The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-02
THE FIELD IS STRONG
LITTLE DANGER OF A GAS SHORTAGE
IN THE BELT CITIES.
Nest Of the Companies Have strength
ened Their Plants and the Fuel
VIII BE Plentiful.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
KOKOMO, Ind, Oct. I.-Winter rates for
natural gas went into effect to-day, the
beginning of the fourteenth year of natural
gas in Indiana. The condition Of the field
at this time was not given in the recently
printed reports of State Geologist
B%latchley and Natural Gas Supervisor
Leach, they being the annual reports for
1898, just issued In book form, and therefore
not up TO date. State Supervisor Leach.
who resides in this city. has just completed
his regular fall tour of the Indiana gas belt
to ascertain the condition Of the field for
the coming winter. He is greatly pleased
with the result of his observations and tests
and gives the gratifying information that
Indiana people can toast themselves in con-
tentment during the coming winter with
plenty of gas for all. This applies OF course
to people residing in the natural gas belt
The supply in pipe line towns Will depend
on the amount OF gas at the of
the pipe line companies and the efficiency
of their transportation and distribution
service. There Is no marked decrease in
the field supply from last year and there
are thousands of acres of fertile territory
The geographical center of the gas area
is near Paramount, Grant county. where the
Indiana Natural Gas Company Is building
a mammoth pumping station to force gas
to Chicago through three parallel t~en-inch
mains, two of which mains have been in
i nse '' The D," Indiana diana com Company i Is e%xpendins
$4,000 NJ In the Improvement of the pipe line
TO Chicago which evidences their faith in
taken impression both in the gas belt and
out of 1t that the Chicago company is
sucking the life out OF the field" As a
matter of truth. Chicago is using less gas
than is burned Is Kokomo which has less
than 1900 inhabitants. 1t IL sold at fancy
prices at Chicago where only the aristo-
Another evidence of the amplitude Of the
supply Is cited by the supervisor in the fact
that there will be no advance in price TO
Four places within the belt, Anderson. FL
wood. Marion and Gas City, have had a
slight readjustment Of rates with no mater
there is no change. Speaking of the gas
territory proper, Supervisor Leach says the
gas Is there in plenty and II people, do not
rule the companies have greatly strength
ened their plants for the coming winter
s sneel snHui ser Sf able I To ave few yneiT Ins ps1rons
mostly small towns n villages. the COM
panies do not rave enough gas and as a
short. Kokomo Is feeling very comfortable
on the gas question. II IS the Indiana head
quarters Of the Chicago pipe line company
and is supplied by that corporation. this city
owned by the company. This corporation Is
capitalized at 1900 900 and owns 5000 acres
of producing territory.
Last winter sixteen persons were killed
by natural gas explosions In the Indiana
field and a vast amount of property de-
stroyed. Supervisor Leach. Is very anxious
to avoid a repetition of the horrors OF a year
ago and warns the people that care must be
taken to prevent accidents. All OF the IA
talities of a year ago were the result OF
leaking pipes and most of the explosions
occurred while the leaks were being hunted
with lighted matches. IL people will ever
learn to use their noses instead OF lighted
matches In hunting leaks. there will be very
few accidents. The greatest danger IL IN
winter when the ground Is frozen. Escaping
gas cannot escape through the frost but Is
Confined below the frost line and escapes
into cellars, Easements. sewers. wells and
cisterns. These Accommodations are as dan
gerous as gunpowder OF dynamite. The
places needing only the slightest touch OF