The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-10-25
TRIFLE WITH NATURE.
French Scientists Try to Make
an Earthquake.
PLACE OF OPERATION IN AMERICA
They Propose to Explode Vast Body OF
Natural Gas in the Tug River Dis
tpict, W. Va.

AS the Norfolk and Western west
bound passenger pulled up last Monday
at the station at Naugatuck, W. Va,
two small, elegant looking Frenchmen
stepped from the train, and, addressing
native, inquired of him the direction
to the big gas wells, situated few
miles below here, on the Tug River,
near Warfield. They employed this
young man as guide and baggage-car-
rier, and he has just returned from
down the river, and relates the follow
ing startling piece of news, which he
was enabled to pick up from their con-
versation, carried on in French, of
which he has slight knowledge.
1t seems that both of these men, Paul
Metz and Conrad Durand of Paris,
came over to this country secretly for
the express pnrpose of experimenting in
novel way with some of natures
forces. They are well-known writers
for scientific journals in France.
The cause of earthquakes is prob
lem which has created great deal of
each has different idea. Mr.. Durand
holds that all commissions and upheav-
ais are caused by large quantities of
natural gas accommodating in caverns or
natural reservoirs under the earth's
surface, and it is the explosion of this
gas through ignition that causes the
ruptures; on the other hand Mr.. Metz
holds to. the generally accepted theory
that it is the gradual cooling of the
earth's crust and its consequent con-
traction.
Not long ago these men received
from civil engineer, who had visited
these wells, a letter i'll which the wells
were described at length. They We're
told of the comparatively isolated stu
alton, the nature of the soil, the geolo-
gical formation, and the supposition of
a large reservoir from which the gas
was escaping. On receipt of this in
formation Mr.. Durand Immediately de-
termined to try an experiment, the
ultimate result of which may produce
CONFUSION, or an earthquake that
will shake up large area of this wild
and unsettled country and startle some
of the sleepy denizens into mental activ
ity, if nothing more, or it may end in a
''tiasco," as Mr.. Metz says Durand
bases his theory on the fact that an ex-
plosion will certainly follow when
spark or flame comes into contact
with stored or accumulated gases, as
frequently happens in coal mines.
On his arrival in New York Durand
purchased small electric exploder, to-
gether with several miles of small insu-
lated copper wire. Arriving at the
wells he decided to experiment on the
first well bored, which is at the mouth
of Burning Creek, on the East Virginia
side. 1t is reported that when this well
was bored the well auger, at the depth
of 1900 feet, seemed to drop into
large cavity, and the volume of gas was
so strong that it blew the augur out of
the well. Durand will lower two wires
twisted together with carbon points so
arranged on the ends that, sending an
electric current of great intensity
through one wire, will produce a spark
of sufficient heat as it passes from one
point to the other in making the
circuit to fire the gas in the cavern.
After arranging and securing the wires
in the well, he will then string out two
wires far up on old Mount Startling, at
the head of Burning Creek, where he
can get good view of the situation
through his glass. On some high pro-
jecting promontory overlooking the
foot hills far below, he will locate his
electrical instruments and prepare for
what he hopes will be a successful ter
mination of this scientific experiment.
The French scientists have carefully
examined the territory, and they feel
confident that the gas lies in lime
stone cavern running northeast and
southwest, beginning somewhere in
Southern Pennsylvania, thence through
West Virginia, and extending probably
as far south as Northeastern Tennessee.
1t has already been traced, through
surface vents, through Logan County,
, this State, and Martin County, Ken
' lucky. While Durand does not be-
lieve that there is enough gas left III
the reservoir to crack or produce an up
heaval of the earth's surface, still he
| believes that the experiment will prove
successful in that it will cause an ex-
l plosion and a perceptible tremor
I throughout this region.
l OF course the natives living in the
A immediate vicinity of these wells are
I not aware of the meaning Of these pre-
D parations or it is more than likely that
8 they would put stop to them in short
D order. However, Mr.. Durand dose not
wish to damage either life or property
: II he can help it, so he is prepared to
entice the people, whom he believes to
' be i'll the geratest danger, away from
@ their homes with some French gold
f and should there actually occur any
: damages to stock or property he will
2 pay for the same literally.
e The question that would now natur-
: ally arise is: Suppose the experiment
proves successful and life is lost, and
: the two Frenchmen get away in safety
n and back to France, what kind of an in
:, ternational question would it bring
o about between France and America,
o since these two are going to try this
o experiment on their own responsibility
and without leave or license from this
It country or the property owners in this
i State?
It While Mr.. Metz does not believe that
G Mr.. Durand will be successful, owing
It to the thickness Of the earths surface
n over this gas belt, still he has consented
a to come over and assist his friend in