<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<CIK> 0000022099
<NAME> THE COLUMBIA GAS SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> CGS
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,678,100               3,687,100
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    449,600                 449,600
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,391,800               1,391,800
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        66,900                  66,900
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 396,900                 396,900
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,983,300               5,983,300
<COMMON>                                       553,800                 553,800
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      747,100                 747,100
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            434,700                 434,700
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,734,500               1,734,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,003,700               2,003,700
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0                       0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0                       0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,800                   2,800
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,245,200               2,245,200
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,983,300               5,983,300
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      810,700               2,338,400
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            17,500                  85,400
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     726,400               1,997,500
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     726,400               1,997,500
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         84,300                 340,900
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,100                  20,400
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  90,400                 361,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        38,000                  78,300
<NET-INCOME>                                    34,900                 197,600
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   34,900                 197,600
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                           025                     040
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       35,100                  70,200
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         215,800                 565,500
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.63                    3.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.63                    3.56
        

</TABLE>