The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-07
Manager Issued Warning to
Consumers.
Pressure Has Been Going Down
Since Noon.
TRELEAVEN PUZZLED.
Unable to Offer Explanation of
the Shortage.
Left This Afternoon to Inves-
dgate the Situation.

a. " o CLOCK this morning L. G.
Treieaven. manager Of the Consumers
Light, Heat & Power company In this
city, issued q warning that there would
be shortage of the gas supply this
afternoon and tonight Efforts were
being made all morning to secure more
gas for Topeka but the pressure was
going down steadily and there was no
promise that the situation would be re-
iieved by the supply OF more gas.
Mr. Treleaven felt the situation
keenly. especially In view of the fact
tnat, believing the assurances he has
had that there would be plenty Of gas
this winter, he has so declared. He
will leave tonight for the gas fields
and make personal Investigation of
conditions there.
You may rest assured" said he
that as soon as I can learn anything
I VIII let Topeka people know it.
am as much at a loss to know what
to do as anyone. We have been told
o. gas this winter. If the kansas
Natural Gas company would only fur
n1sh us the gas we could deliver it.
Iney are supposed to furnish us the
gas at the city limits. We can't give it
'ut when we don't get 1t. I don't
know why we do not get the gas any
more than you do.
I'VE are pfnched for gas this after
noon an@ will be tonight I believe.
Something may happen to avert this
Tut 1 do not expect 1t. The only
reason I can give you for this is that
the pressure here is going down all
ne time. am trying to get Kansas
City by wire and get south from there
and learn what is the matter.
'It is a thankless job. We operate
rere during the summer at the loss
cf 800 per day. Then we get a spell
ot weather when we could sell some
gas, when the people would use it and
he Kansas Natural people fail to sup
ply us. Then we have to bear the
brunt.''
Mr.. Treleaven said this morning that
there was shortage of gas last night
between and o'clock but that the
pressure was normal early this morn
ing. He did not care to discuss th..
matter early today because he is pre-
pairing to leave for the gas fields and
ascertain true conditions for himself
In commenting upon the shortage OF
gas this morning Mr.. Tre1eaven denied
the report that the gas company has
more than reached the limits of con-
sumers- who can be supplied with gas
with the present system. He declared
so per cent more meters could be in
stalled and the people supplied with gas
provides the gas was forthcoming He
declared the IL inch main which brings
the gas from Haskell here is large
enough to carry gas for a so per cent
Why the gas is not to be had is tn.
question the people would like answered
and Mr.. Tre1eaven declares there is no
one who wants to know this more THAI
himself. Tt is for this purpose that ha
will make the trip south. It does seem
rather strange for the gas company to
go on making new connections when it
can not supply the customers 1t has.
Last night there were many COM
plants of poor gas pressure While the
r10r al at T7o
supply station 1t was not over the city.
In the residence districts the gas
burned feeb1y in lights and stoves until
we'll towards midnight. At that time it
became a little stronger but this morn
ing there were more complaints of
short supply of gas. And these COM
plants were not in outlying districts
but in the down town residence section.
At this time the cold was most severe.
At 1 O'Clock today Mr. TreIeaven
said:
1--WE are beginning to feel the
pinch. This will continue. I don't
know just how bad it will be. We
will not go out but we are going to
living on the outskirts will be badly
in need of gas. I am hoping for the
best, but know that we will be badly
in need of gas in Topeka until, prob
ably, late tonight
When told that telephone messages
reported plenty of gas at Lawrence
and Ottawa. Mr.. Treleaven said these
towns would have plenty of gas as
long as Topeka had any gas at all.
There will be do difficulty at either
place, he declared until the gas had
gone completely out here.
I'VE get only the surplus from these
towns" he said. "As long as we get
any we can rest assured that there is
plenty of gas in Lawrence and
Ottawa Only when the supply here
falls entirely can they be short of
gas.
kansas City, ST. Joseph or Atch-
ison would be more likely to be short
of gas than either Lawrence or
Ottawa. They are dead end towns
the same as we are
Mr.. Treleaven left at 1875 O'Clock
for Kansas City. on his way to the
Kansas gas fields.