The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-05-20

souri, lose opportunities they VII.
never nnd elsewhere,
a lato discovery a. Rich Hil Z.
natural gas. several wells hay,
been bored IN the near vicinity aud
the gas was recently plpod Into thg
town. The supply seems abundant
II n being used for lighting, heating
ana culinary purposes 70 some ex'
tent Il has already supplauted gaso'
line and coal for small power plants.
Other larger power plants are either
making the necessary changes for IT.
use or contemplating It's introdue.
ton.
Rich Hnl IL probably the only
town IN the State OF Missouri today
that II extensively using Missouri
natural gas.
The discovery Of natural at Rich
Hill was not an accident. Its ex-
lstance In the field exploited has
been known for many years. Many
farmers have at times encountered
IL In sinking wells for water. 1t has
also been quite often found in pros
peeting for coal. Uutil recently.
when piped into Rich Him, It has
seldom been utilized. Occasionally
some enterprising farmer has taken
advantage OF his discovery and used
the flow of "a well for lighting aud
heating bis home; perhaps for oper-
ating n mill for grinding corn for
live stock, or other purpose. There
Is a farm i've miles west Of Rich HiH
where u has been SO used for several
years past. on this farm gas lights
burn in the open barnyard and other
places. night and day. Two years
ago a neighboring farmer IN seeking
water struck "a strong flow Of gas.
lie Is using IL now. the same as his
neighbor. for lighting and heating
his home. and for power In operat-
ing farm machinery. The volume OF.
gas today, ON the two farms mem
toned, ia as strong as when first
discovered. Other farms are 20 be
in the same section OF country
where natural gas has not been al
lowed TO go to waste.
There is unquestionably au unde-
velOped natural gas field in the yicin-
Of Rich hin. Experts have eX-
amined and pronouce the formation
most promising. Stratas OF oil sand
been frequently encountered IN
borings made for water and coal.
Only shallow borings have thus far
been made. The company now sup
Rich IAN with gas have Ave
only two Of which IN being
used. The deepest Of these webs,
'xceed four hundred feet, the pres
.ure varying from ninety 20 Que
hundred pounds TO the square
nch.
The Rich ili Natural Gns Comp
my Is a home people Organization,
md It's members have "a their chief
the upbuilding OF the town
ro factories and other large con
OF gas, low rates willbemnde
The price TO citizens for domestic
use Is thirty cents per thousand
feet. The gas company D. stfi
prospecting and hopeful OF striking
4 ''gusher' when the drill Is sunk
ieep into the earth.
Another resource OF Rich Inn are
beds otshale aud clay, suitable for
he manufacture Of brick. tlleI aud
pipe. \ brick and tile plant
Ave large down-draft kilus,
las been Ia operation ioU the past
rear or two. Al times THIS plant
ias been unable 60 supply the lie
nand for their products. A vein OF
.oal. opened on thesibe Of this plant,
supplies the needed fuel, while the
Jaw material for brick aud tile Is
.ound at the door Of the factory.
Thorough tests Of the clhy beds
were made by experts from Ohio
lwo years ago. A. a result n cor
Doration was formed with "a capital
stock OF SIS, 600. for the mauufnc.
lure OF tile aud sewer pipe at ilch
Iill Ground was secured aud the
work Of putting mp the necessary
buildings was well under way when
the financial panic spread over the
country and put n stop 90 further
work, With the return Of prosper.
Il Is expected the clay beds OF
Rich Hni win be utilized:
SUn anot her resource that
promises much for Rich lam Is the
drainage system, now nearing COM
pleuon, OF the Marlas dea Cygnes
valley lands. The erratlc
des Cygnes river zlgzags its
at varying distances 10 the
north AM east ol Rich Han II Is "A
tr%cncherOus stream with wide. rich