The Story 

Hartford Gas Light Company was established in 1848. It delivered gas service by six-inch underground pipe to residents and businesses. The gas was distributed within the home by piping in walls and ceilings providing for lighting and cooking services. The “gas” was a synthetic product made predominately by heating coal in an oxygen-poor atmosphere. The combustible product was called “manufactured fuel gas” (MFG) or “town gas.”  In the mid 1800’s many eastern cities in the US had gas utility service based on the manufactured gas service.  The gases produced included various chemicals including hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, ethylene as well as sulfur and ammonia compounds. The energy content varied as did the chemical composition including noxious odors. The byproduct of this manufacturing process was “coal tar” recognized as being carcinogenic and possibly requiring Super Fund treatment in the late twentieth century.

Samuel Clemmons, better known in US literature as Mark Twain, lived in West Hartford and was accustomed to reading in bed at night using a gas lamp on a flexible holder which could be adjusted closer or further when needed. A change in the energy content in the gas could send its flame up high or lower it to nothing. Hence Clemmons claim of the gas company’s attempts at “smothering” and “blowing up” the customer.

His letter was framed and prominently displayed in the Board Room of Hartford Gas Company for years.

Manufactured fuel gas (MFG) was displaced in New England after World War II with the introduction of “natural gas” composed mostly of methane. The new product was cleaner, had higher and steadier energy content, did not smell and was cheaper. The term
“natural” was a marketing decision by the industry to differentiate from the old MFG product.

The natural gas came from fields in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana via the former government owned oil pipelines known as “Big Inch” and “Little Inch.” The Big Inch was a 24” pipeline of 1,254 miles built in 1942 to carry crude oil from Texas to Pennsylvania. The Little Inch was a 20-inch pipeline 1,475 miles long carrying refined products from East Texas to New York and Philadelphia. In1947, they were sold to private investors and converted to ship natural gas.

As to Clemmons “Haven’t you a phone?” in 1891 only 261 people had a telephone in the entire US!