The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-07
WASTE OF NATURAL GAS
INSPECTOR LEACH TELLS WHAT HE
HAS DONE TO PREVENT 1T.
Conference with Governor and Attor-
ney General This Week-The Sit
uatiOn at Alexandria.

The state authorities have not been in
alert in the matter of reported violations
Of the law protecting the supply of natural
gas Natural Gas Inspector Leach was in
structed several weeks ago to thoroughly
investigate the reports OF gas wasting near
Alexandria and in the territory where oil
well development is progressing so rapidly.
After he made his report he was directed
by the Governor to vigorously prosecute
all persons guilty of wasting the gas. Mr..
Leach sent a letter to the Governor yester-
day afternoon, giving summary of his
investigation. The letter reads:
Il notice in the Indianapolis News of this
date a communication from manufactures
OF Alexandrla referring 70 the natural gas
situation. The article lntimateS very PLAIN
Iy that the state officials, whose duty II is
TO enforce the laws, are not doing their
duty. therefore desire to state the exact
conditions 10 you. Since April %, 1897, the
date when the first well was drilled, there
have been sixty wells driven for oil in the
vicinity OF Alexandria. OF these, twenty
eight produce oil and gas in varying guam
titles The oil is tanked and the gas es-
capeS into the air; With the exception OF
five weis, the amount OF gas escaping from
each we'll is very small. Thirty-tWo of the
sixty wells are gas wells only, and are
tubed and packed. In every instance where
gas has been allowed to escape from these
wells contrary to the provisions of the law,
L have filed information promptly with the
prosecuting attorney, and he has thereupon
MED suit in the courts.
1.-The first suit filed was against the Ohio
Oil Company. They demurred to the COM
plant, and the question as to the suffi-
cheney of the cause of complaint was ar
gued before the Circuit Court of Madison
county the second week in September. The
court overruled the demurrer this week.
This is q very substantial victory for the
state but it does not settle the matter, as
the whole question will doubtless be sub
mitted to the Supreme Court. The com
munication in the News alleges that numer-
Gus oil men are burning f1ambeaux. This
l deny. The entire amount of gas escaping
from five wells inside the city limits is
burning. There is not any more gas vast
ing than before it was ignited. L under
stand that the Board of Health of Alex
andria ordered the gas to be burned rather
. than to be allowed to escape into the air.
When / offered to file affidayts against the
parties burning this gas / WA informed by
the attorneys representing the State that
the lights were not fiambeauX within the
meaning of the law. There is a vast
amount of gas being wasted and / am
am enforcing the law vigorously as pos
sible, but 1t seems TO be a very slow proc
esS, in the estimation of the manufacturers
of the vicinity. Kindly make any. suggeS-
tions you may desire, and L Will do my best
to see that they are carried out"
Upon receipt of the above letter the Gov
ernor Immediately addressed a communica-
ton to Mr.. Leach requesting a conference
at the earliest opportunity the coming week
general, together with the gas inspector
will endeavor to formulate some definite
plan OF action looking to the suppression of
the evil complained of.