Year: 1875




From the Pittsburg Critic, 7th instant


very satisfactory visit was made on Wed


nesday last by fifty or sixty of the leading


manufacturers and business men of Pttsburg


and vicinity, to the Delameter and Burns gas


wells, on the Duffy farm, Donegal township,


Butler county, about ten miles east of the town


of Butler, and in direct line some thirty-fve


miles from Pittsburg The party arrived at


Butler by special train on the West Penn


road, at four p. M, and Immediately took car


riapes awaiting them at the station for the gas


wells.


THE BURNS WELL.


| The first indication of an approach to the
Burns we'll was seen at Carbon Center, where


two-inch pipe, connecting with the well, dis
| tant about mile, furnishes the Keystone Pipe
Company with the necessary fuel to drive their
engine. The pipe is introduced under the


boiler and half dozen or more jets of fame
from it generates the requisite steam power
Near the engine house there is a stand pipe,
from it a sheet of fame bursts forth five or six
feet in height, which illuminates the little vii
lage The store at this place is heated very eff
fectually by pipe in the centre of the room
from which a stream of burning gas bursts
forth. We also notice in the village the gen
eral use of the gas for heating and Illuminating
purposes.


A mile from the Centre, and it is announced
we are at the Burns well. A bit of meadow
land, between couple of wooded hills, forms
cosy valley two or three hundred yards in
width. The road winds around one of the
ridges that shuts in the valley. The carriages
are halted, the PARTY disembarks and scatters
over the field in the direction of few glim-
mering and uncertain lights seen at the base Of
the opposite hill. A dazzling surprise is in
store for u.s. In less time than it takes to write,
eight parallel sheets of brilliant fame are
shooting twelve or fifteen feet into the air;-
darkness is banished, and in all the length and
breadth of the valley, every thing is visible
with marvellous distinctness the groups of
astounded visitors scattered in the field, the
long line of carriages on the road, with the leaf
less trees fringing the valley as background
An involuntary cheer bursts from the crowd at
the transformation scene. Just back of the
eight sheets of burning gas, jets of fame are
arranged so as to read, "Use mel am vast
ing" This is the appeal of the imprisoned
power to the good genii present, in the form
and substance of solid men of Pittsburg. The
scene is certainly an inspiring one, in contrast
with the darkness, gloom, and drlzzling rain
| from which we had just emerged. The roar OF
| the we'll and of the Delameter a mile distant,
sounding like dozen locomotives blowing off
| steam, browns all attempts at conversation.
The Burns we'll is on the hill side, on the
| right of the valley. Connecting with its six


inch tubing pipe are the pipes running some
fifty feet to the valley below, from which the
sheets of fame are driving heavenward. The
gas (unlighted) is burned in a two-inch pipe
ten feet distant from the we'll. 1t rushes out
with deafening roar, and some idea of its force
| is gained by persons vainly endeavoring to
press their hands or boards on the outlet, but
the pressure is too great. The gas is colorless
and sdorless, but leaves on the hands, after


saturation in the invisible fluid, an oily feeling.
The well is producing fuel equal to $4,000


bushels of coal per day; its heating power is
twenty-five per cent. greater than the same
weight of coal, as the gas combustion is so much
| more complete than coal; its portability, by its
own pressure, to Pittsburg, or farther, has been
| so fully demonstrated that nothing need be


added on that point. One point as to its clean
illness for the benefit of the ladies. The fur


mace in the engine-room of the Keystone Pipe
Company is freer from dirt, smoke, SCOT, ashes,
| cnders and coal dust than any parlor fire.
place in Pittsburg where either bituminous or
/ anthracite coal is burned