Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-12

Ivy VI huSSaSll1G w aSNSfo -
gas field with the purpose OF piping
the gas into that city for general COM
mercial use. For years it has been
known that there were outcroppings
Of natural gas at point about nine
miles from the city of Muscatine and
several of the farmers in that vicinity
have to some extent utilized this gas
In their houses for lighting and heating
purposes. For several months parties
from Kansas have been at work devel-
oping this field and up to this time
have put down five wells. These wells
are sunk to depth of ITO feet, where
flow of practically odorless gas is OBJ
tanned, which has a rock pressure OF
fifteen and one-half to thirty pounds.
The parties exploiting this field claim
that the quantity and quality OF gas is
such that it is practicable to pipe it
into the city of Muscatine, where 1T
can be used for domestic and manu-
featuring purposes The people Of Mus
catine and imm ediate vicinity have been
watching developments with immense
interest and the entire state is likewise
deeply interested to know whether
natural gas really exists within its
borders in quantities sufficient to make
its use practicable. For the purpose
Of making some Investigations along
this line and of securing facts of value
and Interest to the general public, A.
w. Lee, president of the Lee Syndicate
of Iowa Evening Newspapers, accom-
panied By W. L. Lane, publisher of the
Muscatfne Journal, last week visited
the natural gas city of Coffeyville, Kas.
The result of their investigation is told
In the following communication writ
ten by Mr.. Lee, and an editorial,
which were published in the Muscatine
Journal on December S:
by A. w. Lee1.
Go slow with the natural gas boom.
Don't bank on what natural gas
will do for Muscatine until more com
pIete tests and further investigation
along practical and scientific lines
have been made. Spend money for
such Investigations, but don't invest a
dollar In natural gas stock or securi
ties ct Muscatine until after carefully
investigating natural gas fields that
are success, and also those that are
failure"
The above Is my unqualified opinion
after a visit to the natural gas city d
Coffeyville, Kas went to Coffeyvi1le
for the sole purpose of making some
investigation with reference to natura
gas production in order, If possible, t.
reach a satisfactory conclusion in m.
own mind as to what would be the
probable outcome Of the natural ga:
developments that are being made a
this time near Muscatine. 1 felt tina
the Muscatine public would NATURAL.
be greatly interested in any facts ant
figures that could be secured upon THU
subject. With this thought in mind,
visited Coffeyville last week and taiket
with number Of people, including thu
secretary of the com mercial club, sew
eral practical natural gas men and II
3. Robertson. Mr.. Robertson is at tn
head OF the Muscatine Gas, Oil an
Mining company, that has recent
been organized under the laws of low
with a capitalization of 100000 for th
purpose Of developing the natural ga
fields near Muscatine and piping tn
gas into the city Of Muscatine for de
cmestic consumption and for use D
manufacturers. Mr. Robertson gave m
an interview which l publish In COZ
nection with this article, and whic
will be read with interest. 1t was
sincere disappointment, however,
the writer, who had hoped to the col
trary. to be unable to find among prom
inent citizens and pracrlcal gas me
in Coffeyville, anyone else who wa
able to express the same roseate vie
Of and confidence in the Muscatin
situation that Mr. Robertson did
A Practical Gas Mans Opinion.
One OF the most prominent either
Of Coffeyville and a man who has ha
wears of practical experience in deve
oping natural gas fields. as well as
handling the product after the fie1t
are developed, after being told VIII
had been and is now being done
Muscatine. used substantially the Il
lowing language:
"Mr. Lee, the fact that gas has bee
found at a depth of ITO feet, under
covering of forty-five feet Of rock
no guarantee of permanent or ad
uuate supply of gas for domestic al
manufacturing purposes for a city Il
size Of Muscatine. The fact that fa
mers have used this gas in their dwt
lings for years has practically no bes
ing on the situation, the amount u.s.
by them cutting no figure with refe
ence to any large volume of gas.
far can see nothing for the people
Muscatine to bank on excepting O
thing,-the fact that gas is found
no feet depth is an indication tn
there may be a permanent supply
gas, at a sufficient pressure to car
It into the city of Muscatine. at
greater depth. In my judgment the
is but one wise course of action
the business men of Muscatine to p,
sue. They should encourage and
necessary assist the company NJ
making the present development
IT. 4 i.