The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-10-09
STARTLING
NEWS FOR GAS
CONSUMERS
West Virginia State GeoIogist
Gives Warning at the Wheel
ing Convention
GAS-SAVING REFORM NEEDED

Wheeling-The natural gas S1tua-
ton has aroused the officials of the
different companies in West Virginia,
Ohio and Pennsylvania, and their con-
Germ has been intensified by the star
Ting statements of DR.. l. C. White,
state geologist, at the convention of
the Natural Gas Association of West
Virginia, just closed here. In the pa
per which he read before the conven-
ton Represented facts and drew con-
illusions that have interested the gas
consumers-both domestic and indus
trial-throughout the country, or at
least that part of it that depends most
ly on the commodity for heat, light
and power.
The state biologists position gave
emphasis to the stand taken by him,
as his life has been given to the study
of problems and conditions directly
connected with the development and
conservation of West Virginia's min
eral wealth. This is not the first time
that DR.. White has sounded a note of
warning as to the waste of natural
gas, which has been one of the big
gest crimes against industry ever
perpetrated in this country although
performed in ignorance. Many years
ago he called attention to the fact
that millions of cubic feet of gas were
being wasted every year, and pre-
dicted at that time that this waste
would be deplored. However it has
continued until now there is a general
shaking up all over the gas-producing
and gas-consuming districts, and the
problem of how to conserve and use
to the best advantage the gas that is
still left US has now become reality
for everybody. DR.. White sounded
the warning in the following siA
points:
~ Approximately three-fourths of
the original supply Of natural gas in
the West Virginia fields is already ex-
hausted, much more than half of
which has been wasted without any
attempt at utilization.
~ OF the portion used for domes-
tic purposes at least 10 to 50 per cent
is now wasted through the use of
crude burners resulting in bright
flames instead of blue, and also
through lack of intelligent methods Of
applying the fame to the object to be
heated
go Natural gas, practically double
in heating value the best grade OF
manufactured gas, has always been
sold too cheap and this, more than
any other cause, has led to its uni.
versal waste and wasteful use.
(G 1t is such pure and clearly
fuel and so limited in supply that il
L.
for domestic use, and its introduction
into general industrial purposes was
an economic mistake which should
speedily be remedied.
% The only effective means Of
conserving the waning supply of nat
ural gas and 2rolonging its life to q
distant future for domestic purposes
is to raise the price of the same grad
ually until it approaches the cost at
which manufactured gas can be fur
nished for fuel purposes, since other
wise it will be impossible for the pro
ducing and marketing companies to
maintain a satisfactory supply to
those who prefer to use gaseous fuel.
(6) This increased price (even two
or three times) over that now charged
the domestic consumer would not nee
essarily increase the cost OF his fuel
bills over that which he now pays, III
fact, in; most cases it would lead to q
reduction of the same through the in
PREVENTION of more efficient burners
and more intelligent use of the same
whereby the so per cent of the avail
able heat in natural gas now ordina-
rily wasted by the consumer would be
conserved and utilized During the
colder months of the year, at least.
an advancing rate should be charged
those who consume large quantities OF
gas in a Wasteful manner, and the in
dustrial use Of natural gas should be
restricted to those manufa curing cor
Germs that can. from the nature Of
their product. afford to pay the dc
mestic rate since the gradual rise
suggested in natural gas rates would
enable manufacturing enterprises to
change without hardship to other
forms of fuel or if they desire. install
their own fuel gas plants, thus avail.
ing themselves of gaseous fuel at first
cost.
1t was plainly shown at the conven
ton that if past methods of gas con.
sumption are continued natural gas in
West Virginia will become a rarity
Already the general public has sui.
fered from an insufficient supply
during the cold months of the year,
and many factories that once used gas
have been compelled to discontinue il
Action such as suggested by Dr.
White would be a revolution in the
business Of natural gay production
and marketing. 1t would automatic,
ally limit the development Of new
gas territory and remove the neces.
sity for the high-pressure methods
that are now followed by the gas
companies. The acceptance of high
rates by the public for the purpose Of
conserving the gas supply would prop
erly entitle the public to ask for the
assurance OF real conservation
through the powers of the Public Serv-
ice Commission. In other words. in
crease in the gas rates for the pur.
pose Of conservation ought to imply
active supervision Of all gas territory
and the licensing of gas production to
the end that gas should be economic.
ally developed, and the production at
any time should not be greater than
the public needs. 1t is believed that
the gas-consuming population will take
note OF these matters, and that the
oofo Of ha OF 4