Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-14
RAPID GAIN NOTED
IN NATURAL GAS
Manufactured Gas Concerns
Now Big Factors in lncreas-
ing Consumption.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, March 14-Natural gas
is rapidly displacing manufactured gas
in many sections of the country, but
public utility companies producing these
competitive products are cooperating
with little friction. There is an increas-
ing volume of natural gas each year
being distributed through the mains of
the principal manufactured gas compa-
MES. About 20 per cent Of total annual
sales from manufactured gas systems
now represents natural gas, according
TO a statement by c.. Z. Barrett &c Co.
Consumption of natural gas increased
from 798. 200, 100000 cubic feet in 1920
to approximately 1880 000,000,000 cubic
feet in 1880, an increase of about $50
per cent. During the same period the
total number of natural gas customers
doubled, increasing from 2,636,000 TO an
estimated total of 100000. Compared
with this unprecedented expansion in
the natural gas field, manufactured gas
sales showed an increase of about 40
per cent, from 800, 700, 00O,0 cubic feet
in 1920 to approximately 425, 600, 100000
cubic feet in $780, while manufactured
gas customers increased from 1887 600
in 1920 to the present estimated num-
Der of 100000, or about Is per cent,
it is shown.
Sales Gain As Per Cent.
The growing tendency on the part Of
manufactured gas companies to pur
chase natural gas for distribution
through their own mains, the state
ment points out, is shown by the fact
that such purchases increased from H.
400. 600, 600 cubic feet in 1928 to 49,
SOC, 900, 900 cubic feet in 1929, gain of
As per cent. On the other hand, total
artificial gas produced and natural gas
purchased by manufactured gas COM
panies in 1929 increased only 8 per cent
over 1928.
Manufactured gas Is strongly in
trenched in the domestic field, 1t Is
stated, as is indicated by the fact that
its consumers are well over twice as
numerous as those of natural gas. This
fuel has up to now been restricted In
its expension primarily to industrial
purposes because of the rernoteness OF
most natural gas fields from large pop
ulation centerS. Out of a total con-
sumption of 1877, 693, 600, 900 cubic feet
of natural gas, shown by United States
Department of Commerce figures for
1929, only 59,866, 100000 cubic feet, or
10 per cent, was consumed in homes.
Thus a tremendous field for growth IN
domestic markets is awaiting the nat
" .
scale into this field will commence with
the completion of large pipe lines now
under construction. The sig leading
natural gas systems each VIII have,
within year, pipe line networks ex-
tending upward of 1000 miles from
their natural gas reserves to leading
cities. Natural gas rarely fails to dis
place the manufactured product when
brought to the outskirts Of con1n1u-
rF re oh hiOh
heating content and general superior
ity over other types Of fuel.
Some Sections Too Remote.
Based on the outlook at the present
time, it must be recognized that some
sections of the country, such as New
England, the CarolinaS, most of Florida
and several Midwestern and Western
States are too remote to be served from
available natural gas sources. Future
discoveries of nearby reserves or more
distant expansion of existing fields may
yet permit certain of these sections to
be supplied with natural gas. Exclud-
ing these regions now outside the range
of natural gas operations, approximately
80 per cent of the present total popula-
ton can be served from extensions of
natural gas pipe lines, built or under
construction, when local demand justi-
fies.
Natural gas and electric power utili-
ties both attain greatest effectiveness
by co-ordinating their services for the
domestic as well as the industrial mar
kets, Barrett g. Co. state. One market
supplements the other, resulting in
cheaper energy or fuel as the most
concentrated demand in any particular
territory is served. During the recent
depression and decline of industrial con-
cIlY1 mi n1ncf natural
companies held up well because of their
backlog of domestic requirements.
Gas Ready for Baltimore.
The large pipe lines to be put in
operation within the next year will
Justify the capital expenditures in
volved, it is stated. These include the
line of the Natural Gas Co. of America
to Chicago, the line of Missouri Valley
Pipe Line Co. to Eastern Nebraska and
Iowa, the line of the Panhandle Eastern
Co. to supply communities in Missouri,
Illinois and Indiana, and that of Column
hia Gas Sc Electric Corporation already
supplying Washington and making
available natural gas for Baltimore, VIII
mington and Philadelphia.
The concentrated initial demand of
industries adjacent to these lines will
be supplemented by the requirements of
manufactured gas companies that are
prepared to distribute natural gas
through their mains to domestic con-
sumers The cooperation of natural
gas and manufactured gas companies
will be advantageous to both groups. but
will be especially beneficial to natural
gas expansion in many instances by
providing immediate domestic reve-
nues and by eliminating the laborious
processes of building up domestic dis
tributing systems, the statement con-