The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-18
Doctor wn&ss,s Conc1nsionA

, and raS industry, and speaking as \
business man and also as state geoi-
o&tsS Of West Virginia and in that sense
a kind Of guardian OF the states min
eral resources, my studies have leo me
TO the following conclusions concerning
tia natural gas situation in the Appa-
lAshian helds:
f11 pro1iraa3ely three-foprths Of
the original supply Of natural gas IN
tia West Virginia nelds IS already ex-
hauzted, much more than half Of which
haa been wasted without any attempt
al utilization.
(s) OF the portion used for domestic
parposes At least 70 TO 80 per cent IS
now wasted through the use OF crude
banners resulting In bright flames In
stead Of blue, and also through lack or
Intelligent methods Of applying tho
S1anne To the object to be heated
Cd Natural gas. practically double In
heating value tho best grade OF manu-
featured gas, has always been sold too
chsaD and this, more than any other
cause, has led to It's universal waste and
UaSteful uSe
(&) Il In such q pure and clearly 1uei
i and 10 limited In supply that 1t should
have bean preserved entirely Tor domes-
TIA uSA and ats introduction into gem
srnt Industrial purposes was an eco
.ncma4c mistake which should speedily De
Tazneaied
- gso The only effective means OF con-
. naryfnE tia waning supply OF natural
kns ana vrolonging its life to distant
future for domestic purposes 10 TO raise
Tia price Of the game gradually until
! A anrroaehes the cost at which manu-
Sactured gas can be furnished TOT fue'
.pxrrcsea. since otherwise II VIII Do I'M
poa1fbla for Tia producing and market
! SnE .ecunpanLes % maintain satsfac-
lfrry supply to those who prefer 70 use
gssoouS fuel
= (g) Thia Increased price (sve1 SVo or
fhreA ttrnes) over that now charged the
domestic consumer would not neceS-
narIly- increase the cost Of his fuel bills
over that which he now pays, In face
IN most enses II would lead to reouc-
ton Of the same through tho nterVen-
tton OF more efficient burners and moro
-dnSsIligent use OF the same whereby the
10 per cent OF the available heat IN nat
t,rai Kas now ordinarily wasted oy the
eonaurner would be conserved and utii-
Sxed. During the colder months OF the
war. NJ least an advancing rate should
he charged those who consume large
quantities of gas in a vaSterul man
mar. and the Industrial use or natuFai
ras should DO restricted TO those NAL
ufneturing concerns that can. from inc
nature Of their product. AFFORD TO pay
the domestic rate, since the gradual rlsc
wurxested In natural gas rates Wouin
enable manufacturing enterprises I"
change without hardship to other forms
OF fuel. or if they desire. Install th'iF
own fuel gas plants, thus awaiting tne"-
selves Of gaseous fuel at hrst COST
(D Should our public service COM
~
xested, the following dement's wouio
come to all: -,
fa) waste Of gas would soon be ei-
fectually checked. not only ip the heio'
INIT along the great pipe lines as wen rs
n the points Of consumption.
. Cb) The farmer or original owner OF
the gas could be paid much larger
Fort this product to market.
bort this product to market. q
7 ((c) The life Of the Appalachian gas
helds could be 50 greatly prolonged
Just how many decades no one can
5 accnrately forecast. that manufactured
sould gradually and insensibly re-
the vanishing natural product
bout any interruption in the supply
raseous fuel so greatly priced by
"a who have enjoyed the wonderful
Ayenience Of its use
E(dN Gas shortage and inefficient ser
ice would be things OF the past ann
ghile the incomes Of the gas companies
Fould certainly be greatly decreased d
hrst with the decreased consumption
Etarn higher rates are sure to cause,
eanecially in manufacturing enterprises
ayet the decreased expense incident 10
Sfr,liinr so many new wells in vain Ell
Yoe1 to keep up the failing supply, would
tez,4 10 offset the smaller receipts 10
4 conHiderable extent, and finally, with
7. Increasing prices. enable them to earn
reasonable profit. as also gradually 70
z supplement the deficiency OF natural
ms with the manufactured product. ana
thus continue indefinitely IN me rus
: nesg of supplying fuel gas TO their pat
INNS instead Of gradually cutting OH
solse consuming center after another WIN
;AAo falling natural gas supply, aho
fsnaI1y junldng tn centre outtlt.
aNfgl In view Of these CONCLUSIONS
which arc as surely true, as that Two
and two makes four. why should not !ne
= domestic consumer Of natural gas IN ms
own interest join with the producer or
natural Eas in beseeching our PUBIC
Harydce Commissions to increase the
present ruinously low rates for this pro-
dzzcf. no. few cents per thousand CUBIC
feet each year, but a few cents every
naon8n until the price OF the same ap-
rFuaches 800 per 1000 cubic rect. inc
Maie cost at which a good grade OF
manufactured gas can be supplleu win
SSbIeh tn augment the declining supply
~, mis- natural article instead or o?pos-
Snsr every effort at price adjustment up
ward. which immutable economic Ia"
!: rnnst eventually compel with all the
evils attendant upon the disorgan,atioh
and failure Of q great industry
Dame Nature has been extremely pro-
Ssgrai in West Virginia's fuel endow-
-n,eut. To boundless stores OF coal con-
ssEeitutfnE the purest and richest varieties
m aofSd fuel, she has added vast guam
titles OF petroleum or liquid fuel or the
most valuable types, and 10 that greater
NSs,osits of natural gas or gaseous !uel
ran possessed by any Of her fortunate
aS41ers. These three types or 1uel-'
aoafd LIQUID and gaseous-in Quantlties
hcvonA finite comprehension would APP
1seSP to be all that any people could
reasonably expect in the shape or 1ue4
resources, but when there was added TO
fheso tho richest growth OF hard ana
ocff wood forests TO be found anywhere
~ ne world. originally covering prac-
tl,,sJjv every acre Of the state. we can
&C.,, aorne dim idea Of the vastnrss OF
nrture's fuel gifts to West Virginia.
y0bat account can we as citizens OF
Syrfa favored commonwealth give or our
rtevardship Of such oountirul and
ry4celess heritage? The answer should
S,,.sn1 a blush Of shame to every loyal
rEs4f yirEfnian Our virgin forests are
v,rneficaIly gone except in a few hitherto
Inaccessible mountainous regions. and
~ state has no adequate laws. regula-
sJc,,a or ORGANIZATIONS either to protect
sssS few remaining forest areas from de-
nfructtye fires, or to bring about refer