322 THE WYANDOTTE, KANSAS, GAS WELL. 



In the Western Hemisphere such phenomena are by no means rare. In^ 

 Nova Scotia, for instance, in one of the coal mines, at a depth of 180 feet, a 

 volume of water was suddenly thrown forth with the greatest violence. 

 "The whole mine appeared to be thrown in a state of regular mineral fer- 

 mentation. The gas roared as the miner struck the coal with his pick ; it 

 would go off like the report of a pistol, and at times it would burst pieces of 

 coal off the solid wall. Though no particular exhibition of gas was seen at 

 the surface before the coal was reached in the shaft, the river over its line of 

 out-crop was suddenly thrown into a state of violent ebullition, and the gas 

 could be inflamed upon the surface of the water. It also collected in holes 

 dug in the river bank, and being fired, would burn for months, unless ex- 

 tinguished. 



Similar gas bursts have been experienced at salt wells in New York,. 

 Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and elsewhere in the United States, and in 

 several instances the escaping gas has been utilized for illuminating towns, 

 heating dwellings, boiling salt water and heating blast furnaces. 



The gas well at Wyandotte, Kansas, described below, is located about 

 one mile above that city, and not more than three miles in a direct line 

 from the court house in this city. Upon visiting it last week we were so 

 unfortunate a^s to find the occupant of the premises away from home, and 

 no one who could give any definite information regarding it. We were, 

 however, shown into the house and there found it burning in the cooking 

 stove, and saw it lighted up as for illuminating purj^oses. It burns freely 

 without perceptible odor and gives a clear, soft, light of about three-fourths 

 the power of our ordinary manufactured gas. Tests made by competent 

 experts show that there is no sulphur or carbonic acid present in it, and 

 that, in all respects, it is exceptionally pure. The water has a strong saline 

 taste and contains, apparently, a large proportion of carbonate of iron. 

 Professor T. J. Eaton, of this city, will shortly make an analysis of both 

 gas and water, when we shall be able to give the exact facts. The writer 

 of the subjoined report, Mr. N. McAipine, is an old citizen of Wyandotte, a 

 close observer and a most reliable gentleman. He has taken a deep interest 

 in this gas well, and the statements made by him may be relied upon im- 

 plicitly. There can be no question as to the value of this discovery to the 

 people of this vicinity, and we confidently expect that this gas will speedily 

 be utilized, both for domestic illuminating and heating purposes, as well as 

 in the various manufacturing establishments in Kansas City, Wyandotte, 

 Eosedale and Armstrong. 



Wyandotte, Kansas, August 9, 1877. 

 Theo. S. Case, Esq. , Editor Western Revieiv : 



While reading an account of the lola gas well and analysis of its min- 

 eral water, in the last number of your valuable publication, it occurred to 

 the writer that you would, perhajjs, deem worthy of an insertion in the 

 Review a description of the natural gas well (almost at your door) in Wy- 

 andotte City. 



