The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-17
Judge Footo Says Pipe Line
VIII Be Ready Soon.
Within Six Months Topeka to
Have a Supply.
BY WAY OF OTTAWA.
Also Expects to Touch Lawrence
on the Way.
Company Will Soon Ask Council
for a Franchise.

1--WE will pipe natural gas into this
city from the Kansas gas fields within
six MONTHS said Judge C. E. Foote,
the Topeka agent of the Kansas
Natural Gas company. this morning.
He had just returned to his office
from visit to Mayor Bergundthal, to
whom he had spoken for a franchise.
''Kour company may have a duplicate
franchise of the one issued to the Con-
tinental Gas company last year, at any
time you desire it, the mayor is re-
ported to have answered.
This is definite now?" was said to
the judge. arrangements have been
made ?"
1T has been definitely decided by
the Natural Gas company, of which 1
am the Topeka agent, to pipe gas to
this city Arrangements have been
under way for some time Fifty car
loads of 16 inch pipes have been
bought in the east, and are on the way
eastern states to look after that and
other matters. Within 80 days we
Will begin distributing pipe along the
proposed route"
What is the route?" was asked.
Judge Foote replied: 1.-The gas will
be piped from Montgomery and ad-
joining counties to Ottawa, from there
to Lawrence and from Lawrence to
Within a few days, Friday of this
week at the latest, after 1 have had
conference with the general manager
of the company, I shall be able to give
out facts and figures to the city of
Topeka on what we are doing. The
people here can just make up their
minds right now that they will have
natural gas here within less than six
months, and possibly by next March"
Where is the money coming from,
for the venture ?" was asked.
Every dollar of it," he replied.
"comeS from sources outside of the
bank Not one dollar will be asked of
Topeka people We want no bonds.
We will bring the gas here and sell it
to Topeka The gas will come"
There has been talk right along
concerning other companies which
planned to bring gas here. On
wednesday night the Commercial club
will consider the proposition and there
is some talk that a stock company
matters %
The Kansas Natural Gas company
owns 80 per cent of the gas in Kansas
right now. This concern has over
100000 leased acres. There are 1872
wells in operation Just lately two
more big fields were bought out down
there They have the gas. The other
concerns cannot get it. 3 / do not know
that there are any being formed. The
Kansas Natural Gas company has a
has decided to come here. The plans
Tor the work have been in operatio
for year. The actual tangible facts
we will make public by the last of the
week. This much We are willing right
now to give to the public. Within six
months Topeka will have natural gas
piped right into its limits"
Then Judge FoOte spoke of the Con-
unental Gas company's franchise, and
said: I'VE don't want that franchise
We don't need it. Mayor Bergund-
thai promised us this morning that we
can have a duplicate whenever we
when will you ask the council for
q franchise %
Pretty soon.'' was the reply.
''When we get the gas up near here
we will do it. That question does not
worry US We know that when the
people of this city see US laying pipes
here from Ottawa they will be all too
willing to give US the right to come
in and do business
The Kansas Natural Gas company
Is the concern which Ferd Helm is
fighting so hard to keep out of Kan
SaS CITY Judge FOote says that he
expects Helm to make a fight against
his company in Topeka also.
But he can't keep US out He is
an obstructionist and nothing else
And when he comes here he will be
told so, too, without any mincing of
words"
The holdings of the Kansas Nat
u al NrctS COAilpdIg, winch 1t Is
planned to bring gas to Topeka, are
In Neosho, Montgomery and Wilson
counties. It is commonly known of
course, that these wells are excep-
tionally productive.
This is the first time that anv con-
Germ has ever definitely announced,
with a willingness that it should be
made public, that it would pipe ga
to this city A good deal of talk has
gone on from time to time, with
vague surmises that companies would
be formed to promote the plan.