IMPORTANT USE OF NATURAL GAS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3117, 13 February 1879, Page 2

IMPORTANT USE OF NATURAL GAS.

(FBOM THE SCIENTIFIC AHBBIOJJT.)

The petroleum product of Pennsylvania now reaches the fabulous sum of 60,000,000 of dollars per year, while the exportation runs to about 60.000,000. Until reeentlyy & or at least within a few yean, but little use has been made of the natural gas which has discharged into either the open air or been burned into huge torch-lights through the oil regions. In Bearer-falls, a manufacturing town of considerable note, located about 30 miles west of Pittsburg, on the Fort Wayne and Chicago Bailroad, one well was put down about 16 years ago for oil, and struck gas at about I,looft. in depth, whence it poured continuouily until about two years ago* when it was leased, cased * up, and brought into use. This induced the Harmony Society to put down more wells in different localities (fire in . number), all of which gave out liberal supplies, some as high as 100,000 ft erery 24 hours, which is now being nied in nearly erery manufacturing establishment in the town. About one half of th~e gag used for lighting the town comes from these wells; it is also used under the gaa retorts for heating (fire in number). The large cutlery works use it in 49 heating furnaces ? the pottery works, in two largo f! kilns and two very large furnaces for dry- ' ing ware; the shorel works in one large heating furnace; the file works, in ie| en, M large annealing furnaces; the saw worki: in one rery large heating furnace, 14ft long by llf wide, which in run ;to a rery high heat. It is also used in one forging furnace. Two drying kilns for seasoning lumber use it. And it is also introduced into dwelling houses, heating furnaces and. stores and cooking stores, and is exclusirely used direct from the wells for lighting one large dwelling. Other wells are now going down, and everything indicates the exclusive use of this gas for all, b*sKpg» illuminating, and manufacturing purposes. Its value is really incalculable in working steel. It is said to be fully equal to charcoal, if not superior,'there being.no base substance like sulphur or other matters so damaging to its quality. A remarkable feature about' it is that men work right along in a room filled. with it, take it freely into their lungs, in short breathe it as they do air; and it appears rather healthful than otherwise, while manufiuK '■■ tured gas is actually dangerous to inhale. The flame is clear white and gives an intense heat with ' very little , smoke,.■.'.. There seems no diminution in the supply; there may be a limit to the supply, but the gas is in all probability being constantly produced down deep in the earth. \\- '.-,■,''"