Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-15
NEW NATURAL GAS
RECORD IS SCORED
Hiqh Production Mark Is Re.
corded During Year of
1890.

Although the natural gas industry in
1880 fell far short Of repeating the ex-
pansion of 1929, 1t established a new
high production record of 1,943, 421 900, :
900 cubic feet, according to a report
made by G. r. Hopkins. economist
analyst of the Commerce Departments
Bureau OF Mines.
This represents an increase over the
previous year Of 1.3 per cent, which,
though considerably below the average
annual increase for the past decade,
represents, Hopkins pointed out, a cred
table showing In view of the curtail-
ment In the production of crude oil.
Natural Gas Exports.
Hopkins said exports of natural gas
to Canada and Mexico in 1880 amount
ed to 100000 cubic feet, a ma
He said this resulted chiefly from in
creased deliveries to Mexico following
the completion of the pipe line from
Jennings Field in Texas to Monterrey.
During the year 81 1000, 900 cubic feet of
natural gas were piped into Montana
from Canada.
Commenting further, Hopkins said:
Adding the imports and deducting
the exports gives 1,941 ,644 ,000,000 cubic
feet as the total consumption within
the United States in 1880. The num-
Der Of domestic (including commercially
users Of natural gas continued to in
crease and amounted to 5,448,000, a
gain over the previous year of per
cent. This increase reflects the COM
pletion of the major part Of the sys-
tenn from the Monroe-Richland field to
Atlanta and the addition of numerous
hrovnnh 1{VaaC IN nuxie
Although the average consumption
per domestic user was less than In
1929, the proportion of the total con-
sumption utilized for domestic purposes
rose from 10 to 20 per cent and the
percentage used for industrial purposes
accordingly fell from 81 to 80 per cent
the same as in 1927 and 1928. The
quantity of gas treated for the recovery
of natural gasoline in 1880 amounted to
2,088, 788, 600, 900 cubic feet, or lot per
cent Of the quantity produced and de-
livered to consumers.
THE excess treated represents largely
gas produced from oil wells which are
so located as regards the fuel markets
that the residue gas Is valueless and is
wasted. The average prices of natural
gas at the wells continued to decline
and In 1880 amounted to 7.6 cents pei
OLlOuSdUo CuD1C 4CCV Cd COu1RdICo WILL
an average of 80 cents in 1929. This
| decline in natural gas prices at the
wells was reflected in the prices paid by
the largest users, the industrial con-
sumers, who paid an average of H.
cents in 1880 as compared with 49,
cents In 1929.
1.-The total production of natural gas
J in the United States during 1896
amounted to 1,943, AL, 000, 900 cubic feet
an increase over 1929 Of 25,728, 000, 00(
cubic feet, or 1.3 per cent. This tota
does not include the quantity Of ga
blown into the air in flush oil fields.
Texas In Lead.
"Texas, the leading natural gas pro.
ducing State in 1929, strengthened 1t.
hold on first place in 1890 when its out.
put was 517,880, 000,000 cubic feet. ar
increase over the previous year of II
per cent. This gain was due princi-
pally to increased output from the Pan.
handle, the starting point for the ma
jority Of the large pipeline systems
which originate in the State. Produc-
ton in Oklahoma, the second-rankine
State, showed a small decrease in 1896
as the decline In output of the Seminole
district exceeded the gain in the Okla.
homa City field. California also reported
Q slight decline In natural gas production