wells
VIII have an abundant supply for some
time TO como. The others are return
ing to the use OF coal or manufac turing
gas a. rapidly rs possible.
In, story OF few periods in the history
OF any community is moro interesting
o. remarkable than that OF the natural
%aS era OF l'iitAburg and Western Penn
sylvania The existence Of natural gas
WAS known long ago, but its value was
not recognized till 1881, when George
Westinghouse, .Ir., struck Il heavy flow
while drilling All artosian well on tho
grounds surrounding the residence in
the !wenty-iirst ward &C this city. The
years that have followed have been
go!ucn years. Persons who have ncve..
orcamcd OF fortunes have become
wealthy; old manufac tories have been
enlarged i'll many cases TO double and
trcole their former size; new establish
ments, employing large numbers of meE-
nave sprung up on every hand; eight
prosperous towns with an average popu-
latlon or over 5000 persons to each,
have been built within radius of thirty
miles of PittsburG; and Allegheny has
Increased from 237, coo to $40, OO0 Pitts
curg's chief ucts-iron, steel and
CLASSIFY reason OF the freedom from
sulphur Of the new fuel, have obtained
a reputation for excellence that has
given them great advantage over com
petitors. All classes within tho terri
tory which has come to be known as tho
natural gas belt have had season OF UNI
parallleled prosperity.
Those who invested their money in
natural gas stock, and who see what
they paid $50 and more per share
for going begging for less than ono half
that sum, are less cheerful, but thcy
are not making much noise The fact
is that il all the plants of tho natural
gas companies should be declared worth
less tomorrow, comparatively few
holders would lose much money actually
invested For the past three years the
natural gas business OF Pittsburg has
t,,I
Philadelphia Company, with capital
stock OF 81, 800, 900, and the Peoples Nat
nral Gas Company, with II capital stock
OF ST 100000.
Thirteen other companies have been
organized and begun business since tho
introduction of natural gas; but with
the exception of two that have failed
because OF miSmanagcmcnt, all havo
been absorbed by the Philadelphia and
Peoples companies, and the gross appa-
rent capitalization OF these corporations
is over $l7,000,00O All intelligent
Pittsburgers know that this great CAPT
tai represents $4,000, 900 of cash ac,u-
ally invested, and that the balance is
water Yet for at least five years divi-
bends ranging from to IL per cent. per
annum have been paid on the total capt.
talization.
nv 'eNcA mas DccN anu Is nclU Dy COM
parativcly few persons, and these very
generally obtained their holdings on tho
ground floor principle. Therefore, the
dividends paid long ago made good the
original investments. and the complete
failure of gas would cause little real
less to those who now control the sun
ply. As matters stand the prospects
are that there Will be gas enough for a
large number Of private consumers for
some time i,e.ore the supply is entirely
exhausted those AZ The head of the gas
companies hope TO have perfected pro-