The Clinton Natural Gas and Development Company, 1887…
Natural Gas deposits were known in the Middle East since ancient times and in China the practice of using bamboo poles to pipe natural gas from deep wells was known to occur, too: a practice that began in 900 BC and continued until 1900 (AD). In Europe natural gas deposits were not utilized until nearly the 18th century, and it wasn’t until the 1820s that natural gas in America was used for any commercial purpose at all (in one small area in New York). The big problem was that no discovery of natural gas at that time could realistically or reliably be transported beyond the local environments where they were discovered.
In Missouri, the Laclede Gas Light Company was formed in 1857 (in St. Louis) and in the 1870s and 1880s a “gas boom” was born in the Midwest regions of the country. In Ohio and Indiana (the natural gas belt) wells were discovered and their potential exploited to the best of the discoverers’ abilities: but, “The poor understanding of oil and gas wells at the time led to the loss of an estimated 90% of the natural gas by venting into the atmosphere or by widespread misuse.” *
Because the folks looking for these natural deposits were not “experts” they relied on various methods to explore and validate the potential deposits they “discovered” - that is, they usually relied on the nose test. Sometimes they were right, sometimes not. When they were not right, it was not uncommon to just start drilling in a different location.
Word spread of these discoveries and, probably, tales of lighting the venting gas on fire spread rapidly as well. These “flambeus” were an enormous waste of gas but were probably impressive to witness. Commercial ventures of these deposits started to become common, too. Much like the discovery of gold in California in 1848/49, a lot of folks looked for these deposits so they could capitalize on them, even though most of the “discoveries” (shocker) didn’t quite pan-out. It was no different here in Clinton, Missouri: “WELL DISCOVERED IN CLINTON” was the headline for an article from here in town back in March of 1887.
The excitement here in town was contagious – especially for those who were hoping to see the small-town grow: “Clinton is now budding into a first-class boom.” It was becoming apparent that having a natural gas supply in your town was now becoming the standard in the Midwest region and, perhaps, a form of status. We don’t know the method on which the well was found, but somewhere along the line a company had thought it worth the time to investigate. The well had been dug “two or three years ago” by Martin & Shields on Judge Munson’s land which was located southwest of Clinton on Town Creek. Someone, at some point, had re-visited the old well and concluded it had natural gas in its depths: “The opening was found and probed to a depth of twelve feet and smell emitted therefrom strongly tinctured with sulfur.”
In total, the well was about 120 feet deep.
Eventually, some of the wealthier Clintonians decided the venture was worth continued exploration because a committee was formed, and they decided to lease the property where the well was located (in addition to some land located on Dr. John Britt’s property). When all was said and done, they held a stockholder meeting that included Judge Munson, Dr. Britts, H.P. Faris and several others: their first meeting was held at the Brinkerhoff & Faris office – there they incorporated and formed the Clinton Natural Gas and Development Company.
They were a determined lot: “The gentlemen don’t know the meaning of the word ‘fail’ and we are bound to have gas if they have to bore through to China to get it,” says the local article.
It was a costly venture: the men had invested about $1,825 in the new company already (which is the equivalent of about $60,000 today) but the company never did “hit it big.” There was no natural gas deposit found – in the first well or any other afterwards here in town – but it was not for a lack of trying.
*An interesting article from the Boone County Historical Society (Indiana, not Missouri): https://pt-br.facebook.com/boonecountyhistoricalsocietyindiana/sts/2443726535862164:0
The drawing at left (also from the Boone County Indiana Historical Society page) depicts a “flambeau” - the tall flame which would occur when the venting natural gas deposit was lit on fire.
