The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-28
THE WASTE OF NATURAL GAS.

The waste of natural gas has been going
on in many ways ever since the gas was
first discovered, but the latest form of
waste is the worst of all, viz. That of al
lowing the gas to escape in the air in order
to get at the oil below it. When it is re-
membered that great business interests and
the comfort of hundreds of thousands of
people depend upon the gas supply, this
wanton waste of it for purely selfish pur-
poses can only be characterized as an out
rage The Journal has already expressed
itself decidedly in regard to this matter. but
it would further emphasize the Importance
of the meeting of mayors of the gas belt
cities to be held in Alexandria tomorrow.
This meeting should be fully attended, and
Indianapolis should be represented there,
for it is as deeply interested as if it were
directly in the gas belt. 1t is to be hoped
the meeting will not end in talk. The Jour
ral has already expressed a doubt whether
a sufficiently determined attempt has been
made TO enforce the present law on the
subject. Laws do not enforce themselves.
The people and their servants, the public
prosecutors, must do their part We doubt
if they have done it yet in this case. The
law of 1893 contains the following:
Section l. That it shall be unlawful for
any person, firm or corporation having pos
session or control of any natural gas or OIL
well, whether contractor owner lessee,
agent or manager, to allow or permit the
flow of gas or oil from any such we'll to
escape into the open air without being con-
fined within such well or proper pipes or
other safe receptacle for a longer period
than two days next after gas or oil shall
have been struck in such well. And there
after all such gas or oil shall be safely and
securely confined in such WELL pipes or
other safe and proper receptacles.
Section 3 imposes a penalty of $500 upon
any person or corporation violating the
foregoing section, and a further penalty of
5000 for each ten days during which such
violation shall continue, such penalties to
be recoverable in civil action in the name
of the State for the use of the county in
which such we'll shall be located, together
with reasonable attorneys fees and costs
of suit. Section is as follows
Whenever any person or corporation in
possession or control of any we'll in which
natural gas or oil has been found shall fall
to comply with the provisions of this act,
any person or corporation lawfully IN pos
session of lands situate adjacent to or in
the vicinity or neighborhood of such well
may enter upon the lands upon which such
we'll from which gas or oil is allowed to es-
cape in violation of the provisions of Sec
ton l of this act and pack and tube Sucn
we'll and shut in and secure the flow of gas
or oil and maintain a civil action in any
court of competent jurisdiction in this state
against the owner, lessee, agent or manager
of said we'll, and each of them jointly and
severally to recover the cost and expense
of such tubing and packing. together with
the attorneys fees and costs of suit. rms
shall be in addition to the penalties pro-
vided by Section 3 of this act.
1t does not take a lawyer to construe
these sections, though, to be frank, some
lawyers seem to be very Jealous in miscon-
STRUNG them. They have not been en-
forced, and as far as the Journal is ad-
vised, no earnest attempt has been made to
enforce them. 1t is idle to talk about more
legislation until the remedies under the
present law have been exhausted. The first
duty of the meeting at Alexandria will be
to provide ways and means to enforce the
law.