The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-10
is PLENTY OF GAS
Manager Treleaven Returns
From Tour of Fields.
Only Trouble Is in Getting 1t
to Consumers.
EXPECTS NO CHANGE.
Trouble Will Continue During
Zero Weather.
Rising Temperatures Help the
Local Situation.
EXPECTS NO CHANGE.

L. G. Treleaven, superintendent for
the Consumers Light. Heat and Power
company in this city. has returned from
the gas fields bringing with him no
hope for better conditions for gas dur
ing zero weather this winter. Nothing
that can AFFECT the situation is being
done and nothing is contemplated
which. he thinks will affect the situa-
ton. He predicts trouble with gas
during zero weather all through the
present winter.
Mr.. Treleaven says there is plenty
of gas at the fields. He declares the
pipe lines are being worked to their
capacity, but he says their capacity
II not large enough. There Is no way,
he said. whereby the company he rep
Tesents can compel the Kansas Natural
Gas company to increase its pipe line
capacity. He hoped, he said, that the
state officials would find some manner
in which the Kansas Natural Gas COM
pany could be compelled to do this.
II the capacity of the pipe lines was
large enough plenty of gas could be
supplied to the consumers here, he said.
II all three OF the pipe lines were work
ing south Of Ottawa there would be no
gas shortage. But only two are work
ing. In the third one there Is break
eu6 no effort is being made to fix it.
No such effort is to be made before
NEXT year. he says, and he does not
know that such action Is contemplated
at that time.
IT have been all over the field and
have visited a number of towns where
natural gas is used" said Mr.. Ire
leeven. 1.-THE two towns which are in
worse shape than any others 1 found
were lola and Chanute. In these towns
the city government controls the COM
panies. mention this merely to show
that things are not always rosy when
the city government has charge.
Plenty of Gas There.
1T found plenty of gas in the gas
fields. It is not a question of the sup
ply there. It is a question of transpor-
tation and pipe line capacity. The
Kansas Natural Ca people expect to
tap the gas territory Of Oklahoma by
the first of the year to such an extent
that twenty-five million feet day will
be added to their supply. They think
that with this we will get plenty of
gas. Frankly, do not believe it. There
is plenty of gas in the Kansas fields. 1t
is not more gas there that is needed but
more gas here.
II do not believe there is any chance
for relief this year and 1 know nothing
of the Kansas Natural Gas company's
plans for next year. I believe we will
have trouble every time we have zero
weather this winter. That Is my hon
est opinion. 1 wish 1 could say some
thing different but cannot.
IT wish the state officials could find
a way to compel the Kansas Natural
Gas company to increase its pipe line
capacity. There is no way that we
can do it. All that the Kansas
Natural company has agreed to do
with us is to furnish us all Of the
marketable natural gas we want if it
can furnish it. and in case of any
shortage to furnish us our pro rata
share along with other cities sup
piled.
81 believe that If the third pipe
line was working from ottawa south
we would be getting plenty of gas.
But it is not working and no effort