The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-21
IOLANS OBJECT.
Do Not Want Gas Taken Away
from Fields.
Will Oppose Building Pipe Line
to Topeka.
CHANUTE is WILLING.
Supply Going to Waste for Want
of Consumers.
Many Wells Standing Idle in
NeOsho County.

The possibility of piping gas from the
Kansas gas field to Topeka, or to any
other place, depends largely upon the
disposition of the residents and authori-
ties of the counties from which it is
proposed to pipe the gas and through
which it is proposed to lay the gas
mains. 1t is claimed by the two con-
Germs which have applied for the right
to pipe gas into Topeka that there win
be no difficulty from this source. The
Continental Oil & Gas company pro-
poses to pipe gas from the Chanute field.
Rohrer and Burdge, the promoters of
the other enterprises have not made
known yet where they propose to get
their gas.
In the lola gas field the popular senti-
ment is very strong against the piping
of gas away from the county according
to a statement made by Congressman
Charles F. Scott to a representative of
the State Journal. Inasmuch as a cor
poration engaged in the gas business
has no authority to condemn ground for
a right of way as is done by railroad
companies, the gas company would be
at the mercy of the county commission
ers and of the farmers owning land
where it was desired to lay pipes. In
order to conduct gas out of the Cha
mute field it will be utterly impossible
to avoid doing one or the other even
though the Continental company Is sue
cessfuI in securing the consent of the
railroad companies for the use OF their
right of way.
In 1898 an effort was made by a Fort
Scott legislator to secure the passage or
a bill authorizing the piping OF gas anu
oil from one county to another. Con-
gressman Scott was in the legislature
then and succeeded in killing the bill
because it appeared to be against the
interests of his county. In DISCUSSING
the matter he said:
The people of Allen county are very
strongly opposed to the piping OF their
gas and would do everything to prevent
any effort to do it. They think IL would
result in the draining of their neld ana
working an injury to the industries that
have become established in lola.
should suppose that the people OF Neo-
sho and other parts of the gas peit
would have the same feeling. The gas
fields in the east where this is done are
running out and the Kansas field would
undoubtedly be exhausted by IT, Inc
county commissioners have control
over the highways and l believe could
absolutely prevent even the laying or
gas mains across a road. may De
wrong but should think any gas COM
pany that tried to take gas away from
the Chanute field would meet the same
the proposition here.
Vice President ]. H. Curran of the
Continental Oil & Gas company SAID
this morning:
There is no fear on the part of our
COMPANY that we will meet such oppo-
sition in Chanute. Our attorney mas
written me urging me to hasten the
massage of the franchise ordinance IL
nossible as the people down there are
anxious to have the mains laid. 1t Will
give them a market for their gas. Ihe
Sentiment in Neosho county mas
changed radically on this subject. A
year ago when the proposition came up
TO pipe the gas % miles to Parsons IL
was strongly opposed and came near
being defeated But the Neosho county
people think that the present consump-
tion of gas is weakening all the pres
sure in the field and that they had bet
ter sell the gas while they cam There IS
no demand for the gas now many
wells are bored and stopped up simply
because no one wants more gas. III II
could be piped out of the county IL
would give an opportunity for ITS sale
In a conversation upon the subject
of the authority of county commission
ers over the highways in their coun-
ties United States District Attorney
J. S. Dean said this morning:
II have no doubt that If the commis-
sioners of any county wanted TO pre-
vent the laying of a gas main in any
road they could do so. Their authority
is well grounded and L do not believe
it could be broken under the law. A
county does not own the highways as
the fee simple ownership of the ground
used as a road rests with the owners
of the property adjoining. The coun-
ty occupies it but If the road is ever
vacated the ground reverts back to the
original owner. The situation is diff
ferent in a city where the maker of 3
plat of ground dedicates the ground
in the streets to the public and re-
linquishes all right over it. If prop
erty owner should protest against the
county commissioners granting pipe
line company a right of way along his
road he would be able, in my opinion.