The record-union., 1893-08-02
RECKLESS USE OF NATURAL GAS
Millions of Dollars Worth Poured Out
OF tho Earth to Go to Waste.

Millions of Dollars Worth Poured Out
OF tho Earth to Go to Waste.
The State Geologist Of Indiana, S. S.
GOrby, presentsin the EngHeeriuq M0g-
dziHe the latest conclusions of science re-
gardino the origin of natural gas, includ-
ing the evidence of a limited supply. Its
permunency, he says, depends largely
upon the use made Of it. For the past
eight years il has been eXtraVagantIy and
| toOlishly wasted. For period of nearly
one year there was daily waste in the
State of Indiana alone of more than lOO-
O0O,OO cubic feet. The daily loss to the
people OF Indiana on account Of this enor-
nous waste was more $4,000. 1t is es-
timated that 10000 cubic feet OF gas i'll the
Indiana held is equal to ton OF the best
coal in stoves or furnaces. Coal delivered
IN the Indiana gaShelds is worth So p per
ton. 1t Is not an eXtravagant statement
to assert that the cash value Of natural
gas wasted in Indiana since its discovery
would be more than so, 200, 900 - an
amount greater by far than the total capi-
tai invested in these fields on account of
cheap fuel. The waste is still going at the
rate Of 25,0O0,000 cubic feet daily. Hun
dreds OF ham beaus, consuming on an av-
erage 1900 cubic feet of gas per hour, have
been allowed to, burn day and night with
out interruption, ever since the beginning
of developments in the gas area. Hun
dreds of Improbable wells are not
plugged, but are left wide open and the
gas allowed to escape into the air. This
Is especially true OF the section OF the field
where petroleum is found in connection
with gas. Scores of isolated wells that
have been drilled for oil yield gas in large
quantities, but they are not connected with
pipelines, and the oil is saved, but the
gas permitted to waste.
Reckless extravaganza also prevails in
the use OF gas, both i'll factories and pri-
vate houses. Gas, in the Indiana field
is not sold by measure, but it is supplied
| for factory or domestic purposes at a fixed
price per month. 1t makes no difference
whether much or little is consumed, the
price IS the same. 1t costs no more to
continue the fires tWenty-four hours in
the day than it does one hour. With this
state OF things existing the consumer has
no interest in pracucing economy. Fires
are allowed to burn continually in unOc-
cupied rooms and unused furnaces, with
out regard to the value Of the fuel con-
sumed. Ii gas were sold by measure for
all purposes, consumers, especially would
practice economy. The statement may
seem eXtravagant, but it is doubtless true
that at least 40 per cent. Of the gas con
sumed in the Indiana field factories,
dwellings, ETC., is actually wasted.
But one result can follow this extrava-
gance, and that is quick exhaustion Of
the held. A final exhaustion is ineyita-
bic, under any circumstances, but the
protiigacy that now prevails is destroying
the field at a tWo-fold ratio. With ecouo-
my in its use natural gas will bring capt.
tai and prosperity to the field for years TO
come, but the quick exhaustion that will
surely follow the extreme prodigality OF
the past few years Will necessarily result
in the abandonment of the field, to a cer-
tain extent for manufacturing purposes,
Gas is most beneficial when consumed
for domestic purposes. In this way it
/ benefits much larger proportion of the
population, and there is also more profit
to the producer in selling it for domestic
use. AS the volume Of the supply grad
ually decreases, it will necessarily be
Withdrawn from use in the factories and
the supply confined exclusively to do
mestic use.
1t is well to note that at this time there
is united action on the part of the vari-
Gus companies producing natural gas
throughout the various fields looking to
its preservation, and endeavor1ng to Sc
cure rigid economy in it's use. If these
efforts are successful, the period Of pros
perity now prevailing throughout the gas
areas VIII be materially heightened.