The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-12
TO SAVE THE GAS BELT
MEETING OF PROMINENT REPRE-
SENTATIVES AT ANDERSON.
Determined to Push Cases Against
People Who Waste the Gas-Cuda-
by Pipeline Programme.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

- III
ANDERSON, Ind. May 11.-Representa"
tives from all the gas-belt cities and the
important manufacturing industries of
Madison county met here to-day to perfect
an organization to prevent the willful waste
of natural gas. w. 3. Leeds, of the Amer
lean Tin-plate Company of ElWood, was
made president, and j. E. Lippencott, of
the Lippencott chimney works, of AleXan-
dria, secretary. 1t was resolved that i'm
mediate action should be taken in the
courts, and injunctions against oil drillers
will be demanded. A fund to prosecute will
be raised by voluntary contributions Of
the manufacturers although each will be
asked to subscribe $25 to the fund. Hon.
w. T.. Durbin, of this city, who is largely
interested in the Diamond Paper Company
and the Seton Manufacturing Company,
was named as trustee of the fund. Messrs.
w. B. Leeds, j. E. Lippencott and j. f.
Van Deventer will issue the call for funds
at once, and the Madison County Associa-
ton will act in conjunction with the as
sociation at Indianapolis. Among the prom
il ent industries represented here to-day
were: Kelly AK Company, Alexandria, by
j. E. Whitley; w. c. De PAW Window
glass Company, Alexandria, by N. T. De
PAW; American Plate-glass Company, AL
eXandria, by r. c.. Beatty; Union Steel
Company, Alexandria, by j. w. Lovett;
Lippencott chimney works, Alexandria, by
]. E. Lippencott; American Tin-plate Com
psny, Elwood, by w. B.. Leeds and w.
Reed; Ely Window-gIass Company, Gilman.
by G. H. Elfor; Model Flint-glass Company,
Albany, by A. c. Heck; Albany Strawboard
Company, Albany, by r. A. Austin; Adams
W~lndoW-gla5S Company, FranktOn, by j. F..
Adams; Paramount, Summitville, Pendle-
ton and Muncie were also represented. The
meeting adjourned subject to the call of
President Leeds. A 'ather startling stu
alton was developed as the result of the
meeting to-day, and it looks very much
how as if the oil spectators had stolen d
march pm the manufacturers and gas-sup-
Fly companies while the latter We're en-
deaVoring to stop the exploration for oil,
by a police statute. 1t was reported that
the oil men, through the agency of James
Boyce, of Alexandria,, had effected an ar
rangement with the Chicago Pipeline Com
pany to extend their line, that now reaches
the edge. of Madison county, into the heart
of the Alexandria field and take its sur
plus supply of natural gas, which will then
be pumped into Chicago. 1t is also alleged
that the Chicago company was eager to
get INTO this virgin gas territory, and
agreed TO erect separatorS at all oil wells
p producing gas and caring for it, so that the
law VIII in NJ way be violated. This is
the most serious situation that has yet con-
fronted the manufacturers and Indianapolis
gas, companies, as every effort has been
made to prevent the Chicago company from
getting a foothoid in Madison county. This
report is all the talk here tonight. some
accepting It as correct. while others are in
doubt. There was a good deal of secrecy
maintained at the meeting to-day on the
part of most of the manufacturers, and
tonight 1t is impossible to verify the truth
of the report, although it was made the
subject of the leading editorial in the An
derson News, as follows:
1t has Just begun to dawn upon the
indianapolis pipeline companies that they
rave committed an egragiouS hiunder in the
~tu-conceived plan 1t has set on foot to bull
qoze the oil operators around Alexandria.
Instead of acting like intelligent and fair
minded men and recognizing that some one
else had a right to be on the earth besides
the gas men, they nave attempted to use
the police power contained in d questiona-
bic statute to bulldoZe the oil speculators
INTO a complete abandonment of the Alex
andria field.
This act is now recoiling upon the In
Glanapolis magnates, and as matters begin
to unfold themselves it is clear that the oil
men have completely .outgeneraled them.
Inc agreement entered into between the
Chlcago Pipeline Company and the oil
operators, whereby the former is to extend
its pipe lines into the oil field and purchase
and care for the surplus gas is a master
stroke. 1t has completely paralyzed the
crowd of oVergreedy gas magnates. and the
alright executive session held by them at
the Doxey House to-day was probably for
no other purpose than to give each other
a SOUND kicking for the short-sightedness
ana lack OF common sense they have mani
tested in this matter.
Had the gas companies made the sensi-
bic proposition to take care of ali the sur-
plus gas brought out by the oil devotion
ment and met the oil operators half wav
they would not be confronted in the gas
belt by such formidable company as the
Chicago pipeline. So far as the people Of
Madison county are concerned they have
no more sympathy for the I~ndianapoIis
pipeline suckers than they have for the
Chicago people. Both have initiated against
the interests of the gas belt. To the neonIa
IN general 1t is a case of dog eat dog"