The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-19
M0REC CAS- THE CRY
Cold Weather Brings on
Another Serious Shortage.
Gas Lamps Useless and Heat a
Scarce Article.
WAIT FIVE DAYS.
Company Promises Better Sup
ply by December %.
Special Council Meeting Called
to Consider Situation.
No Hope of Relief Until ScipiO
Pumps Are Ready.
Unless Mild Weather Favors
the Community.
Unless Mild Weather FavOrs
the Community.

For the second time in the natural
gas history of Topeka its citizens
shivered in their homes last night,
many of them unable to get suthcient
heat for comfort, unable to read by
gas light and unable to enjoy first
class meal because their gas ranges
were almost cold. The only other
time that such a state of affairs was
known in the ciyt was a few weeks
ago when there was a big drop In the
temperature.
To those who rang up the gas COM
pany last night to inquire about the
trouble, came the cheerful news that
''the weather was too cold for the sup
ply of gas; that there was plenty of
gas if the weather man had only side
racked this frosty brand OF weather;
that the matter was very simple
thing when boiled down to bed rock,
there being too much cold and too lit
tie gas Not only was this the situa-
ton in the homes of Topeka, but at
the stores clubs and offices all over
the city where gas was depended on
for heat and light, the atmosphere
was so chilly that people wore their
heavy overcoats and wraps and the
lights were so dim that lamps were
used.
Most people who use gas in hot
able to keep their houses comfortably
warm, by allowing the gas to burn as
much as possible in the furnaces. The
gas lights however, were useless In
many houses it was possible to light
the gas burners in ranges and cook
stoves, but the flame as so low that
satisfactory cooking was difficult.
At about 10 o'clock, the pressure
had increased to almost normal. Gas
lights could be used after that hour, |
~, IAf
ter until morning.
Still Blaming Scipio.
L. G. Treleaven, manager of the Con-
sumers' Light, Heat & Power company, |
the concern which has a franchise to |
supply Topeka with natural gas for |
cooking, heating and lighting, said to a |
reporter for the State Journal this
THE trouble of last night |
with our insufficient supply of gas in
Topeka was due to the same causes as |
in the past, that increased consump- |
ton due to the fall in temperature. |
The Kansas Natural Gas company, |
with which we have a contract, is just |
now completing new pumping station |
at Scipio. This station should have |
been completed some time ago, but the |
from which the gas company |
got supplies disappointed the company |
In delivering the goods and that delay |
caused the trouble.
II have just been talking to w. NJ. |
Welsh, chief engineer of the Kansas
Natural Gas company at Scipio- Mr..
Welsh assures me that the new station
will be working by Christmas day, If
not sooner and as quick as this i'm
prOvement is in working order, why 1 /
am sure that Topeka will get all of
the gas that it needs. So far we have
been depending on the general pump
ng station at Petrolia- The Scipio sta
ion will simply move the Kansas nat
Iral gas fields up to within 80 miles
IT so of Topeka. Heretofore the fields
las been about 40 miles from this city.
This station will also supply Kansas
City and st. Joseph with plenty of gas.
They have been having the same trou-
lies that we have. OF course 1 greatly
egret the low pressure of gas when
he weather is severest, but 1 have
,een doing all 1 can to remedy the
vii and that is all I can do"
No Manufactured Gas Available.
Mr.. Treleaven was asked If his /;
ompany's franchise, secured from the
fty of Topeka did not provide that, | {
n case of failure of the Consumers
ly its consumers, the Excelsior Gas
ompany should Immediately begin
he manufacture of artificial gas. He
eplied that it did, but added that
here had been nothing like a "fail- {
re" on the part of his company
lie said low pressure wasn't failure ,
n reply to whether the Excelsior ,
ompany had any artificial gas in its
lnks, or whether it would be ready
, start at a moments notice in case {
absolute failure on the part of his I
Ompany, he said he thought there {
as no artificial gas ready and that 1t {