The juxtaposition of the "poison gas" warning sign and the nearly uninhabited town is unfortunate as it can lead to cause and effect assumptions. The gas field where the sign is located is the Madden field, one of many gas fields within the Wind River Basin. Some Madden field production, indeed some natural gas production all over the world, is "sour gas". Sour gas contains some hydrogen sulfide and must be treated before being piped to market. The treatment normally takes place at gas plant facilities close by the production wellheads. The hydrogen sulfide within natural gas is indeed toxic in high quantities, leading to increased warnings of its mere presence within pipelines and treatment plant facilities in the areas of production and treatment. Hydrogen sulfide gas is also present, in potentially toxic concentrations, in sewer systems, shallow groundwater aquifers, and natural swamps and bogs. There are no known instances of towns having been destroyed by hydrogen sulfide gas or its natural gas carrier, however. The town photograph is more likely an old railroad or ranch town, hundreds and hundreds of which dot the Western US landscape.
Foy