The Romance of Modern Chemistry

NATURES STORES OF FUEL suitable for lighting has been distilled off, there is next obtained a heavy oily portion which may be used as a fuel or for lubricating purposes, while, last of all, there is a residue from which may be extracted such useful substances as vaseline and paraffin wax, the latter em- ployed very largely in the manufacture of candles. Closely allied to the petroleum of Pennsylvania or Baku is so-called “ natural gas,” which, in fact, frequently makes its appearance along with the petroleum. From the chemical point of view, it is extremely similar to petroleum, consisting largely of hydrocarbons; these, however, are still more volatile than the hydrocarbons present in petroleum, and are therefore not found in the liquid condition. In the United States enormous quantities of natural gas are obtained, so much so that in many districts the manufacture of coal gas for lighting and heating purposes is quite superfluous. We do not, however, require to travel to the United States to find natural gas. There is actually a supply of it in England, although not on a large scale. It was discovered in 1893, as a bore-hole was being sunk at Heathfield, in Sussex, for the purpose of obtaining water. When the boring had reached a depth of over 200 feet, no water had been got, but an inflam- mable gas issued from the bore-hole. Some three years later another boring was made in the same neighbourhood, and at a depth of 312 feet gas was met with in consider- able quantity. The supply was under great pressure, for when ignited it gave a flame 16 feet high. Obviously one of Nature’s gasometers had been tapped, and since then this natural gas has been used regularly in the immediate neighbourhood for lighting and heating pur- poses to the extent of about 1000 cubic feet per day. 136