The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-04-23
LIGHTNING
Touched a Spring,
And Uncovered a Remark
able Secret.
Gas to Be Manufactured By
a Process.
That Will Revolutionize Things
In Indiana.
That Will Revolutionize Things
The Dieterich Syndicate's New
Scheme-A Powerful Comb
nation in the Field.

Lafayette, Ind, April l5.-Discov-
cries have been which are destined to
revolutionize the natural gas indus
tries of the State should expectations
be half way realized. Science in this,
it seems, has kept pace with its pro-
gress in other directions. Like most
great discoveries it was mere chance,
in the shape of stroke of lightning,
that touched hidden spring and laid
bare secret which brains, backed by
great wealth, had almost despared of
ever revealing. This secret is the
process by which gas may be manu-
featured for the purpose of fuel, and
it is claimed also for illuminating
purposes, though the latter does not
cut so much of figure in the great
gas regions of this state as does the
former. The secret process is now
the property of Mr.. Charles F. Dieter
ich, the head of the great syndicate
bearing his name, and which num-
bers among its members representa-
tives of the most powerful wealth.
producing concerns and combinations
in the United States.
THEsssYNDICATE ITSELF.
The Dieterich Syndicate owns
about all the natural gas property
worth owning in the west, save the
plant by which.gas is furnished from
Lima to Ohio consumers, and which
plant is controlled by a syndicate at
the head of which is Senator Brice
and General Samuel Thomas. There
have been overtures looking to dis.
posal of the holdings.,::of the latter syn
dictate to that controlled by Mr..
Dieterich. AS to whether these over
lures will ever amount to anything
more is matter of Speculation and
remains for the future to decide. The
Dieterich syndicateIini Indiana made
its first appearancelwhen it purchased |
the great plant that feeds this city
with natural gas. 1t now owns not
only the natural gas plant here, but
artificial gas and electric lighting
plants. At TT. Wayne it is the poss-
essor of artificial and natural gas
plants; owns natural gas plant at
Button and field or supply compa-
ny at Anderson, and is in reality the
Indiana Gas Company" which sup
plies natural gas to Charlottesville,
Lebanon, Frankfort and intervening
towns, and in several of which cities
at least it owns artificial gas and
lighting plants. Its greatest
interest, perhaps, is in and about the
capital city of the State, where the
syndicate owns the Indianapolis Gas
Company, with its natural and artifi-
cial plants. 1t also controls thousands
of acres of undeveloped gas property,
and has invested in Indiana about
ST 100000.
WHO COMPRISES IT.
The headquarters of the syndicate
are in New York City, where it owns
the Equitable Gas Company, also
large operating companies in Brook
Ign and Baltimore, and is accredited
with controlling the several companies
that furnish Milwaukee with its gas.
There, of course, are artificial gas
and in the cities mention
ed, together with other holdings, the
Dieterich syndicate has invested $780,
100000. 1t is a powerful combina-
ton, and at its back are untold for
tunes. For instance, the Central
Trust Company, of New York, the
largest financial institution in the
country; E. G. Benedict. the New
York broker and financier, who has
gained distinction in ways other than
financial by the bond offriendship that
binds him to President Cleveland.
Then there are Baron Jerzminoswki
md A. M. Brady, of Albany, former {
y known in the East as "Tony," and |