202 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
Above this horizon no coal in paying quantities is found in the Coal Measures of 
the state. 
The Coal Measure rocks, on account of their varied character, often form 
scenery of great beauty. Compare, for example, the view of the Ohio measures 
with a view in the Coal Measures of this county, a scene on the Shunganunga. 
The area covered by Coal Measure rocks in Kansas is 20,000 square miles. 
The state survey has estimated that, with all allowances, 40,000 square miles are 
coal producing, with an average of two and one-half feet of coal, which would 
yield perhaps eight billion tons. At the present rate of mining, this would last 
2000 years, and, at the average price for the past ten years, would have a value 
of twelve billion dollars. It is difficult for the mind to grasp the meaning of 
such figures, and yet this is only one of our minerals. 
NATURAL GAS. 
Just twenty years ago the industrial world awoke to the fact that another 
form of stored fuel existed in the deep recesses of earth, and the natural gas ex- 
citement was ushered in, reaching its height about 1886. The northern Ohio 
farm lands took on the aspect of mining camps, and small villages grew rapidly 
into manufacturing cities. Coal had a new rival,and the wheels of industry 
were now to be run with a more convenient fuel. Blind folly decreed that the 
supply was inexhaustible, and the flaming street torches marked the gas cities 
by day and lighted the race-tracks with a circle of fire by night. 
Some prophetic sages predicted that disaster would follow when wanton 
people were destroying the fuel which a higher power had concealed for the final 
destruction of this world; and the wasteful extravagance did cause disaster, but 
in another way. To-day, in many of these districts of the East, the gas-pipes are 
rusting in the streets; the race-tracks are dark and deserted at night; the dark- 
faced fireman again stands before the furnace door; and the troublesome coal 
bills again loom up before the weary eyes of the man of the house, who now has 
to carry the full coal pail. The lesson was learned, often too late, that this valu- 
able fuel was limited, and that its day was brief even where carefully used. 
We have in Kansas some valuable gas and oil fields, and the sad experience 
in the East has had its influence; so that there is not such reckless waste, but the 
waste is there. It is to be feared that some future day our cities will regret the 
burning house and street lamps day and night, as one sees in our gas belt. It is 
stated that it is cheaper to bum the gas than to buy matches, which represents 
poor economy. Meters are never used, and the charges are made by the month. 
The Iola gas field has a length of ten miles and a width of at least four miles, 
with a total capacity at the present time of 200,000,000 cubic feet in twenty-four 
hours, which would be equivalent to nearly 10,000 tons of coal a day, or equal to 
the total coal production of the state. It is very difficult to determine how much 
gas is used a day for all purposes in the Iola field; but it certainly is not far from 
17,000,000 cubic feet; so there is a heavy reserve not disturbed. These wells are 
drilled to a depth of 815 and 920 feet and the rock pressure of the gas, as meas- 
ured by a gauge, is 315 to 325 pounds to the square inch. This is the motive 
power which forces the gas out of the wells and through the pipes. The drills 
cannot be driven more than fifteen or eighteen feet into the gas sand, for the 
pressure is so great that the tools, though weighing over a half ton, will not sink. 
As the gas escapes from the open well the roar is deafening, and can be heard for 
miles. 
The Coffeyville gas field has been developed over an area of seven by three 
miles, and of the fifty-four wells drilled forty-four are productive in greater or 
less amount. The Cherryvale field is being rapidly developed and new industries 
