The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-03-24

the State by aid of the geological char
recently published by his direction, an.
he reaflirmcd his prediction made short
time ago that the oil and gas belt ol
the central part of the State would
eventually be extended clear across the
State, distance of over two hundred
miles and developer, although not Sc
quickly as the northern end of the belt
He spoke of the necessity of preserving
this great material wealth of the State
and expressed the opinion that the waste
and outside distribution of natural gas
was next to criminal. He read a recent
address he made on the condition of the
natural gas and oil resources of the State
in which the enormous waste of gas in
the different ways called aloud for ac-
tion for the preservation of such an ap.
palling loss to the State. He referred
to his reports of the geological survey
and spoke of the vain attempts to Sc
cure legislation TO preserve natural gas.
He touched upon the past five years. his.
tory of the gas producers fight against
such legislation and the actions of the
geological survey, those favoring gas pro.
lection and the legislative action on the
matter. His description of the gas and
oil fields of the State was clear and con.
else and threw much light upon the mat
ter to the convention. He said the waste
of gas within the State far exceeded that
sent ou of the State and said legislation
was needed to preserve the waste within
the State. Lsss than one-half of the
total value of gas produced in the State
is wasted within the State He urged
immediate preservation of the gas re-
sources.
W. w. Thornton, former assistant at
torney general OF Indiana. then address
ed the convention. He spoke of the nat
ural gas resources Of Indiana and the
legislative action of that State in pro
tecting and preserving that finest fue'
of man. In Indiana gas was wasted tc
nm appalling extent until laws were en-
acted. But it was case of "loclSing the
barn door after the horse was stolen
To-day the gas belts of Indiana are
rapidly being exhausted. Companies
have burst, bubble like, factories are
leaving the State and the curling snake
Of burning coal now issues from chin,
neys where formerly natural gas wa.
used. Indiana passed a law prohibit
ing the expectation of gas from the Stat,
The Supreme Court of the State nelt
that it was void because it was re
striction of domestic commerce and il
conflict with the inters state commerc,
laws, At the next session of the Stat,
Legislature law was enacted prohibit
ing the expectation Of gas from the Stat,
only through small sized pipes of Ger
tain regulation. Pumping of the ga
through the pipes outside Of the Stat
was prohibited.
In 1891 the State Legislature pro
hibited the use of fambeaux burners
The Legislature afterwards enacted tina
all natural gas flow be preserved within
two days after the well begins to flow
, by plugging the well or properly usin,
the supply, thus preventing waste. Th,
Office of the State natural gas inspecto
was created to look after the gas pro
duetion and see that the laws of tn
State in that connection were no violated
Mr.. Thornton said he was not nc
quainted with the existing natural ga
laws Of West Virginia. but said tha
great good could be accomplished in pre-
serving the natural gas resources of TIL
State If hambeaux burners be prohib
tied. that all abandoned and unused ga
wells be closed, that meters be used
and Legislative restriction, or an excis
tax. be imposed on all gas sent out .
the State borders, but Legislative action
4 vote of thanks was rendered Nj
Thornton and his address was ordere
printed and copy furnished each news
paper in the State.
At press hour the committee on reso
lutions and legislation submitted It