The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-10-21
West Virginia
Produces Most
Natural Gas
OUTPUT OF STATE FOR 1912 WAS
VALUED AT $40, 064,968.
THREE.FOURTHs OF PRODUCT IS
PIPED INTO OTHER
STATES.

WASHINGTON. D. C., Oct. al
b'cst Virginia was the greatest pro-
Queer of natural gas in 1912, the
figures being 21j,7S5.O27,GOO cubic
feet, valued at $29,OG4.9GS. Penn
sylvania was the largest consumer
OF gas. herself producing TO the value
of $92,923.725. but consuming $780,, /,
iSG,3O2 worth OF gas. West Virgin
ia. on the other hand, consumed
only about one-fourth Of her output.
The balance being piped into Othc"
states.
Natural gas production has be-
come one of the leading industries
of the United States, and to this
country belongs the credit OF MAX |
ing natural gas commercial pro
duct. II IS the best Of fucls-clean-
or, more convenient, and more eff |
Gent for almost any purpose than
any other fuel. Were it possible tol
transport natural gas as coal, petrol
cum, or other fuels now In use are
transported, it would be the leading
fuel Of the world and its value would
probably exceed that Of any other
commodity. As it is, enormous
Quantities are wasted annually,
Quantities too great even to be esti-
mated, and it is with the greatest
difficulty that interest can be aToWs-
cd in the Importance Of conserving
this valuable fuel and in preventing
,In rxhaus ion OF the fields. AL
hcugh steps have been taken in
on" localities TO prevent waste. III
! r.I0 r0cs on.
The utilization Of waste gas from
l,. II "g,,S ia different parts OF the
niic@ i'atcs has been an import
means of conserving this fuel,
lana lie Increasing number OF plants
,y-ac cd and being eerctCd for the en-
olirn of gasoline from this "cas-
Il bead gas" was one Of the most
mt features Of the natural
naasry il The year 1912.
The gear was one of greatest pros
,ari,y 10 'ha natural gas producer
and a record breaker for output, ac-
~Hing to q. Hill, of the Unitedi
Us us Geological survey. The total
mated consumption of natura
rs in the United States in1912 was
80. 2O%.452 goo cubic feet, valued
at $SI.55%.957, an average price OIL
!l5.O4 cents Il thousand cubic feet,
compared with 5l2,99&,92l.98O cub
ic feet valued at $7i,G21,534, All
average price of ri.55 cents in 1911.
f, TIC number OF domestic consumers
supplied with gas in the United
States in 1872 was GEL 500 and the
value if gas consumed for domestic
PURPOSES amounted TO $50,9GO, SS3,
while :hc number Of industrial con-
sumcrs was 1896 and the value OF
gas consumed for industrial purpoS-
cs was $&3 .G03,074. On the aSsump-
ton that $4,000 cubic feet OF gas
equals in heating power one ton OF
coal. the fuel displaced by gas coz
sumcd in 1912 was equivalent to APP
proximateIy 28,808.80 tons OF coal
In the latter part of 1911 ant
throughout 1912 the price Of petrol
cum continued to advance. ThisI
stimulus Of higher prices made drill
ing more active in every district and
resulted in the discovery of som@
new oil and gas pools, as well as III
the extension of older fields. So
long as present prices prevail th"l
search for oil and gas will continue,
and it is probable that the year l9l3
will show. still greater results thai
1912.
One feature of particular interes:
in the year 1912 was the completion
Of the pipe line which is to convey
natural gas from the Bucna Vista
hills. CT Kern county. Cal, to con-
almcrs in the city of Los Angeles
and the surrounding towns. This
pipe lire was built under great dill
ficulties and at tremendous cost. 1t
is expected that on the completion Of
the compressor which is being bull!
n the Midway field this line will be
put into operation.