The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-08
WANT OWN GAS.
Governor Takes Hand in the
Shortage Situation.
Instructs Attorney General TO
Make Investigation.
SUPPLY STATE FIRST.
Will Try to Force Company to
Care for Kansas Customers.
Situation in Topeka Is Still
Serious.
SUPPLY STATE FIRST.

AILeI- nGdIlIlS I4-C Ooi ACAA -
peka's complaint of the past few
days, Governor Stubbs today in
structed Attorney General Jackson to
investigate the allegations of dis
elimination against the Kansas
Natural Gas company, and if verified
by the facts to start an injunction
suit at once against that company IN
the courts.
The governor is surely right in try
ing to conserve for Kansas its own
gas resources. Governor Stubbs is vi
tally interesting in conservation of
natural resources and he could do no
better thing than to try to keep for
Kansas and KanSanS her great natural
gas supply.
The attorney general, when asked
about the matter, stated that he be-
lieved that if the gas company We're
furnishing gas to cities outside the
state in sufficient quantities while
Kansas towns on their pipe line were
suffering from shortage of gas that
he could get the injunction. and that
he would at once take decisive steps i'll
the matter.
"I do not believe" ne said, that
Kansas can keep the Kansas Natural
from piping gas out of the state. That
would be interfering with the inter-
state commerce laws. But l do be-
lieve that Kansas can demand that
her own resources be furnished first to
her own people in the amount re-
quired before being taken from. the
state. This case would be the same
as that of the famous suit over water
rights between Kansas and Colorado
Kansas lost that suit for the reason
that she could not prove that Colo
radios use of water from a Kansas
river was a hardship upon and dis
elimination against Kansas There was
water there for both states. But in
the case of this gas trouble as re-
ported Missouri cities are furnished
with plenty of Kansas gas while Kan
sas cities shiver over cold firesides.
This fact proved and the action
against the Kansas Natural could be
made to stick without a doubt
Governor Stubbs is wrought up over
the matter of this reported dis
elimination and while not yet ready
to consider the calling of a special
make the gas company be good, yet
he realizes that the present con-
ditions at the very beginning of the
cold weather warrant the taking of
extreme measures in behalf of the peo-
pie of his state dependent upon q gas
pipe line for fuel. If the resort to
the courts does not bring immediate
results it is possible that the iegisla-
ture may yet be called upon to pass
a law to meet the emergency.
The main cause of the trouble seems
to be that the Kansas Natural is try
ing to supply gas to too many con-
sumers through one pipe line. There
should be two pipe lines to the south
ern Kansas fields. There is plenty of
gas down there and the line is crowded
to capacity all the time But one line
has its restrictions. 1t will not supply
gas to the entire country no matter
how much gas it may be connected
with or how strong the pressure.
No Promise of Relief.
No promise of relief from the gas
a fT7a ic
gan. VINO. during the absence of L. G.
Treleaven, is in charge at the Office OF
the Consumers Light, Heat & Power
company.
1t is hoped that the situation will be
improved over last night but there is
no assurance that it will be. The gas
began going down early this morning
and at l o'clock the pressure was grow
ing still weaker.
Every effort is being made at the To-
cal gas office to secure some inforrna-
tfon from the gas fields as to why the
supply is short here but every effort
made so far has failed. The only hope
now is that L. G. Treleaven, manager
of the Office. will send some word of
encoura cement.
down with steadiness which makes
the average consumer sick at heart.
And there is no news from the gas
fields.
early this morning the pressure was
excellent and there seemed to be plen-
ty of gas but at shortly after O'Clock
the blue fame grew weaker and in
some instances died out.
According to the statement of Mr..
Morgan, Lowman Hill and Ouinton
Heights are out of gas. The same con-
dition exists in other districts over the
city that are similarly situated
Coal men are being rushed with or
ders for coal and plumbers and others
are busy removing gas burners from
furnaces and stoves.
One North side store was closed be-
cause the gas is SO low heat cannot be
supplied and it is impossible to secure
heat from other sources at this time.
Even the downtown district is begin
ring to feel the pinch of the gas short
age. Mr.. Morgan stated this morning
that the same condition that existed
yesterday exists today.
AT O'Clock last night the gas in the
tank at the old gas plant was turned
into the mains but it had no effect upon
the situation.
Morgan Hopes for Best.
At 1 o'clock today Mr.. Morgan said:
This morning the gas began going
down again. The outlying districts,
such as Lowman Hill, Quinton Heights
and others are practically without gas.
We are hoping that the situation will
improve this afternoon but We have
no assurance that it will. A condition
similar to yesterday already exists
and will exist tonight. although 1 am
hoping it Will not be SO bad. There
is not, however, any definite assurance
that it will not be.
''The weather is moderating some
and this may help. If the weather
will turn warmer and relieve the de-
mand to small extent 1 am in hopes
we can furnish enough gas. We are
waiting for some reliable information
from the gas fields but have none SO
far
Many children. we're sent to bed by