62 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



rious parts of the world. For example, three Ohio gases, from Findlay, 

 Fostoria, and St. Mary's, analyzed by Howard (Redwood's Petroleum 

 and its Products, vol. 1, p. 224), show, respectively, 3.41, 3.82 and 

 2.98 per cent, of nitrogen. Analyses by F. C. Phillips (Amer. Chem. 

 Jour., vol. 16, p. 416) of a number of gases from points in Pennsyl- 

 vania, Ohio, Indiana and New York show considerable quantities of ni- 

 trogen in almost every case, and in one case, that of a gas from Houston, 

 near Canonsburg, Pa., 15.30 per cent, was found. In only one in- 

 stance, however, have I noticed any report of a gas containing more 

 nitrogen than that found in the Dexter well. Two samples of gas 

 obtained by deep borings at Middleborough, England, were reported 

 by Bedson (Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind., vol. 7, p. 662, 1888) to contain, 

 respectively, 96.57 and 96.80 per cent, of nitrogen. 



No attempt will be made in this paper to explain the formation of 

 such enormous quantities of nitrogen as the Dexter well gives forth, 

 this coming rather in the province of the geologist than in that of the 

 chemist. 



