NATURAL GAS. 
65 
CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL GAS PROSPECTORS AND NEW GAS SUPPLIES. 
Natural gas prospectors are optimists, with individualism as the 
dominating characteristic. They are oversanguine, but if it were not 
for this characteristic they would not be searching for new supplies of 
gas. They do things in a big way, take large risks, are good sports- 
men, and, therefore, good losers. However, the gains must in the end 
be more than the losses or they will not continue in the hunt for natu- 
ral gas supplies for future service. 
CONSERVATION OF NATURAL GAS POSSIBLE ONLY WITH PROFITABLE OPERATION. 
Natural gas can be found only by diligent prospecting. After it 
is found the service can be maintained continuously only by further 
continued development and persistent searching for new supplies. In 
this development the prospector must figure on many dry holes. The 
average for all drilling in the entire United States is that every 
fourth hole is dry. In opening up new fields this may be much 
higher, brought out elsewhere. 
Since the hazards are greater than in any other mining enterprise, 
the profits ought to be correspondingly greater. This element of 
profit is the only incentive which impels men to engage in so specu- 
lative an enterprise. If, in the aggregate, this amount of profit does 
not measure up to the hazards in the business the men will cease their 
work of prospecting and put their capital in safer enterprises. 
Wherever a close connection exists between effort and profit a stronger 
resulting incentive is furnished for a further and continuous expendi- 
ture of effort. Therefore, a high rate of profit, which will induce men 
to prospect continuously for natural gas, brings about the condition 
that more people can use gas and represents a distinct saving to the 
community. 
Natural gas has never been equaled by any man-made product. 
The worth of natural gas for most high-grade utility services is ahead 
of any competing commodity or utility service. The only thing that 
will effectively conserve the supply for future use and thereby insure 
continuity of future service is an adequate price commensurate with 
the worth or value of the service. Therefore, the public is served 
best when natural gas mining is made profitable. 
WHEN IS IT COMMERCIALLY FEASIBLE TO CONSERVE GAS OR DEVELOP NEW SUPPLIES? 
The feasibility of conserving wastes or developing new supplies 
and connecting these with a market depends on the coordination of 
the following factors : 
1. A study of the open-flow data in accordance with the doctrines 
laid down on page 20. 
90682— 18— Bull. 102 5 
