48 _ ANNUAL REPORT: 
northeast. Perhaps, too, the experience gained in that territory had a 
sobering effect in this. 
By authority of the legislature, St. Marys was perinitted to bond itself 
for $32,000 to construct and operate a natural gas plant. A block of 
1,100 acres lying near the town was leased at a low rental, and a number of 
good wells secured. Fuel was supplied for domestic purposes at one dollar 
a fire per month, and two factories were supplied without charge. Ac- 
cording to data furnished by J. D. Simpkins, Superintendent of Schools, 
the town incurred an indebtedness of $24,000, and this was subsequently 
paid by receipts from the sale of the plant. The place discontinued the 
use of natural gas from the Trenton of Ohio, in 1893. 
The Lima Natural Gas Company derived its principal supply of gas 
from St. Marys township, where it had about 7,000 acres of land leased. 
The company began piping gas to Lima in 1887 and for a short period had 
an ample supply, but the flow decreased gradually and gave out entirely in 
1894. Since then the fuel has been obtained from Indiana. In the fall of 
1902 the rate was 25 cents net per thousand cubic feet, but if the consumer 
furnished the meter the rate was five cents lower. 
A number of wells drilled in the vicinity of Van Wert promised so 
well that a line was laid to the town in 1888. However the supply was not 
up to expectations, and after $50,000 had been expended in making tests, 
the trustees leased territory in Franklin township, Mercer county, and laid 
a line to Van Wert, 31 miles away. Good wells were secured, and soon 
the town had an adequate supply. When this territory gave out the trus- 
tees again devoted their energy to developing gas lands in their own coun- 
ty. At the present time (August, 1902) the supply is derived from six 
wells in Ridge township. The first of these was drilled in 1894, and other 
wells have been put down from time to time since that year. In April, 
1902, the total open flow of the wells was reported at over 2,800,000 cubic 
feet per day. The rates charged for the fuel are 25 cents per thousand, if 
paid before the 1oth of the month, after that 30 cents. The company pays 
the landholders a royalty of $50 a year for each well. 
In 1888 the Wapakoneta Natural Gas Company was organized, its 
object being to supply that town with fuel in order that it might not be at 
a disadvantage with neighboring places. The plant was constructed and 
operated by citizens of Wapakoneta, who leased territory in St. Marys 
and Washington townships. Owing to the late day at which the wells 
were drilled, the rock pressure was comparatively low at the start, and this 
of course diminished the life of the wells.2 Besides the places named a 
number of smaller towns and villages were supplied from this field. 
Celina, the county seat of Mercer county, was supplied by the Celina 
Light & Fuel Company, whose territory lay chiefly in Franklin township, 
1G@eol. Sur. of Ohio, First Ann. Rept., 1890, p. 157. 
2Ibid, Vol. VI, p. 160-1. 
