The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
sSsasl to n. was,.nrtos Herald

s7sazI 70 Ths wsstlug-oa Herald
Baltimore. Nd. Jan S0-CIaiming that
Baltimore would be fortunate TO procure
natural gas for consumers in this city.
A ". Athey. II a letter published in the
Baltimore News, discusses the gas situs-
ton in Parkersburg. W Va, and asserts
that the natural product is furnished con
sumers n West Virginia at tie low price
Of IS cents Per ]. 900 feet. The price paid
in Washington for the product OF the
Washington GaslightCompany is s11B, OF
. cents greater than the Parkersburg
price.
The question Of piping natural gas to
Baltimore from the West Virginia fields,
as is done TO Pittsburg from the same
section, and is done 10 Kansas City from
the Kansas fields. Is being seriously dis
cussed here. In THIS connection il IS
stated that a pipe line from the West
Virginia fields has been surveyed 10 q
point near Washington with a view OF
furnishing that city with a lower-priced
light
Mr. Athey believes that gas piped from
the West Virginia fields could be fur
nished TO Baltimore or Washington at a
cost Of 50 OF 50 cents per thousand feet
Natural Gas Is Clean.
Mr.. Athey's letter. in part. is as fol-
lows:
The gas supply for Parkersburg. ".
Va. has been changed two OF three
times perhaps IN the last fifteen years,
and the gas IS now piped from q distance
OF about ninety-eight miles. This gas is
burned in this city Of about $500 inhabi-
tants for almost everything for which heat
IS needed and il fullnls its purpose in
every respect, being very much cheaper
than coal and very much cleaner also.
Natural gas from West Virginia VII
burn almost as brightly as artificial gas
viii from a tip, although It IS true that
nantes are used 10 8 great extent West
Virginia natural gas is much cheaper for
all purposes than coal The mills and
factories al Parkersburg have eliminated
coal altogether and burn only gas, with
saving Of hundreds Of dollars per month.
Only IS Cents in ParkersburE.
The net cost per 100 feet 10 resident
consumers Of Parkersburg IS IS cents.
For an ordinary residence OF eight rooms.
with family Of from six 10 eight per
sons. the cost per month for lighting and
cooking during the summer months IS
often as low as IS cents.
During the winter months an eight
room house can be heated with gas much
more comfortably than the average
houses are heated in Baltimore. and at
the same time used for lighting and
cooking. And here I viii say that the
gsslights IN the winter time are very
seldom turned out. but simply down.
This eliminates to a large extent the
breaking Of manfles and globes. and
helps heat the building At the same time.
at the nominal sum OF from $50 10 3
Per month This means a fire in each
room, the gas always ready for lighting,
and the ability 70 make il as warm as
you want It on a moments notice.
For All Purposes, 81 a Month.
With care IN burning, which is very
seldom used where gas is as cheap as It
IS here. these bills during the winter
months can be cut down 20 as low as 81
per month. I Should say that 500 cubic
feet OF West Virginia natural gas viii
easily equal the heating power Of q ton
Of coal
While it is true that the pressure
sometimes gets weak IN the height Of
cold spell. this is entirely caused at this
place from water IN the pipes freezing.
ice swelling and closing pipes. which
have been known TO burst from this
cause. But this could be entirely elini-
mated II the pipes were laid properly,
which IS not the case in some places
along the route Of this line. they being
laid simply on top Of the ground
Enough to Last Twenty-Five Years.
7 have heard it estimated BY conserva-
tive men in West Virginia that there was
gas enough now already located 10 fur
nish almost any quantity Tor the next
twenty-five years Numbers of wells are
closed and their supply hell in reserve
Until needed. and large territories sbu
entirely undeveloped- I am reasonably
sure that II a large corporation Ike the
Standard Oil Company were 10 back an
enterprise 10 bring natural gas from the
fields OF West Virginia 70 Baltimore
they would undoubtedly be sure that
they could supply the same for at least
this many years before they would make
such an investment. Gas is nov being
piped from the West Virginia fields TO
Pittsburg, in the heart Of the coal region
and I understand has been a success
The only question that could possibly
arise would be whether OF not the state
could prohibit the piping OF this valu-
able commodity from within its borders.
Natural gas is beyond a doubt the
very best fuel that is practicable and
available for man at the present time In
my humble opinion Baltimore would be
exceedingly fortunate II she could get
natural gas piped here at q cost Of from
30 cents 70 50 cents per thousand She
would find Il one Of the greatest bless
ings that could possibly accrue 10 her
people II is the only thing that great
j. miss as a resident Of your delightful
city"