The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-29
THE WASTE OF GAS.

Save the gas lands for the use Of our own
I lli1. There is more in home markets,
f frsuIll 1ig from increased population than
from oil leases.-Anderson News
If the Governor should call an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature-a thing that he is
pol at all likely to do-then there would be
waste of gas.-Terre HGute Express.
The natural gas interests of Indiana
should be protected from the reckless inva-
sions of the oil spectators without delay.
w fat Jaw Ihere IS on the subject should be
enforced.-Seymour Republican.
Any man who has the welfare of Madison
county and its vast manufacturing institu
tions at heart will not be a party to nernit
the precious fuel to be wasted in the whole
SAFE manner practiced for the last six
months.-ElWood Call-Leader.
A special session of the LEGISLATURE which
is now being petitioned for by residents in
the gas belt would mean an expense to the
State of at least $50 900, and then there is
no assurance that q law would be enacted
that would meet the requirements to stop
the waste of natural gas-Goshen News.
A petition is circulating in the Indiana
gas belt region asking Governor Mount TO
convene the General Assembly in extra SEES
sion in order to pass law regulating the
waste OF natural gas. To call the Legisla-
tufe together for this purpose will prove a
very expensive luxury for the great major
ity of the people in order that compara-
StNO lew iulSHI receive a Den6f1t.-Warren
Republican.
Governor Mount has the right idea of the
proposition to call an extra session of the
Legislature to provide additional legislation
to prevent the waste of natural gas He
says: If the courts do not enforce the laws
in effect, why make other laws?' The pen
alt1es now are sufficiently stringent Any
new law that might be passed could be held
up pending full judicial inquiry, and that
would be as costly delay as is being expe-
rienced under the present laws.-Kokomo
Tribune.
There is just one way to stop this waste
of gas summariy, and that is for the per-
son in possession of the lands adjoining to
or in the vicinity or neighborhood of the
wells from which gas is allowed to escape
to take possession of them and pack them
and tube them and shut off the gas Have
called the attention of parties interested in
the natural gas industries to this section of
the law time and again, but have been I'M
able to get anything done. If the law gave
me the power to take possession of these
wells, | would certainly do so and stop the
waste at once.-State Natural Gas Super
visor Leach.
While Lafayette and every other place in
Indiana that draws on the gas fields for
contribution to their comfort are greatly in
terested in the preservation of the fuel, it
certainly is of greater direct Importance to
the towns of the gas belt that it's wanton
waste be stopped The vast amount of
newspaper talk now going on, the holding
of public meetings to adopt resolutions the
street-corner discussions on the subject, and
all that sort of thing, seems to be a useless
and is certainly an ineffective waste of eff
fort. Too much of all kinds of gas is going
to waste in that district Less talk and
some positive action is what is needed
Lafayette Courier.
The movement to stop the waste of natural
gas is commendable. 1t should have begun
sooner From the day natural gas was first
developed in Indiana to the present time,
there has been a reckless, senseless waste
of the precious fluid. Hundreds of good
producing wells have been drilled, and many
of them allowed to run indefinitely without
being properly anchored and capped and
millions of cubic feet of gas have been per-
mitted to escape through carelesssness and
Indifference to its value. Before the
Legislature is called to pass new law on
the subject the efficacy of the law the
statute books should be more thoroughly
tested. The law passed by the last Legisla-
ture SENS to provide all the safeguards pos
sible, and if it does not stand the test of
the courts, it is probable that another law
enacted by the Legislature would fail.-Ma-
riOn News