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The gas that wouldn't burn
Far from the great scientific centers of Europe, a jubilant crowd gathered in the small town of
Dexter, Kansas, in May 1903. Situated in the vast Great Plains, Dexter was pinning its hopes for
economic prosperity on a newly drilled well that had unleashed "a howling gasser." As nine million
cubic feet of gas escaped each day before the equipment could be found to cap the well, the drilling
company wasted no time in selling stock and planning for additional wells. The citizens of Dexter
envisioned new industries such as ore smelters and brick and glass plants coming to their little
town. To celebrate their good fortune, the people of Dexter planned a huge celebration, complete
with band music, patriotic speeches, and games. The lighting of the escaping gas was planned as
the spectacular climax to the day's events. Promotional circulars promised that "a great pillar
of flame from the burning well will light the entire countryside for a day and a night." After an appropriately exhilarating address by the mayor, the excited gathering watched with anticipation
as a burning bale of hay was slowly moved into contact with the gusher. Instead of the expected
conflagration, however, the flames of the burning bale were quickly extinguished. Undaunted, the mayor repeated the process several times, but with the same results. Disappointed and
puzzled, the crowd slowly dispersed, calling this strange emanation from the well "wind gas." Others
said it was a well of "hot air." Understandably, the company "did not wish that it be given great publicity." Dismay over the gas well's failure spread throughout Dexter, but Erasmus Haworth, the official state
geologist, was intrigued by this unusual event. Haworth, a geology faculty member at The University of
Kansas in Lawrence, arranged for a large steel cylinder to be filled with the Dexter gas. Upon his return
to Lawrence, Haworth discussed the gas with chemistry professor David F. McFarland, who began a routine
analysis of the cylinder's contents. The results readily gave a scientific explanation to the Dexter puzzle.
The gas contained only 15% combustible methane, which would not burn in the presence of almost 72% nonflammable
nitrogen. Haworth and McFarland reported their results to a Geological Society of America meeting in Philadelphia
on Dec. 30, 1904. They revealed that the Dexter gas also contained 12% of an "inert residue" and promised that
the investigation of this residue would "be carried out as soon as time would permit."
The gas that wouldn't burn |
"Helium is no longer a rare element" |
Helium production in the United States
Hamilton Perkins Cady |
David Ford McFarland |
Bailey Hall |
Landmark designation and acknowledgments
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