Exhibit 10.01

       AMENDMENT TO LACLEDE GAS COMPANY TRUST AGREEMENT
       RELATING TO THE LACLEDE GAS COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL
                   RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLAN


    This is an amendment to the Laclede Gas Company Trust Agreement Relating
to the Laclede Gas Company Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan made as of
September 4, 1990, between Boatmen's Trust Company ("Boatmen's") and Laclede
Gas Company ("Company") applicable to the Trust ("Trust") relative to the
Laclede Gas Company Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan (such Trust Agreement
as previously amended being herein referred to as the "Trust Agreement").
    
    WHEREAS, Boatmen's is currently serving as the Trustee under the Trust
Agreement; and
    
    WHEREAS, Boatmen's is ceasing to offer trust services of this type, and,
accordingly, has decided not to continue, beyond the Effective Date (as defined
in Section 1 below), to serve as Trustee under the Trust Agreement; and
    
    WHEREAS, the Company desires to name Mercantile Bank National Association
("Mercantile") as successor trustee under the Trust Agreement, as evidenced by
the Company's Board of Directors' resolutions, a certified copy of which is
attached as Exhibit A hereto, such succession by Mercantile to be effective on
the Effective Date (as defined in Section 1 below).
    
    NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, Boatmen's and Mercantile, for good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, hereby agree as follows:
    
    Section 1.  Effective as of the opening of business on January 15, 1998
(herein called the "Effective Date"), Boatmen's hereby resigns as the Trustee
under the Trust Agreement and, simultaneously, as of such Effective Date,
Boatmen's hereby assigns, vests and confirms in Mercantile: (i) all right,
title and interest as Trustee under the Trust Agreement in, and with respect
to, the "Trust Fund" (as that term is used in the Trust Agreement); and
(ii) all rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations of the Trustee under
the Trust Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
parties agree that Boatmen's will pay over, assign and deliver the Fund to
Mercantile on the Effective Date, and Boatmen's shall deliver to the Company
and to each Trust Beneficiary (as that term is defined in the Trust Agreement)
a written account as provided in Section 6 of the Trust Agreement.
    
    Section 2.  Mercantile hereby represents and warrants that it is now, and
will remain, fully qualified to serve as Trustee under the Trust Agreement. 
Effective on the Effective Date, Mercantile hereby accepts, and agrees to
perform, all of the rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations as Trustee
under, and in accordance with, the terms of, the Trust Agreement.
    
    Section 3.  In order to facilitate the assignment, vesting and confirmation
on the Effective Date in Mercantile of: (i) all right, title and interest of
Boatmen's as Trustee under the Trust Agreement in, and with respect to, the
Fund; and (ii) all rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations  of the
Trustee under the Trust Agreement; Boatmen's agrees that Boatmen's shall, by
the Effective Date, complete those items listed on Exhibit B hereto ("Boatmen's
Action Items").  In order to facilitate 
                                 Page 20<PAGE>
<PAGE>
Mercantile's acceptance and agreement to perform all of the rights, powers,
trusts, duties and obligations as Trustee, as hereinbefore provided, 
Mercantile agrees that Mercantile shall, by the Effective Date, complete 
those items listed on Exhibit C hereto ("Mercantile's Action Items").  In order
to further facilitate the completion of Mercantile's Action Items and Boatmen's
Action Items by the Effective Date, the Company agrees that the Company shall,
by the Effective Date, complete those items listed on Exhibit D hereto.
    
     Section 4.  Notices, requests, instructions and other writings shall be
delivered to the Company at 720 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri  63101,
Attention: James A. Fallert, or mailed postage prepaid, or sent by facsimile,
to Mr. Fallert's attention, or to such other address or designee as the Company
may from time to time designate in writing; and upon receipt thereof by the
Company, such notice, request, instruction or other writing shall be deemed to
have been properly delivered or given to the Company.  Notices, requests,
instructions and other writings shall be delivered, mailed postage prepaid, 
or sent by facsimile to Mercantile and Boatmen's respectively as follows, and
shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given upon receipt thereof:

    If to Mercantile:
          Mercantile Bank National Association
          P. O. Box 387, Tram 16-2
          St. Louis, MO  63166
          Attention: Marcus Hendershot.

    If to Boatmen's:
          Boatmen's Trust Company
          P. O. Box 14737
          St. Louis, MO  63178-4737
          Attention: John M. Bascio.

    5.  Except as expressly amended hereby, the Trust Agreement is hereby
ratified, confirmed and approved.
    
    6.  This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of Missouri.
    
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to
Laclede Gas Company Trust Agreement Relating to the Laclede Gas Company
Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan to be executed by their respective
officers thereunto duly authorized, and their corporate seals to be hereunto
affixed and attested as of the day and year first above written.
                                       
                                       LACLEDE GAS COMPANY


                                       By: ___________________________
Attest:                                Name: _________________________
                                       Title: ________________________
___________________________
Secretary


                                       BOATMEN'S TRUST COMPANY 

                                       By: ___________________________
Attest:                                Name: _________________________
                                       Title: ________________________
___________________________
Secretary
                                 Page 21                  <PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                       MERCANTILE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


                                       By: _________________________
Attest:                                Name: _________________________
                                       Title: ________________________
___________________________
Secretary



















































                                 Page 22<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                          EXHIBIT A
           RESOLUTIONS REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF NEW
                  TRUSTEE IN CONNECTION WITH
                   VARIOUS PLANS AND TRUSTS

    WHEREAS, Boatmen's Trust Company is currently serving as trustee under each
of the trust agreements listed in Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of Exhibit A; and

    WHEREAS, Boatmen's Trust Company has decided not to continue to serve as
trustee under any of such trust agreements, and as a result, this Corporation
must appoint one or more entities to serve as trustee under each of such trust
agreements (and/or new replacement trust agreements) and amend the accompanying
plans, as, and to the extent, appropriate to effectuate such change of trustee
thereunder; and

    WHEREAS, this Corporation desires to arrange for American Express Trust
Company ("American Express") to serve, and American Express has expressed its
desire to serve, as trustee under each of the trust agreements listed, and the
accompanying defined contribution plans referenced, in Part 1 of Exhibit A
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference (and/or new trust
agreements to replace those listed in Part 1 of Exhibit A); and

    WHEREAS, this Corporation desires to arrange for Mercantile Bank National
Association ("Mercantile") to serve, and Mercantile has expressed its desire
to serve, as trustee under: (1) each of the trust agreements listed, and the
accompanying defined benefit retirement plans referenced, in Part 2 of Exhibit
A (and/or new trust agreements to replace those listed in Part 2 of Exhibit A);
and (2) each of the trust agreements listed in Part 3 of Exhibit A (and/or new
trust agreements to replace those listed in Part 3 of  Exhibit A); and

    WHEREAS, the Investment Review Committee of the Board of Directors of this
Corporation has recommended that this Corporation arrange for Mercantile to be
appointed to serve as trustee under each of the trust agreements listed, and
accompanying defined benefit retirement plans referenced, in Part 2 of
Exhibit A (and/or new trust agreements to replace those listed in Part 2 of
Exhibit A).

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board, the
President or the Senior Vice President-Finance, acting separately (without the
need for any countersignature) be, and each of them is, hereby authorized to
execute and deliver, on behalf of this Corporation, without the necessity for
any further action by the Board of Directors: (1) such agreements with American
Express on such terms and conditions as any such officer may deem necessary or
desirable in connection with the appointment of American Express to serve  as
trustee under each of the trust agreements listed in Part 1 of Exhibit A
(and/or new trust agreements to replace those listed in Part 1 of Exhibit A);
and (2) such amendments to the defined contribution plans referenced in Part 1
of Exhibit A as any such officer may deem necessary or desirable in connection
with the appointment of American Express as said trustee; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board, the President or
the Senior Vice President-Finance, acting separately (without the need for any
countersignature) be, and each of them is, hereby authorized to execute and
deliver, on behalf of this Corporation, without the necessity for any further
action by the Board of Directors: (1) such agreements with Mercantile on such
terms and conditions as any such officer may deem necessary or desirable in
connection with the appointment of Mercantile to 

                                 Page 23<PAGE>
<PAGE>
serve as trustee under each of the trust agreements listed in Part 2 of 
Exhibit A (and/or new trust agreements to replace those listed in Part 2 of
Exhibit A); and (2) such amendments to the defined benefit retirement plans
referenced in Part 2 of Exhibit A as any such officer may deem necessary or
desirable in connection with the appointment of Mercantile as said trustee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board, the President or
the Senior Vice President-Finance, acting separately (without the need for any
countersignature) be, and each of them is, hereby authorized to execute and
deliver, on behalf of this Corporation, without the necessity for any further
action by the Board of Directors,  such agreements with Mercantile on such
terms and conditions as any such officer may deem necessary or desirable in
connection with the appointment of Mercantile to serve as trustee under each
of the trust agreements listed in Part 3 of Exhibit A (and/or new trust
agreements to replace those listed in Part 3 of Exhibit A); and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board, the President, the
Corporate Secretary, the Senior Vice President-Finance, or any other Vice
President or other appropriate officer, of this Corporation, acting separately
(without the need for any countersignature) be, and each of them is, hereby
authorized to execute and deliver, on behalf of this Corporation, without the
necessity for any further action by the Board of Directors, such further
agreements with American Express and/or Mercantile and others on such terms and
conditions as any such officer shall in his or her discretion approve, and/or
such other documents, instruments, and papers as any such officer may deem
necessary or desirable in connection with the full effectuation and/or
implementation of the intention of any or all of the foregoing resolutions; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the existence of the signature of any
appropriate officer of this Corporation on any agreement, document, instrument
and/or paper shall be evidence of the fact that said officer deemed such
agreement, document, instrument and/or paper to be necessary or desirable, and
that he or she approved of the terms and conditions contained in such
agreement, document, instrument and/or paper; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that any officer of this Corporation is hereby
separately authorized to perform such other acts, on behalf of this
Corporation, without the necessity for any further action by the Board of
Directors, as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and/or implement
fully the intention of any or all of the foregoing resolutions, including, but
not limited to, the attestation by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of
this Corporation of any agreement, document, instrument and/or paper referred
to in the above resolutions, and the affixing of the corporate seal by such
Secretary or Assistant Secretary to any such agreement, document, instrument
and/or paper.














                                 Page 24<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                          EXHIBIT A

Part 1

1.    Trust Agreement dated June 26, 1986 between Laclede Gas Company and    
      The Boatmen's National Bank of St. Louis, as amended, relating to The  
      Laclede Gas Company Wage Deferral Savings Plan *

2.    Trust Agreement dated May 24, 1984 between Laclede Gas Company and The 
      Boatmen's National Bank of St. Louis, as amended, relating to The      
      Laclede Gas Company Salary Deferral Savings Plan

3.    Missouri Natural Gas Company Savings Plan Trust dated November 1, 1967 
      between Missouri Natural Gas Company and St. Louis Union Trust         
      Company, as amended, relating the Missouri Natural Gas Company Savings 
      Plan

4.    Trust Agreement dated July 27, 1989 between Laclede Gas Company and    
      Boatmen's Trust Company, as amended, relating to the Missouri Natural  
      Gas Division of Laclede Gas Company Dual Savings Plan


Part 2

1.    Trust Agreement dated February 26, 1982 between Laclede Gas Company    
      and Centerre Trust Company of St. Louis, as amended, relating to the   
      Employees' Retirement Plan of Laclede Gas Company - Management         
      Employees and the Employees' Retirement Plan of Laclede Gas Company -  
      Contract Employees

2.    Trust Agreement dated as of January 1, 1973 between Laclede Gas        
      Company d/b/a Missouri Natural Gas Company and The Boatmen's National  
      Bank of St. Louis, as amended, relating to the Missouri Natural Gas    
      Company Retirement Income Plan


Part 3

1.    Trust Agreement dated as of December 7, 1989 between Laclede Gas       
      Company and Boatmen's Trust Company, as amended

2.    Trust Agreement dated as of September 4, 1990 between Laclede Gas      
      Company and Boatmen's Trust Company, as amended

3.    Trust Under Certain Laclede Gas Company Benefit Plans dated November   
      18, 1994 between Laclede Gas Company and Boatmen's Trust Company, as   
      amended

4.    Laclede Gas Company Benefit Plan Trust/VEBA for Certain Non-Union      
      Employees dated November 18, 1994 between Laclede Gas Company and      
      Boatmen's Trust Company, as amended

5.    Laclede Gas Company Benefit Plan Trust/VEBA for Contract (Union)       
      Employees dated November 18, 1994 between Laclede Gas Company and      
      Boatmen's Trust Company


*     All references in this Exhibit A to any Plan shall be deemed to relate 
      to the then current version of such Plan, as then amended

                                
                                 Page 25<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                          EXHIBIT B
           Action Items of Boatmen's Trust Company

-     Provide asset list for each Laclede Gas Company account to be          
      transferred to Mercantile and update the asset list immediately prior  
      to transfer of assets.

-     Review trades and activity occurring at time of transfer to ensure     
      proper settlement.

-     On Effective Date, transfer assets to Mercantile.

-     Produce final accounting as of the Effective Date. 














































                                 Page 26<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                          EXHIBIT C
      Action Items of Mercantile Bank National Association

-     Open accounts on SEI System that match up to accounts being            
      transferred from Boatmen's.

-     Instruct Boatmen's on how to transfer different asset types to         
      Mercantile.

-     For transaction statements/asset review statements/ audited financial  
      report with accruals, determine with Laclede:
      Information/schedules required
      Frequency of reports
      Individuals to receive reports

-     Establish with Laclede cycle to produce fee invoices.

-     Receive assets and book them into appropriate SEI accounts; reconcile  
      accounts with previous day's asset list from Boatmen's and make any    
      needed adjustments or corrections.

-     At the end of the first month after the Effective Date, run monthly    
      reports and review and discuss them with Laclede; make any needed      
      changes to the reporting package.



































                                 Page 27<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                          EXHIBIT D
             Action Items of Laclede Gas Company

Deliver a list of authorized signatories to Mercantile for each trust


Deliver a list of trust beneficiaries and their approximate level of benefits
under the Plan as of the Effective Date to Mercantile









      







































                                 Page 28