36 ANNUAL REPORT 
and strength, outside plants were attracted to the place, and new corpora- 
tions were established. The great attraction, of course, was free fuel, 
guaranteed in some cases for five years. This was sometimes supple- 
mented by gifts of land on which to locate factories, and sometimes still 
further inducements were made. The result was a steady growth of the 
town during two years and then a shorter period of wild speculation. 
The city limits, which at the time of the discovery comprised four square 
miles, were extended until they included an entire township. Land sold 
at exorbitant prices, and the population of Findlay increased from 4,500 in 
1884 to 25,000 in 1889. The fall of that year saw the crest of the specu- 
lative wave pass and then the reaction began.! 
The uses made of the new fuel were many. They included glass 
houses, iron industries of various kinds, lime kilns, and brick yards. Those 
interested did their best to convince the people that the supply was unlim- 
ited, or that it was being produced in the interior of the earth as fast 
as taken out. Wiauth such seductive theories, and the fact that gas was 
furnished free or nearly so, it is no wonder that vast quantities were 
wasted. The city itself led the extravagance, illuminating its streets by 
torches burning by day as well as by night, and wasting in this manner 
alone at least 15,000,000 cubic feet per month during part of the year 
1887. The great wells themselves were frequently ignited to interest people 
who had visited the city through curiosity, or to impress those with cap- 
ital to invest. Factories used the fuel in a reckless manner, and private 
residences were not behind in this respect. To many it seemed easier to 
raise a window or open a door than to turn down the gas. 
The result is well known. The time came quickly and suddenly when 
the citizens of Findlay were brought face to face with an inadequate sup- 
ply of gas. This first became manifest early in the winter of 1888, when 
many of the plants were compelled to shut down during a part of the day 
owing to a shortage in the fuel supply. During the coldest weather one 
of the public schools was dismissed and at such times many complaints 
were received from residences. One of the troubles was the presence of 
salt-water in the pipes, the effect of which was to shut off the gas. The 
water was soon traced to the Karg well, and those who had given any 
consideration to the subject saw at once that the great well was doomed. 
It became evident that if Findlay’s supply of gas was to be maintained new 
territory must be secured, and early in 1889 the corporation leased nearly 
8,000 acres in the northern part of the county at an annual rental exceed- 
ing $50,000. Later in that year good wells were secured on this territory so 
that Findlay again had an ample supply.” | 
Such in brief was the early history of natural gas at Findlay. The 
following letter gives the financial history of the municipal plant. It will 
1Geol. Sur. of Ohio, Vol. VI, p. 141-150. 
2Ibid, First Ann. Rept, 1890, p. 118-6. 
