PUZZLE FOR EXPERTS.

Western Star, 26 July 1935, Page 2

PUZZLE FOR EXPERTS.

SUPPLY OF NATURAL GAS. Mail}' experts believe that there is oil under the village of Heatlifield, Sussex, where for over 30 years, supply of natural illuminating gas has welled up out of the earth. Until 12 months ago this gas, which flowed from a well on Southern Railway property,, had been used to light Hoathfield Railway Station, but since then the whole supply lias been handed over to the Ministry of Mines, whose research department now uses if, for experimental purposes. How this wonderful supply of gas was accidentally discovered was related by the station master at Heatlifield. “A well was being bored for a supply of water for the locomotive department lie said, “when on© day the foreman well-sinker 'struck a match to light lus pipe. As he struck it, a huge sheet of flame went up from the well. “Experts soon discovered that a source of natural gas had been tapped so a cap wa s placed ovor.it with a valve, and two gas containers built. For 30 years this gas, without any pumping,'has forced its way from the earth and kept the containers full, and the station was lit by it. “Many other bore-holes have been sunk in the district to try and tap the source of the gas, but none of them lias succeeded, and nobody so far has ever found any oil. ‘•Scientists and oil experts from all over the world have visited Heatlifield to see this wel] and to investigate it, but opinion seems to be very much divided as to whether thoro is any oil under the village. Hitler says that no race has had more harsh things said about it than the Germain.—He has apparently never heard the opinions of punteiw about some other races.