The Iola register., 1902-06-13
THE GAS PIPE VISITORS
rull of Vague Information the Kansas
City Men Dream Dreaus About
Burning Gas Well.

party, including ninteen members of
the Kansas City council, lawyers,
capitalists and goodfellows.
Immediately after alighting from
their train the visitors we're piled into
street car and taken to Gas City.
Mr.. Noble, Mr.. Crouch and few
otherlola men acted as local recep-
tion committee. The car went immedi-
ately to the point nearest the Noble
gas we'll, northeast of Gas City, and
there the men formed in line and
tramped half mile north to the we'll.
The gas was confined in a compara-
lively small pipe and was lighted and
turned on full force, shooting into the
air and lighting up the country for a
long distance. The visitors stood about,
discussing the sight, estimating the
possibilities Of such a volume of gas
in Kansas City. Then the crowd re
turned to the car line, took trip to
LaHarpe where they viewed the smelt-
er, and then came back to lola. Some
went to their car, others strollel about
town and quite a number who were
Elks visited the local lodge rooms,
IL was jolly, we'll dressed crowd.
just how many of the visitors came
on serious business and how
many came on lark only time will
tell. They talk glibly of the great
things they will do, know more
lbout natural gas than do men who
1ave handled it all their lives and
eel cock-sure that nobody out in the
country can stop the wise ones from
he city from getting what they want.
their lawyers argued volubly about
the idiocy of Allen county's wanting
to keep the gas here; the ease with
which they can knock the State law
against piping it away and the great
ness of Mr.. Helm. Helm is pro
moter of many things. In Kansas
City it is standing joke about the
railroads, subways and other great
things he has planned. Now he has
the gas fever. AS long as he hires
trains, buys beer and shows the boys
good time he will doubtless find a
goodly following, but his scheme is
wild, even if he over-runs local senti-
ment and the State laws.
Here is sample of the crowds in
formation: The gas field will live
forever. Yet none ever did. 2,0C0
cubic feet of gas is equivalent to a
ton of coal. 10000 feet is correct.
Kansas City would require but mill
lion feet of gas per day, therefore
this one we'll will supply a million
people, and the gas is to be cheap. OF
course it will not cost anything to
buy the Noble and Crouch tracts, nor
build 100 miles of pipe line, nor to
pipe to Kansas City.
Mr.. Helm feels quite sore that the
people here do not enthuse and break
their necks to help him take the gas
away. "A regular dog in the manger
position" one member of the party
characterized the local stand If Om-
aha should begin action to take the
railroads and stock yards away from
Kansas City what picture of meek
ness that town would present. Allen
county gas is just as important to AL
len county as her railroads are to
Kansas City. And the gas is going to
stay here.
The comments of the Kansas City
papers on the scheme are interesting.
The journal, In its first page red
headline, says: Possibly the Helm
Pipeless Pipe Line Will Enter This
City by Subless Subway" And in
its news columns had this story under
the caption: "Heim Says He Can
Get Gas. Accustomed to handling the
common council he snaps his fingers
at the Allen county court"
In order to advance his claims for
franchise through the streets for
natural gas mains, Joseph j. Helm
yesterday afternoon took a party of
almost thirty city officials, including
many councilmen, to lola. A special
sleeper was attached for the accom-
mediation of the junketing party to the
Santa Fe afternoon train to be re-
turned this morning at 7:30 o'clock.
Mr.. Helm conducted the affair in per.
son, taking with him enough liquid re-
freshment to counteract the drouth OF
the day and the tedium of the ride.
''Mr. Helm does not claim to have
any gas wells in lola, but there are
plenty there, he said, who want to
get into our company.
"When asked the construction he
put upon report that lola does moi
permit anyone to pipe its gas outside
Allen county, Mr.. Helm said;
"That is all nonsense. If | should
find gold nugget in the county as
l.s IL I