The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-13
WANT NO PIPE LINE.
Gas Belt Citizens VIII Fight a Kansas
City Scheme.

Chanute, Kan, May Eff there are
any stumbling blocks that can be laid
in the way of piping Kansas gas to
Missouri they are going to be put there.
The gas belt is becoming aroused over
the danger that threatens, and organ
lied resistance promises to be a reality
in the immediate future.
The opening gun in the battle was
fired here last evening by Mayor Ken
nedy, of this city. who mailed a letter
to all the mayors of the gas belt, re-
questing the appointment of commit
tees and cooperation. He also called
a meeting to be held in this city May
20, at which an organization is to be
formed that viii devise ways and
means to make a fight so hot that IT
will melt any pipe line that may be
laid to Missouri towns. The gas belt is
upanimous in thinking that it has an
unlimited supply of gas for home con-
sumption, but not one foot for other
states, and there is no question that
this meeting viii result in an organiza-
ton that viii prevent the loss OF gas
if legislation can accomplish that re-
suit.
Mayor Kennedy's letter reads as fol-
lows:
1T being apparent to the citizens of
the various cities in the gas belt Of
Kansas that their material interests
and prosperity are seriously threatened
by the enterprise now being attempted
to pipe gas from the gas fields of Kan
sas to Kansas City, and it behOoves all
those interested to unite in a combined
effort to prevent the contamination of
this scheme for the piping of gas from
our territory, thereby depriving US of
all the benefits which we would other
wise receive from the establishment of
manufacturing industries in our midst.
There is no longer any doubt but that
this enterprise is assuming threatening
proportions, with prospects of success
unless some joint action is taken by
the citizens of the gas belt
In order to secure a united move
ment of all the cities in the gas belt, 1
respectfully request, in behalf of the
city of Chanute, that the mayor CT
each city, or the city council, if he
thinks preferable, appoint a committee
of two to confer with a like committee
from each of the other cities to devise
means and methods to prevent the
transportation of the gas from the gas
fields of Kansas to Kansas City.
L also request a conference of such
committees at the city hall in the city
of Chanute on May 90 1904. and that
the mayors of the said cities attend
such meeting as member of such
committee, and that the joint commit
tee be authorized to appoint such sub
committees and employ such legal
counsel as in its judgment the commit
tee may think best in the interest Of
the Kansas gas cities and to prevent
the piping of gas to cities out OF the
state.
lIllI0GQldle dCllOn u very lLlloL tdtllS
hence I have made an early date for
the conference and hope, if you have
no regular meeting of your council be-
fore that date, that you will call
special meeting thereof and consider
action upon this matter. Please let me
hear from you at once"
The action of Mayor Kennedy in cali
ing the meeting has brought home to
the gas belt the necessity for prompt
action, and some of the prominent op-
orators are advising the calling of
special session of the legislature to pass
prohibitive laws. The meeting called
here for May 20 win probably be asked
to recommend a special session It is
feared that by the time the regular ses-
sion meets the right of way viii be Sc
cured.
The gas. belt legislative delegation
will be solid for such legislation and,
with the influence such a large delega-
ton can exert, it is believed that all
laws necessary can be secured. Adj
vices from over the state indicate that
the rest of the state will stand by the
gas belt. Kansas people are for kan
sas first, last and all the time, and