The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1892-03-08
Matural cas-.

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; which at ene time was seen emittin,
from the ground in the neighborhoo(
of Spencer, this was many year.
ago, and when a number of gentlemen
were boring dor oil. Prospects wer,
very flatteling for oil, and appear
ances are just as good to-day, bu
while driving, ,tlais well at the depth o
about four or five hundred feet, Their,
was an explosion, which rendered tho
machinery nseless and stopped opera,
tions. Gas flowed out and became ig.
nited, and, for days, until the opening
was filled, there was continued
blaze.
This is not proof Of "a perpetual gas
flow, but is one of the best Indications
and we believe our people could well
afford to sink a we'll with the view OF
obtaining natural gas. The cost OF
boring well, say 1000 feet, would
not exceed $4,000, and with a fair in
terest guaranteed prospectors, they
would share in this expense. We say
cur people could well afford the ex-
penditure, of a reasonable sam for
AN investigation along this line,
and as proof of this state
ment we will give the condition of a
town with and without natural gas.
Prior to 1888 Hartford City, Ind, had
no gas, neither did it have factories
or any other industries except those
usually found in country town.
Hartford, City, unlike Mt. Sterling,
had limited resources, surrounded by
farming country, was merely COM
mercial town with business circum-
scribed, it simply being of merchan-
tile character, and almost exclusively
with the farmer, whose products are
almost entirely wheat, oats, corn and
hay.
In 1888, when gas wells were opened
on account of cheap fuel, the attention
of capitalists was turned that way and
manufacturing plants were establish
ed. To-day, as the result of cheap
fuel, there are two paper mills-one
manufacturing from wood and the
other from straw-working 300 hands
one glass factory, working 400 men,
and another of equal capacity in
course of construction spoke factory,
employing 60 men; heading factory,
employing 40 men washing machine
factory, with 30 men employed, and
two planning mills, with rs hands en-
ployed in each, The total investment /
exceeds 100000 in buildings and ma
chinery, and the amount of money
used in active business is about $780,
000' Prior to 1855 the pcpulation-@ was
1900, how, including laborers and |
their families, the population is esti-
mated at about 10000, Of whom the
working men and their families
amount to the rise of 5000. The pay
roll for 1885 men amounts $3.50 per
day, SIS, APO per week or $S0l,S40 per
year, the greater part of which is
spent with the merchants of that city. |
With such an object lesson before us,
could we not afford to risk $1,000 in
making an experiment? With gas
in abundance, of exhaGstiess, supply,
in the hands of company to furnish
it for fuel and illumination for Mt. |
Sterling and surrounding cities,
nothing would prove more profitable
investment. In the event o company
cannot be found with confidence to
make such ar experiment, the people
could well donate from S. to $25 each,
because, if it proved success, see the
saving in fuel alone. The average
housekeeper pays for coal for his
cooking stove at least $3 per month
or $3G per year. Naural gas costs
in Hartford City, Ind, sixty cents per
month or $7.2Ope year.
We have written this article and rccit-
ed facts and figures, not from an idle
dream or for the purpose of filling
space, but in order to stimulate some
one to make Investigations, and, if
iustifable, to raise the raise the means
with which to make the experiment.
Such towns as Hartford City are all
overthe natural gas belt of Indiana,
and would be of greater consequence
should gas be found.
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Good Words for Carlisle