The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-25

1nexhaustible reservoirs of natural gas.
ana yet today Salt Lake is enjoying the
every reason to believe that for many
years 10 come the gas from these fields
VIII be utilized in this city as means
OF generating heat and light.
The fact that gas existed along the
eastern shores of the lake was acct
dentally ascertained at first while sinking
artesian wells, but ii was a long time be-
fore any notice was taken of this i'm
portant discovery; and even then the
PUBIC at large refused to believe that the
find was of any consequence or to assist
IN any manner in taking the necessary
steps 10 prove the value of the find
And thus 1t was, while battling with
lack of faith and with their efforts held
up TO scorn and derision, that Colonel J..
T. Woodman and II. l. Driver installed
a well-driving machine on the ground
and began to sink for the gas reservoirs
their work was attended with many dis
couragements and set-backs, as they were
new to the. business and were obliged to
push their Investigations without the aid
that experience lends.
1t was many a long day, therefore, be-
fore they were rewarded with even the
where they toileG and labored and at
last, when they aid tap the gas strata it
was found that they had not put down the
well as it should have been done, and all
OF the work had TO be done over again, but
with the experience that they had gained
and with a better insight into the bust
ness these gentlemen, undaunted. began
over again and it was not long before
regular geysor was struck.
And even then the people of this city
were incredulous, and it took some time
TO convince them that the flow was a
genuine one. and finally when it dawned
upon the minds of our citizens that ma
tural gas had indeed been found, the ex-
element became intense and great crowds
hocked to the well at Lake Shore. The
railroads then woke up to the Importance
of the discovery, and excursions from this
city to the gas fields were the order of
the day. These were run by both the
Union Pacific and Rio Grande Western
roads, and the throngs that went out to
see the wonder We're enthusiastic over the
discovery and predicted great things for
Salt Lake City in consequence of its
possessing such a necessary adjunct TO
trade and business and in such close
proximity Night after night the well
made could be seen for miles around, and
the heat was so great that the wondering
crowd could not approach within so feet
OF the burning spouter.
For six months afterwards everything
was 'tgas" with the business men of this
city Companies were formed TO go into
the business OF sinking for this com
modify; but for awhile nothing tangible
was done towards piping the Vapor into
this city.
We're sunk with success and 1t was
demonstrated that there was scarcely any
doubt as 10 the permanency OF the cas-
fields. a company was Incorporated for
the purpose of utilizing the discovery and
of piping the gas into this city
This company was named the New
American Gas & Fuel company, and ever
since its incorporation ii has been steadily
at work sinking more wells and conduct
ing the product into this city for use in
various ways; and at the same time
private individuals and corporations have
been hard st work sinking new wells, and
with more or less success.
Three years ago the New American
company secured a franchise from the |
CITY to pipe the gas from the wells into |
fhe civ limits. and il was not long after /
wards before an arrangement was |
effected with the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas /
and Electric Light company which re- !
suited in The construction of a pipe line I
from the wells TO this city, and for the /
mast two years the people of Salt Lake I
have been using natural gas for ight |
and heating purposes; but IL was not until |
within the last twelve months that the |
gas began to be extensively used
: Fv degrees, however. the utilization of I
this fuel for light and heating and also I
for cooking. grew in popular favor, ana
where bat q few were using IL Tess IMAM
two wears ago, 10 is now to be found in
hundreds of households. and those who
are using il have become so Infatuated {
win its general utility that they would
now be foafh to give IL up. as they declare
that IT is far preferaple 10 aF1liif g. gas.
more cieanly than coal and much quicker
II IS not the intent Of this article to
20 into the details of the action of the
electric Light company as regards its
assertion that the supply of natural gas
lad failed and OF its intention TO go back
o the artificial article, as this subject
vas exclusively treated by this paper q
'ew weeks ago and the falsity Of the as
Iertion fully exposed. 1t is well 10 stale.