Note 012 — Chapter I

So-called gas springs were known to settlers long before any attempt was made to utilize the product; about 1821, burners were first devised by which it was made to serve for lighting purposes. For several years after the beginning of the oil industry, gas was generally considered as a worthless and troublesome by-product, and not many wells were drilled for it until after 1870. The pressure of the gas is sometimes enormous—as much as three hundred and fifty pounds to the square inch has been noted. Natural gas consists essentially of carburetted hydrogen.—Ed.