The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-01-13
NATURAL GAS DIMINISHING.
COMPLETE EXH4 USTION PROB
4BGEIN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Increase In Number of Factories, But
Decrease i'm the Number OF Wells Drii-
ed-Decreasc Began In 1sss or 1889

ed-Decrease Began In lSSs or 1859
For several years it has been general
ly known by persons interested in the
natural gas industry that the supply
of this fuel in the United States was
slowly but suerly failing, and in many
instances the entire exhaustion OF the
gas fields could be predicted for a very
near future. In nearly every place
where there are wells there has been
decline in, the pressure, ana during
the year 1897 there We're comparatively
few new wells drilled.
The United States geological survey
has collected valuable information OF q
scientific character concerning the use
and production of natural gas, and the
results of their Investigations up to
January /, 1898, are contained IN the
recent report of the director Of the geo
logical survey on the mineral resources
of the United States.
That the failure of the natural gas
supply is a matter of some economic
importance is we'll shown by a state
ment of few facts connected Wild the
/ industry In 1897 the amount received
| for natural gas consumed amounted 10
| S12, 754, $40, and it is computed that the
! solid fuel such as coal and wood when
| it is displaced would have amounted to
| $f4.175,274. TO convey this gas here We're
in use on December 81, 1897, In me
United States, 1904 miles of PIPES, while
there were also pipes from oahada
bringing natural gas to TINS country
| The distribution of this amount among
the different states shows very Wen the
comparative use of the fuel. The lead
ing states in this respect are Pennsyl-
vania, with 1884 miles Of pipe; Indiana
| with 4,399 miles, Ohio, with l,799 miles,
West Virginia, with 1913 miles, and New
York, with Ala miles
The companies concerned IN the pro-
duction Of natural gas have taken nu-
merous measures to keep up the supply
both by extending their lines to new
yells and by the use of mechanical &C.
vices In many localities, however,, the
chief work has been to prolong the HE
of the wells and to keep them free from
water. AS the pressure diminishes the
wells have become filled with water, ana
their usefulness is entirely destroyed.
1t Is a matter of great regret hat the
| supply OF natural SaS - oi Wv
as in many places there are an me ease''
| number of uses to when J. may oe
put The use Of incandescent nantes
with natural gas has increased, emu 1t
is said that this method furnishes the
cheapest and most satisfactory method
of illumination There has also been
growing use of natural gas engines,
particularly for pumping oil wells, since
they can be worked much more aoVdh-
tageously than steam. rms IS the case
where number or welis occur toSthet'
for it is found that the loss on stsaiil
due to condensation IN long steam pipe
is an important FACTOR IN the economy
Of such plant. The gas engines arg
also used to operate air oompfessors'
and then the well or other machinery
can be operated by compressed am IN
the manufacture of lampblack natarai
gas is also extensively useu' anu as 80
well known, severai or the IRON ana S,fe'
mills In and about Plttspurs nave 'ipe
lines Of their own extending TO tue gus
fields. In the use or natural gas lor
domestic fires there mas beefi coifsioef
able decrease but as iaf as possible we
manufacturing concerns SO equipped
continue to burn the natural fuel.
In Pennsylvania, fwhere the use
natural has been most extensive, the
value of the product mas decreased from
Sl92S2375 in 1898, When IL reached d
maximum, to $6,242,549 ~ 1891 IN ra's
state there are numerous lndlcatiohs vi
the exhaustion OF seVerai iielos more OF /
less rapidly, according 70 the uei'ta'lu
and capacity of the gas pool. Inc lall
in pressure, which Is a sure sign OF me
exhaustion of the wells mas Drought
about the adoption OF numerous
changes in the manner distrlputlon' wa
much greater care Is exercised IN 'he
sale and use of the product 80 much
has been accomplished In TINS direction
largely by the use of meters, that l. Is
estimated that one cubic foot IS now
used where formerly threeNor Tour were
consumed to accomplish the same effect
AS the pressure falls 1t takes longer
time, of course, to obtain a given guam
tity of gas. and to Keep I'D the supply
more wells must bedrllled Tue neXt
condition requiring attention lis the SIZE
of the mains, and this often mas 10 pe
increased. and gas pump Installed. III
1897 in Pennsylvania 2,29l Sas Weiis
were reported producing BIT rcG121l
tive wells We're drilled, ana III wells
abandoned Ninety-six holes were drill