The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-12
The Gas Men of Chanute and
COffeyVille a Unit.
Will Continue the Fight on Out
Of State Pipe Lines.
BIG MEETING PLANNED
Association Will Gather at
COffeyvilIe Tuesday.
There Are Two Courses Open
for the Gas Interests.

Chanute, Dec. 12.-Whatever other
communities intend to do in fighting the
piping of gas out of the state, or from
one county to another the citizens of
this place and Coffeyville are still fight
ing. The Coffeyville people have been
holding meetings all of this week and
have had their lawyers working on the
case. They believe they have discover
ed something which viii check the
building of the pipe line until the legls-
lature can meet and. have a try at the
question. What the remedy is the COT
feyville people decline to give out. be-
cause they believe they can accomplish
more by still hunt than by advertis-
ing their proceedings.
The meeting of the Kansas Gas Pro-
tective association in Coffeyville next
Tuesday will be attended by more than
100 business men from here. They are
going down in a special train and pro-
pose to make their position known.
Heretofore this place has not taken a
large part in the meeting, although
President Kennedy lives here. The Cot
feyville papers say there viii be large
delegations from every large town in
the gas belt.
1t is expected that the plan adopted
by the CoffeyvilIe Gas Protective asso-
citation at its recent meetings viii come
to the surface at Tuesdays meeting of
the general association. Two courses
of expediting a decision of the question
as to whether Judge Flannelly's order
will hold. One is to go to the supreme
court and the other is to go into the
federal court. One or the other of these
courses will be adopted. Prior to the
mass meeting at Coffeyville there will
be meetings of the legislative and the
executive committee to formulate
plan of action.
Now comes the story that the Kansas
Natural Gas company has not the right
of way for the uncOmpleted portion OF
its line in Montgomery county, and that
it is offering fancy prices to the farm
ers for permission to cross their lands.
The farmers have been seen by the
representatives Of the Gas Protective
association, and in most instances are
either refusing to give leases for right
of way at ALL or are asking prices out
of all reason. and which the company
declines to pay.
But under the decision of Judge Elan
nelly the Kansas Natural Gas company
has the right of way along public high
ways, and even if the farmers should
refuse absolutely to grant a right Of
way il could get across the county by
1t is hardly believed, however, that
such a course will be necessary. The
Kansas Natural Gas company, up to
this time has had no trouble in getting
all the rights of way it desired. 1t has
the money and it is the only company
which gives the farmer any hope Of an
immediate royalty on his lease. 1t may
be possible that some of the members
of the Gas Protective association have
bought the leases along the right of
way OF the pipe line, but this is hardly
believed here, for the reason that to
take such action the protection associa-
ton people would have to buy all the
land between Bolton and Liberty, and
this is a matter of considerable money.
The full force of the Kansas Natural
Gas company is at work two miles west
of Liberty, in Montgomery county, and
it Is not disturbed. 1t is having some
rough work there on account of the
rock requiring blasting and dynamiting
and some drilling, but 1t is making
Roadway. The lines in Labette and
Cherokee county will be completed af-
ter the line through Montgomery county
is finished.