The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-06-29
CONCERN PLEDGES ITSELF
TO OBSERVE STATE LAWS
Promises to Settle with Land
Owner Where Private Prop
'6fiy is Crossed

Gov. c. n. Haskell today made pub
lie a statement explaining his posi-
tion upon The proposed pipe line con-
struction work OF the Prairie Oil and
Gas company III Oklahoma. in which
be makes fiat denial Of report tnat
these took place a secret meeting be-
tween himself and representatives OF
the company whereby the latter ie
enable to evade the law governing
The risht OF eminent domain. Re an
nounces that IN mis- office the-e are
no secset sessions.
Aside from The governors state.
ment II l. known that the Prairie oil
land Gas company desires TO construct
Ia % mile pipe line from the shallow
fields near Bartiesviile and a general
OH pipe line from there 10 the Cult
Iof Mexico. In tais work It SAYS. sew
eral millions OF dollars Viii be expeu-
ded The route from Oklahoma will
not be through the state of Texas.
but VIII reach the gulf at New Or
leans, through Arkansas and louisa
ma The line VIII be 500 miles long
with POO miles of It in this state. In
the work the company desires 70
avoid domestication. or taking out q
state charter, which Attorney General
West has asserted was neces-
sa7y before a corporation may be perf
Imitted to exercise the right OF ami
lnent domain The Prairie Old and
Gas company, the governor says. is.
f,. fa I.
Citizens Complain.
The statement recites that a com
lmittee Of citizens from the oil regions
o. the state came 10 his ofhce com
Iplainng that their market had been
virtually destroyed by the position
assumed by the state government all
Of which they had observed from
lnewsrs' ers reports and that the
companies were prevented from build
ing either temporary or permanent
pipe lines. The governor denied 10
them that the state had taken such
position but on the contrary. would
aid in extending the oil industry
The committee invited President
| lO'Neal OF the Prairie Oil and Gas
company to come to Guthrie to meet
tho governor.
MT O'Neal assured me that his
company would not In any way vio-
late the laws Of the state says the
igovernor ART that bis company
would not undertake to exercise the
fright OF eminent domain. nor to ac-
quire amy right except In pursuance
OF law. and that IN laying pipe lines
IN various directions to gather oil
from the different wells. convey Il to
the tanks and reaneries and shipping
points, they would in every case
where they crossed private property
settle with the landowner TO the
/ lsatlsiaction of the owner. and that IN
crossing highways they would OBJ
lserYe, such rules as the county com
lmissioners IN each county might con-
sent to; and that they would treat
AN oil producers with Atrlot fairness,
and that, 10 avoid expensive aud long
draNn-out controversies from time to
time as to discrimination and other
wise the governor migLt appoint
such citizen OF the state IS he
thought proper 10 whom all grieYan.
lees above meptioned might be rclcg.
red from time TO time, and waose de.
ielsicns they would accept aud ob.
lgent
The Prairie OH and Gas company
ils in fact, the STANDARD ON company,
lso far as Oklahoma IS concerned.
"A oeeirstie Citizen.
The Standard on company Is a
! desirable citizen ana business enter
prise In the state of Oklahoma so
ions as u oneys the laws of the state
1 "3y virtue OF storing the OH aud
building the tanks ia our state there
/ Is probably $4,000 eco worth OF OH
property on the tax duplicates OF ok
iahoma this year, and l hope that
thif amount Wlll be doubled next year
Tee Standard Oh company Will be
ifeatell as q deslrahie q.nLen, - lOng
as &c continues % conduct itself 81
ltairly as ID aid recently la .replrtins
/ rs prope-ty for taxation at the full
market value OF nearly SIS 600 600
land Ia such method OF dealing with
landowners aud producers as a.
premises IN the various statements
made mere.
Il expect within a few DAYS 10 sp-
point the referees above referred
TO- and shall certainly select man
iwell known Ia h.a community tor
honesty and fairness and believe that
lany grievances may be speedily and
economically rdiestsa BY him without
the expense or delay Of lawsuits
There may b. some who think that
the government of the state or Nation
Is not doing its dutg nor accomplish
ing results unless Il Is sriftlng rs
teeth and shaking Ns isl az somebody