The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-17
NO NATURAL GAS.
Proposition to Pipe from Southern
Kansas Fields Abandoned.

--~Ne~SS@O -
Fort Scott's prospect for securing a
natural gas pipe line seems to have
gone gltrnmering. along with Topekf's
hopes in the same direction.
A party of Topeka men, who had
come gas holdings in the southern part
Of the state, and considerable money
TO invest. secured from the Fort Scott
city council franchise TO build the
pipe liue. The Fort Scott Republican
tells the following story of the col
lapse of the enterprise:
No natural gas for Fort Scott.
This is the announcement that might
be made after the letter that was re-
ceived by Mayor COngdon yesterday
from w. A. Harris, who is at the head
OF the Federal Fuel & Gas company,
Who were recently granted a permit
by the city council to pipe gas to this
city from their possessions down at
Chanute. At least they claimed to have
possessions down there, but whether
they did or not is not known. At any
rate they are not to pipe their gas 10
this city. The company has been stand
ing the city off on the matter for some
time, but they have finally come to
point where it was necessary for them
to do something and, being unable,
they decided to drop the matter aud
allow some one else to pipe the gas
here If they wanted to.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Harris wrote
the city officials to hold up the mat
ter of the franchise and not have it
published until the company could see
whether they would be able to get a
right of way or not for their pipe line
This was done. and then came rumorS
Of the company being unable to get
the necessary capital interested in the
matter to make it a go. This was
thought to be idle talk. for when the
mem berS Of the company were here
they stated to a certain reporter in
this city that the company was worth
at least one million dollars and their
statement was published. There were
few outside of the company and the
reporter who believed this, and imme-
diately after the company left here and
went to their home at Topeka there
was some talk of them being unable
TO get the necessary money to carry
the project through, but the company
commended all of the time that they
were being handicapped with the right
of way. 1t was later discovered that
there was nothing the matter with
getting the right of way. Then there
was some speculation as to what really
was the matter.
After being held in suspense over the
probability, and almost assurance, that
every home in the city was to be light
ed by natural gas, and just as the resi-
dents here began to see the factories
coming to the city so fast that there
was some trouble to take care of all
of them and the new homes commenced
TO being built UP so fast that there was
trouble in getting carpenters and other
workmen here to put them UP and the
people had to live in tents through
out the summer, the city awoke.
The awakening may have been a lit
tie rude, but it is a reality. All you
have to do is to pinch yourself to be
sure that you are alive and then take
a glance over the following letter that
was received by Mayor Congdon yes
ferday:
Topeka, Kansas. Feb. 26, 1904.
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council, Fort Scott, Kansas:
Gentlemen: After duly considering
the question of piping natural gas to
your city, myself and associates have
decided not to undertake the project.
We have concluded that the enterprise
would prove neither practical nor
porated in the franchise recently
granted by your body, and in view of
other contingencies which we have not
been able to satisfactorily adjust.
1t is our opinion that before the peo-
pie Of your city can hope for cheaper
fuel and light, and before any company
can afford the undertaking of a project
TO provide such, these barriers must in
some way be removed and the peculiar
contingencies properly and satisfactorily
adjusted.
However, in order to remove all en-
barrassment from your honorable body
and to leave the way open to anyone
who might desire to engage in such an
undertaking, we most respectfully With
draw from the field
Thanking you for the courtesies ex-
tended by your official body. and the
good people of Fort Scott who in any
manner assisted in securing the fran
chise for our company. we beg to sub
scribe ourselves, yours very respect
fully,
THE FEDERAL GAS-FUEI. CO.,
w A. HARRIS, President
Australian Mine 5000 Feet Deep.
What js believed m he the deenae,