The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-08
WOULD OFFER
BIG REWARD
To the Company That First
Finds Gas or Oil Near Wichita
Or GRANT A FRANCISE
That Would Start Several Con-
Germs to Work at Once.
Or GRANT A FRANCISE

Mr. {. L. Davidson, president Of the
amber of Commerce. and chairman Of
Q council committee TO make the con-
tract with RACES < Co. to drill for gas
is advocating that the council offer re-
ward of a good sum TO the first COM
lanv to find gas or oil in commercial
quantities within three miles of the cor
porate limits of city.
Nj Davidson stated TO the Eagle yes
terday that he would bring tins plan be-
1cre the council at its next meeting.
There has been so much parleying over
the gas drilling contract that the people
want something done. Wichita at the
present time is authorized 70 vote bonds
10 prospect Tor gas and the people want
TO see something doing. According 10
Aar. 4Javidson's idea he would hang up
q certain amount OF money or fran
cn-se to the company that would find
gas in commercial quantities near Wich-
ita. The amount would be made enough
make the contest worth the while or
the comuanies. and it would be optional
with the city whether the money should
b. paid or a franchise granted TO the
company TO use the streets and alleys OF
the city on which they could lay their
mains
The general impression seems TO be
that the city should own the gas wells
and furnish the gas to the citizens. In
the contest the city could make the prop
os.don TO the drilling companies that
they would drill here the city would buy
their wells at cost or at a small profit,
but to the company that first found a
paying well the city would pay a pre-
MUM. or if this was not considered the
best plan. the council could grant fran
Chise to the company that made the dis
covery. Mr.. Davidson and the people
with whom he has discussed the matter
believe that with a good prize several
companies would go to work at once.
1t is well known here that several east
crn Kansas drilling companies are ready
10 begin work near Wichita al once II
they had any sort of an assurance that
,..ey could dispose of their property or
fits product. That seems to be the one
ting that is holding the companies back.
They do not want to come here and work
unless they can see what their property
will amount to if gas is discovered. The
city could buy the wells and pay the pre-
miums if ii was decided that the gas and
OF should be controlled by the city or
# il was thought best the council could
pass a reasonable franchise that would
b. an fnducement TO any company 20
drill i'm this neShborhood. There is
ChanUte company that has its machinery
all ready to moYe TO Wichita and begin
work. and all they want is an assurance
that they can dispose of the well if gas
or oil in commercial quantities is found,
or that they will receive a reasonable
franchise TO sell their product.
AIr. Davidson believes that the amount
OF gas necessary to win the prize should
be half d million cubic feet per day or
ten barrels OF oil on a ten days test. If
such discovery was made it would be
an assurance that there IS gas or oil and
plenty Of il close TO Wichita.
BY this means several companies would
be pat II work in different localities,
aad il would serve to prospect the entire
country near Wichita, and especially east
of the city