UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION    
                          Washington, D.C.  20549        
                                 FORM 10-Q




(X)  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES      
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934                         
                                                                             
For the Quarterly Period ended December 31, 1996   
                                                                             
                                     OR

( )  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES   
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period from  ________ to ________

Commission File Number 1-1822


                             LACLEDE GAS COMPANY  
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 

        Missouri                                43-0368139
 (State of Incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer
                                           Identification Number)


 720 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri                             63101
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code             314-342-0500
 

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes (X)   No ( )        

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's
classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.                  
          
17,557,540 shares, Common Stock, par value $1 per share at 2/11/97.
      







                                        
                                 Page 1<PAGE>
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               LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES 











                                  PART I

                          FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    




The interim financial statements included herein have been prepared by the
Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  These financial statements should be
read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto
included in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1996.




























                                 Page 2<PAGE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>                               
              LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
                    STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME               
                               (UNAUDITED)

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)                         
<CAPTION>
                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                           December 31,
                                                         1996        1995
                                                         ----        ----
<S>                                                    <C>         <C>       
 
Utility Operating Revenues                             $193,865    $154,981
                                                       -------------------- 
Utility Operating Expenses:
   Natural and propane gas                              120,248      88,677
   Other operation expenses                              21,289      18,339
   Maintenance                                            4,507       4,421
   Depreciation and amortization                          6,469       6,072
   Taxes, other than income taxes                        11,416       9,470
   Income taxes (Note 3)                                  9,393       8,313
                                                       --------------------
      Total Utility Operating Expenses                  173,322     135,292
                                                       --------------------
Utility Operating Income                                 20,543      19,689
Miscellaneous Income and Income Deductions - Net
   (less applicable income taxes) (Note 3)                  531         827
                                                       --------------------
Income Before Interest Charges                           21,074      20,516  
                                                       --------------------
Interest Charges:
   Interest on long-term debt                             3,542       3,312
   Other interest charges                                 1,426       1,466
                                                       --------------------
      Total Interest Charges                              4,968       4,778
                                                       --------------------
Net Income                                               16,106      15,738 
Dividends on Preferred Stock                                 24          24
                                                       -------------------- 
Earnings Applicable to Common Stock                    $ 16,082    $ 15,714
                                                       ==================== 

Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding              17,558      17,466

Earnings Per Share of Common Stock                        $ .92       $ .90

Dividends Declared Per Share of Common Stock              $.325       $.315


<FN>

             See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>





                                 Page 3<PAGE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
              LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
                       CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
<CAPTION>                                  
                                                       Dec. 31     Sept. 30
                                                         1996        1996
                                                         ----        ----
                                                     (Thousands of Dollars)  
                                                     (UNAUDITED)
                                  ASSETS
<S>                                                    <C>         <C>       
                                                                
Utility Plant                                          $787,904    $780,001
   Less:  Accumulated depreciation and amortization     332,322     327,836
                                                       --------------------
   Net Utility Plant                                    455,582     452,165
                                                       --------------------
Other Property and Investments                           25,074      24,265
                                                       --------------------
Current Assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                              7,556       4,360
   Accounts receivable - net                            121,370      45,578
   Materials, supplies, and merchandise at avg cost       5,464       5,634
   Natural gas stored underground for current use 
      at LIFO cost                                       53,481      58,769
   Propane gas for current use at FIFO cost              13,209      12,655  
   Prepayments                                            3,263       1,910
   Deferred income taxes                                 11,804       4,477
                                                       --------------------
      Total Current Assets                              216,147     133,383
                                                       --------------------
Deferred Charges                                         64,503      79,582
                                                       --------------------
Total Assets                                           $761,306    $689,395
                                                       ====================

                 
<FN>
             See notes to consolidated financial statements.


</TABLE>








                                      








                                 Page 4 <PAGE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
              LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
                 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Continued)
<CAPTION>
                                                       Dec. 31     Sept. 30
                                                         1996        1996
                                                         ----        ----
                                                     (Thousands of Dollars)  
                                                     (UNAUDITED)
                    CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
<S>                                                   <C>         <C>  
Capitalization:
   Common stock (19,423,178 shares issued)            $ 19,423    $ 19,423
   Paid-in capital                                      61,205      61,205   
   Retained earnings                                   194,607     184,232
   Treasury stock, at cost (1,865,638 shares held)     (24,017)    (24,017)  
                                                      -------------------- 
      Total common stock equity                        251,218     240,843
   Redeemable preferred stock                            1,960       1,960 
   Long-term debt (less sinking fund requirements)     179,363     179,346
                                                      --------------------   
         Total Capitalization                          432,541     422,149   
                                                      --------------------  
Current Liabilities:
   Notes payable                                        92,000      59,600   
   Accounts payable                                     66,566      20,637
   Refunds due customers                                 1,000       1,248
   Advance customer billings                                33       6,231   
   Taxes accrued                                        12,856      10,212
   Unamortized purchased gas adjustments                21,234      26,744   
   Other                                                19,603      21,776 
                                                      --------------------   
     Total Current Liabilities                         213,292     146,448
                                                      --------------------  
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
   Deferred income taxes                                69,081      78,149   
   Unamortized investment tax credits                    7,581       7,669   
   Other                                                38,811      34,980
                                                      --------------------
      Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities     115,473     120,798
                                                      --------------------
Total Capitalization and Liabilities                  $761,306    $689,395
                                                      ====================   
 

<FN>
             See notes to consolidated financial statements.



</TABLE>








                                 Page 5   <PAGE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
              LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
                 STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
                              (UNAUDITED)
<CAPTION>
                                                        Three Months Ended   
                                                          December 31,
                                                         1996        1995
                                                         ----        ----
                                                     (Thousands of Dollars)
<S>                                                   <C>         <C>        
                                                           
Operating Activities:      
 Net Income                                           $ 16,106    $ 15,738
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
   provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization                       6,480       6,082
     Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits    1,910      (2,204)  
     Other - net                                           148         (10)
     Changes in assets and liabilities:
       Accounts receivable - net                       (75,792)    (62,202)
       Unamortized purchased gas adjustments            (5,510)      3,091   
       Deferred purchased gas costs                      3,252       7,637
       Advance customer billings - net                  (6,198)     (7,796)
       Accounts payable                                 45,929      16,586
       Refunds due customers                              (248)     (3,362)  
       Taxes accrued                                     2,644       7,369   
       Natural gas stored underground                    5,288       3,750
       Other assets and liabilities                     (6,938)     (6,528)  
                                                      --------------------
              Net cash used in operating activities   $(12,929)   $(21,849)
                                                      --------------------
Investing Activities:                                                      
 Construction expenditures                              (9,830)     (9,834)
 Investments - non-utility                                (727)        251   
 Employee benefit trusts                                  (197)         68  
 Other                                                      34         (55)
                                                      --------------------
              Net cash used in investing activities   $(10,720)   $ (9,570)  
                                                      --------------------
Financing Activities:
 Issuance of short-term debt - net                      32,400      12,500   
 Dividends paid                                         (5,555)     (5,424)  
 Issuance of first mortgage bonds                            -      25,000   
 Other                                                       -         791   
                                                     ---------------------
          Net cash provided by financing activities   $ 26,845    $ 32,867   
                                                     ---------------------
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents             $  3,196    $  1,448
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beg of Period               4,360       1,555
                                                      -------------------- 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year              $  7,556    $  3,003   
                                                      ====================
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Paid/(Refunded)
 During the Period for:
  Interest                                              $8,222      $7,478   
  Income taxes                                               -      (2,452)
<FN>
             See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
                                 Page 6<PAGE>
<PAGE>
              LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
               NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.  In the opinion of management, this interim report includes all           
    adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary     
    for the fair presentation of the results of the periods covered.

2.  The registrant is a natural gas distribution utility having a material   
    seasonal cycle; therefore, this interim statement of consolidated        
    income is not necessarily indicative of annual results nor               
    representative of succeeding quarters of the fiscal year.

3.  Net provisions for income taxes were charged (credited) as follows       
    during the periods set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Three Months Ended      
                                                      December 31,
                                                   ------------------   
                                                   1996          1995
                                                   ----          ----
                                                 (Thousands of Dollars)
    <S>                                            <C>          <C>          
    Utility Operations
       Current:   
          Federal                                  $ 6,416      $ 9,002
          State and local                            1,082        1,513

       Deferred:                                     
          Federal                                    1,561       (1,930)
          State and local                              334         (272)
                                                   --------------------
       Subtotal                                    $ 9,393      $ 8,313
                                                   --------------------
              
    Miscellaneous Income and
       Income Deductions
       Current:
          Federal                                  $    58      $   190      
          State and local                                3           22      
                                     
       Deferred:
          Federal                                       13           (2)
          State and local                                2            -
                                                   --------------------
       Subtotal                                    $    76      $   210
                                                   --------------------
                  Total                            $ 9,469      $ 8,523
                                                   ====================


</TABLE>







                                 Page 7<PAGE>
<PAGE>
4.  In the past, the Company operated various manufactured gas plants which  
    produced certain by-products and residuals.  After performing, at the    
    request of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an   
    investigation of one of the Company's former manufactured gas plant      
    sites located in Shrewsbury, Missouri (the Shrewsbury Site) and          
    reviewing the results of this investigation, the Company agreed to       
    perform a limited removal of some contaminants on small areas of the     
    site.  As previously reported by the Company, the Company has been     
    discussing with the EPA and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources 
    (MoDNR) what additional actions are required for the site.  At this      
    time, given the lack of final agreement as to what additional actions    
    should be taken, the ultimate costs to be incurred regarding the         
    Shrewsbury Site remain unclear.  Assuming the Company performs the       
    limited removal actions agreed to with the EPA and those of the          
    additional actions proposed by the EPA and MoDNR to which the Company    
    has no objection, the Company estimates that the overall costs will be   
    approximately $740,000.  Currently, $530,000 of such overall costs have  
    been paid, and an additional $210,000 has been reserved by the           
    Company.  The Company has notified its insurers that it intends to seek  
    reimbursement from them of its investigation, remediation, clean-up and  
    defense costs.  The Company intends to seek recovery, if practicable,    
    from any other potentially responsible parties.
    
    In a separate matter, MoDNR has accepted the Company's application to    
    place the site of a different former manufactured gas plant located in   
    the City of St. Louis, Missouri (which site was also used by subsequent  
    owners as the site of a coke manufacturing facility) in the Missouri     
    environmental remediation program.  MoDNR's preliminary tests at the     
    site reflect the presence of coke and gas plant manufacturing wastes, as 
    well as certain heavy metal wastes.  The Company and MoDNR have agreed   
    upon the parameters of the Company's initial investigation.  The Company 
    currently estimates that the cost of such investigation, MoDNR oversight 
    costs and associated legal and engineering consulting costs relative to  
    the site would together approximate $75,000.  Currently, $34,000 has     
    been paid and an additional $41,000 has been reserved on the Company's   
    books.  The City of St. Louis, the current owner of the site, has        
    recently received proposals from several different groups to develop     
    this site, and is in the process of evaluating such proposals.  Various  
    portions of the development proposals deal with the issue of the         
    environmental condition of the site, and the impact of such condition on 
    possible development plans.  Until a development proposal is selected,   
    the Company is unable to determine the impact, if any, that any proposed 
    development will have on actions to be taken regarding the site, and the 
    cost of any such actions.  The Company has notified its insurers that    
    the Company intends to seek reimbursement from them for investigation,   
    remediation, clean-up and defense costs.  The Company has also requested 
    that other former site owners and/or operators participate in the cost   
    of any site investigation, but none has yet agreed to do so.  The        
    Company plans to seek proportionate reimbursement of all costs incurred  
    with respect to this site from such parties and/or any other potentially 
    responsible parties, to the extent practicable.

    The Company is presently unable to evaluate or quantify further the      
    scope or cost of any environmental response activity with regard to the  
    above two former manufactured gas plant sites.




                                 Page 8<PAGE>
<PAGE>
    In the Company's most recent rate case, the MoPSC approved, effective    
    September 1, 1996, the continued use of a cost deferral mechanism,       
    originally approved as part of a 1994 rate case settlement, for the      
    Company's use in applying for appropriate rate recovery of various       
    environmental costs in connection with former manufactured gas plants.   
    This authorization will be null and void if the Company does not file to 
    further adjust its rates by September 1, 1998; and, in any event, the    
    recovery of costs thus deferred may be challenged in future rate         
    proceedings.

5.  This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Notes to           
    Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company's 1996 Form   
    10-K.














































                                    Page 9<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
             FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 were $.92 per share 
compared with $.90 per share for the same quarter last year.  The increase 
in earnings was primarily attributable to the benefit of the Company's 
general rate increase (which was placed in effect on September 1, 1996), 
higher gas sales arising from colder weather this quarter, and income 
realized under the recently implemented Gas Supply Incentive Plan (which was
approved by the Missouri Public Service Commission effective October 1, 
1996).  These benefits were partially offset by higher operating expenses.
The weather for the quarter was 7% colder than last year and 10% colder than
normal.

Utility operating revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 were 
$193.9 million compared with $155.0 million for the quarter ended December 
31, 1995.  The $38.9 million, or 25.1%, increase was principally due to 
increased wholesale gas costs (which are passed on to Laclede's customers 
under the Company's Purchased Gas Adjustment Clause).  Revenues also 
increased due to incentive revenues realized this quarter (there were 
none recorded in the quarter ended December 31, 1995), higher therms sold  
and transported (arising from the colder weather), and the benefit of higher
general rate levels placed in effect September 1, 1996.  Therms sold and 
transported increased by 6.7 million therms, or 1.9%, above the quarter 
ended December 31, 1995.

Utility operating expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 increased
by $38.0 million, or 28.1%, above the same quarter last year.  Natural and 
propane gas expense this quarter increased $31.6 million, or 35.6%, above 
last year mainly due to higher rates charged by our suppliers, gas costs 
related to the new aforementioned Gas Supply Incentive Plan incurred this 
year, and increased volumes purchased for sendout (resulting from the colder
weather).  Other operation and maintenance expenses increased $3.0 million, 
or 13.3%, principally due to increased pension expense (reflecting lower 
gains applicable to lump-sum settlements this quarter), higher wage rates, 
increased distribution charges, and a higher provision for uncollectible 
accounts. Depreciation and amortization expense increased 6.5% primarily due
to additional property.  Taxes, other than income taxes, increased 20.5% 
mainly due to higher gross receipts taxes (reflecting increased revenues) 
and higher real estate and personal property taxes this quarter.  The $1.1 
million increase in income taxes is principally due to higher taxable 
income.

Miscellaneous income and income deductions decreased $.3 million primarily 
due to lower non-utility gas marketing income recognized by the Company's 
wholly-owned subsidiary, Laclede Energy Resources, Inc.  The 4.0% increase 
in interest expense is mainly due to higher interest on long-term debt 
resulting from the issuance of $25 million of 6-1/2% First Mortgage Bonds in
November 1995.






                                 Page 10<PAGE>
<PAGE>
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company's short-term borrowing requirements typically peak during colder
months, principally because of required payments for natural gas made in 
advance of the receipt of cash from the Company's customers for the sale of 
that gas.  Such short-term cash requirements have traditionally been met 
through the sale of commercial paper supported by lines of credit with 
banks.  In January 1997, the Company renewed its primary lines of bank 
credit under which it may borrow up to $40 million prior to January 31, 
1998, with renewal of any loans outstanding on that date permitted to 
June 30, 1998.  This, along with a previously obtained $90 million 
supplemental line of credit which runs through March 1, 1997, provides a 
total line of credit of $130 million for the 1996-1997 heating season.  The 
Company anticipates that the supplemental line of credit will be reduced 
after March 1, 1997, since seasonal cash needs typically decline at the end 
of the heating season.  During fiscal 1997 to date, the Company sold 
commercial paper aggregating to a maximum of $104.0 million at any one time,
but did not borrow from the banks under the aforementioned agreements.  
Short-term borrowings amounted to $100.5 million at January 31, 1997.

In the past, the Company operated various manufactured gas plants which      
produced certain by-products and residuals.  After performing, at the        
request of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an      
investigation of one of the Company's former manufactured gas plant          
sites located in Shrewsbury, Missouri (the Shrewsbury Site) and              
reviewing the results of this investigation, the Company agreed to           
perform a limited removal of some contaminants on small areas of the         
site.  As previously reported by the Company, the Company has been     
discussing with the EPA and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources     
(MoDNR) what additional actions are required for the site.  See the "OTHER
PERTINENT MATTERS" Section of the Company's most recent Form 10-K.  At this  
time, given the lack of final agreement as to what additional actions        
should be taken, the ultimate costs to be incurred regarding the             
Shrewsbury Site remain unclear.  Assuming the Company performs the           
limited removal actions agreed to with the EPA and those of the              
additional actions proposed by the EPA and MoDNR to which the Company        
has no objection, the Company estimates that the overall costs will be       
approximately $740,000.  Currently, $530,000 of such overall costs have      
been paid, and an additional $210,000 has been reserved by the               
Company.  The Company has notified its insurers that it intends to seek      
reimbursement from them of its investigation, remediation, clean-up and      
defense costs.  The Company intends to seek recovery, if practicable,        
from any other potentially responsible parties.
    
In a separate matter, MoDNR has accepted the Company's application to        
place the site of a different former manufactured gas plant located in       
the City of St. Louis, Missouri (which site was also used by subsequent      
owners as the site of a coke manufacturing facility) in the Missouri         
environmental remediation program.  MoDNR's preliminary tests at the         
site reflect the presence of coke and gas plant manufacturing wastes, as     
well as certain heavy metal wastes.  The Company and MoDNR have agreed       
upon the parameters of the Company's initial investigation.  The Company     
currently estimates that the cost of such investigation, MoDNR oversight     
costs and associated legal and engineering consulting costs relative to      
the site would together approximate $75,000.  Currently, $34,000 has been    
paid and an additional $41,000 has been reserved on the Company's books. 



                                 Page 11<PAGE>
<PAGE>
The City of St. Louis, the current owner of the site, has recently           
received proposals from several different groups to develop this site,       
and is in the process of evaluating such proposals.  Various portions of     
the development proposals deal with the issue of the environmental           
condition of the site, and the impact of such condition on possible          
development plans.  Until a development proposal is selected, the            
Company is unable to determine the impact, if any, that any proposed         
development will have on actions to be taken regarding the site, and the    
cost of any such actions.  The Company has notified its insurers that        
the Company intends to seek reimbursement from them for investigation,       
remediation, clean-up and defense costs.  The Company has also requested     
that other former site owners and/or operators participate in the cost       
of any site investigation, but none has yet agreed to do so.  The            
Company plans to seek proportionate reimbursement of all costs incurred      
with respect to this site from such parties and/or any other potentially     
responsible parties, to the extent practicable.

The Company is presently unable to evaluate or quantify further the          
scope or cost of any environmental response activity with regard to the      
above two former manufactured gas plant sites.

In the Company's most recent rate case, the MoPSC approved, effective        
September 1, 1996, the continued use of a cost deferral mechanism,           
originally approved as part of a 1994 rate case settlement, for the          
Company's use in applying for appropriate rate recovery of various           
environmental costs in connection with former manufactured gas plants.       
This authorization will be null and void if the Company does not file to     
further adjust its rates by September 1, 1998; and, in any event, the        
recovery of costs thus deferred may be challenged in future rate             
proceedings.
 
Construction expenditures for the quarter were $9.8 million, the same as the
corresponding period last year.

Capitalization at December 31, 1996 increased $10.4 million since September 
30, 1996 and consisted of 58.1% common stock equity, .4% preferred stock 
equity and 41.5% long-term debt.

The seasonal effect of the Company's financial position affects the 
comparison of certain balance sheet items at December 31, 1996 and at 
September 30, 1996 such as Accounts Receivable - Net, Notes Payable, 
Accounts Payable and Advance Customer Billings.


 














                                 Page 12<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                 

              LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES












                                Part II


                           OTHER INFORMATION







































                                 Page 13<PAGE>
<PAGE>

         LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings
         
         For a discussion of environmental matters, see Note 4 of the Notes  
         to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Financial           
         Information.  With regard to the proceedings before the MoPSC and   
         the Circuit Court of Cole County, Missouri upholding the legality   
         of the purchased gas adjustment clause of another Missouri gas      
         utility, an appeal has been filed, as was anticipated by the        
         Company and noted in its most recent Form 10-K in the Regulatory    
         Matters subsection of such Form 10-K's Item 1. Business.  All of    
         these proceedings have now been consolidated in one appeal, in      
         which the Company is an intervening party.  
         
         During the quarter ended December 31, 1996, there were no new       
         legal proceedings required to be disclosed.  

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a)  See Exhibit Index

         (b)  Reports on Form 8-K

              There were no reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter     
              ended December 31, 1996.
































                                 Page 14<PAGE>
<PAGE>        




              LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES


                               SIGNATURES 


  

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.





                                                  LACLEDE GAS COMPANY


Date:  February 10, 1997                            G. T. McNeive, Jr.
                                                   -------------------
                                                    G. T. McNeive, Jr.
                                              Sr. Vice President - Finance   
                                              (Authorized Signatory and
                                               Chief Financial Officer) 






























                                 Page 15     <PAGE>
<PAGE>




                          Index to Exhibits


                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                               Sequentially
Exhibit                                                          Numbered
Number            Exhibit                                          Page
-------           -------                                      ------------  
                                  
    
 10.01        Amendment to the Employees' Retirement Plan 
              of Laclede Gas Company-Management Employees  
              adopted by the Board of Directors on        
              December 19, 1996.                                    17
           
 10.02        Amendment dated December 23, 1996 of the 
              Supplemental Line of Credit Agreement dated
              August 19, 1996 among the Company, the Chase
              Manhattan Bank, The Boatmen's National Bank
              of St. Louis and Mercantile Bank of St. Louis
              National Association.                                 20

 27           Financial Data Schedule UT                            23 






















                                 






                                 Page 16