Evening star., 1902-02-15
Natural Gas in 1900. #
BY F. II. OLIPHANT.

by r. Il. OLlfHANI.
No other fuel, natural or artificial, has
the value and convenience OF natural gas.
All other fuels require q large amount OF
labor to fit them for combustion, and most
of them must be converted into gaseous
form before they can be consumed. Nat
ural gas. however, has reached that form,
and Is In condition to take to itself the
amount of oxygen necessary for combus-
tion. The great natural reservoirs require
only to be pierced by the drill, when the
gas may be brought to the surface, where
1t Is at once ready to be used as fuel or to
become direct source of power in the gas
engine. No preparation is necessary for its
combustion and no residue is left. 1t is
easily distributed in pipes to points Of con-
sumption many miles distant, and no
known method for the distribution Of power
equals in economy that of the transporta-
tion OF gaseous fuel in pipes.
The great natural reservoirs Of this ideal
fuel. so far as known, are found on the
northwestern flank of the Appalachian
mountains. extending from northern-central
New York to central Tennessee. and on the
summit OF the great Cincinnati arch in
northwestern Ohio and northern Indiana.
1t is more or less associated with the pools
of petroleum found within these areas
These two fields furnish about 81 per cent
United States. Outside Cf these fields there
are smaller fields of natural gas In Kansas,
Colorado. California. Illinois, Missouri,
Texas and South Dakota. The original
III,
vast quantity Of gas has been allowed to
escape into the air in the early develop
ment. and when first used it was consumed
In the most extravagant manner. Only
after the visible supply had been greatly
lessened was 1t realized that the proportion
already taken out Of the reservoirs was a
large percentage of the original volume.
The Introduction Of the meter and other
appliances for the more careful manipula-
tion of gas wells and pipe lines has brought
about large saving in the amount of gas
required to produce the same heating eff
feet. The value of natural gas sold in the
United States In 1900 exceeded that for any
previous year. although the quantity was
less than was sold several years after it
was largely introduced. when the price was
very low. The lowest values recorded were
In the years 1885 1896 and 1897, when it was
slightly over 100000 year. Since 1897
the price and quantity have both increased
The value OF natural gas consumed in 1900
was 81, COG, ,463. as compared with $2OO74
S73 in $780, a gain Of So 531 $50. equal to II Il
per cent. Allowing 1875 cents per 1000 as
the average price at which 1t was sold In
1900. the amount sold would represent, in
round numbers, 127, ,602 SOC, 600 cubic feet
This quantity would fill a vessel having an
area of 1 square mile to q height Of 1850
feet IL it were possible to have the same
density throughout. II this amount OF gas
were burned in an economical way it would
replace 6,3SO, COO tons Of coal.
The total number of wells producing at
the close of 1900 was 10, 500. as compared
with 0.1ss producing wells at the close OF
1885, gain OF 76S wells. There were 99l
wells abandoned and $50 dry holes or non-
producing wells drilled In 1900. There were
lf,S70,2o4 feet OF pipe line 2 inches and
larger. amounting to 2. .19l miles, completed
In 10OO The total length OF all natural gas
| mains Of inches and larger reported in the
United States at the close OF 1900 was Fl ,O4S
miles. The largest size pipe in use is sc
inches In diameter.
sFrom the Mineral Resources of the
United States for 1900. government re-
port prepared by the United States geologi-
cal survey.