The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-10-28
MUCH NATURAL GAS USED.
Half Trillion Cubic Feet Production
Breaks All Records.

/ S
Natural gas production has become
one of the leading industries of the
United States, and to this country be-
longs the credit of making natural gas
a commercial product 1t is the best
of fuels-cleaner, more convenient,
and more efficient for almost any
purpose than any other fuel. Were
it possible to transport natural gas as
coal, petroleum, or other fuels now in
use are transported, it would be the
leading fuel of the world and it's val
ue would probably exceed that of any
other commodity. AS it is, enormous
quantities are wasted annually, guam
titles too great even to be estimated,
and it is with great difficulty that in
terest can be aroused in the impor-
lance of conserving this valuable fuel
and in preventing the exhaustion OF
the fields. Although steps have been
taken in some localities to prevent
waste, it still goes ON.
The utilization Of waste gas from
the oil wells in different parts of. the
United States has been an important
means of conserving this fuel, and the
increasing number of plants erected
are being erected for the extraction
of gasoline from this "casting-head
gas" was one of the most important
features of the natural gas industry in
the year 1912.
The year was one of greatest pros
perity to the natural gas producer and
a record breaker for output, according
to R. Hill, of the United States Geo
logical Survey. The total estimated
consumption of natural gas in the
United States in 1912 was 562 ,203, 452,
900 cubic feet, valued at 1874, $685.,
an average price of 1904 cents
thousand cubic feet, compared with
512,993, 021 900 cubic feet, valued at
$74,621, 534 an average price of 14.55
cents, in 1911. The number of dOmes-
tic consumers supplied with gas in the
United States in 1912 was 1,621,557
and the value of gas consumed for
domestic purposes amounted to $780,
960,8S3., while the number of indus
trial consumers was 1886 and the
value of gas consumed for industrial
purposes was $33,603,074. On the as
sumption that. $4,000 cubic feet of gas
equals in heating power 1 ton of coal,
the fuel displaced by gas consumed in
1912 was equivalent to approximately
20,000,000 tons of coal.
In the latter part of 1911 and
throughout 1912 the price of petrole-
um continued to advance. This slim
ulous of higher prices made drilling
more active in every district and re-
suited in the discovery of some new
oil and gas pools, as we'll as in the
extension of older fields. So long as
present prices prevail the search for
oil and gas will continue, and it is
probable that the year 1913 will show
still greater results than 1912.
One feature Of particular interest in
the year 1912 was the completion of
the pipe line which is to convey natu-
raj gas from Buena Vista Hills of
Kern County, Cal, to consumers in
the city of Los Angeles and the sur
towns. This pipe line was
built under great difficulties and at
cost. 1t is expected that
on the completion of the compressor
which is being built in the Midway
field this line will be put into opera
ton.
West virginia was the greatest pro-
Queer of natural gas in 1912, the fig
ures being 1878, 027 900 cubic feet
valued at $29,064,968. Pennsylvania
was the largest consumer of gas, her
self producing to the value of 1927
823,725, but consuming S26,46,302
worth of gas West Virginia, on the
other hand, consumed only about one
fourth of her output, the balance be-
ing piped into other States.