Bulletin No. 5. Natural Gas in Minnesota

Abstract

The great discoveries of gas in Pennsylvania and more recently in Ohio and Indiana, and in other places in the United States, have had their natural effect in Minnesota. They have caused a feverish and sometimes an expressed feeling of unrest, and of curiosity to know what would be the result in case a careful probing of the earth's crust were undertaken. They have caused a re·examination of old records, and a restatement of all the nearly forgotten incidents which occurred years ago which could be interpreted as indications of natural gas at numerous places in the state. They have sharpened the observation of all well-drillers and others who in any way could be considered to be in situations such as might reveal evidences of escaping gas. The human eyesight, the sense of smell, the love of lucre, the knowledge of geology, the ignorance of all geologists, have received a sudden and very general popular increment. These have had their influence on our Legislature. This is all very natural and not at all blameworthy. The demand for public expenditure in search for the hidden resources of the state, when the commonwealth in general is interested in the enterprise, is a demand that should be heeded by legislators. It is one of the distinguishing marks of American civilization that the people are willing to tax themselves for the promotion of public improvements and for scientific research. The people in general are more intimately acquainted with as well as more profoundly interested in the prosecution of scientific research, and the economic results of such research, than in other civilized countries.