The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-05-26

ing Practical knOkledge OF Gas
and Oil Wells.
What are we going to do with
the gas well?"
ITO save it you must kill it.
This, as a paradox, is somewhat
). startling and if, seemingly absurd,
is nevertheless the reflex of a con-
dition which is beyond reasonable
control.
You will lose it if you do not
kill it,"
When a man is seriously i'll, it is
expected he shall be governed by
the directions of the physician.
When a man becomes entangled
in the meshes of the law, civil or
criminal, he must abide by the pro-
cedure of his attorney.
/ 1t sometimes happens that the pa
tient may be overdosed and killed
by too many doctors, and 1t is equal
ly true that an offender will not es
cape a term in the pen even if he
have more than one counsellor to
defend him.
In this application to the gas we'll
it is conceded that there have been
many doctors, whose physic has
been weakening and debilitating-to
the moribund stage-from which
there may be one chance for recov-
cry and rehabilitation. These re-
Elections are not suggested jestingly
but are of strict and of serious inn
port in connection with the gas
we'll at the Fair Grounds.
Here follows the facts: The we'll
at the Fair Grounds was being bored
for salt water, when gas was devel-
oped. Several days elapsed before
, there was any direct and serious
effort to control the well and cap
!. it. In the interim suggestions as to
what are we going to do with the
gas we'll" were multiplied indefin-
: itely. The suggestions of free
gas for factories and "the gas must
}. be controlled for the use of all the
. people through the municipality"
J, aroused resentment and there came
: the retort that the gas would be
5 controlled and used by the city for
t revenue for the improvement of the
: streets as the city is in need Of re-
5 venues. It was even intimated that
the Gas Company was to become the
: possessor of this gas supply.
T And there followed a series of re-
d ports and of intimations which were
/ effective in aggrayating condition
r already irritating.
q Following parley, action on the
well was resumed Monday. AS al
; ready stated in the Caucasian, the
). we'll was spouting salt water Tues
q day morning. Then followed a
! change to gas in the afternoon, and
q then on Wednesday when it was
4 predicted that the well would blow
: up, the drilling contractors were re-
. lieyed of all responsibility by the
!, city, through its Mayor, acquired
the well on paying Agurs & Josey
!. SO, 100, the price of the contract for
1 thrilling a soft and salt water well
: for the use of the proposed nata.
: torium.
On Wednesday night squally sit
uation was relieved by the letting
= off, of the gas. Thursday afternoon
) CONSERVATION followed a statement
that the gas well was fire. For the
purpose of demonstration and tC
relieve the pressure from the we'll
:, there had been extended distance
= of IS feet pipe from the well witt
!. a cross-arm with perforations which
: was blaze. The novelty, burning
gas well, was viewed by Thousands
of citizens.
o At this stage thesindications were
encouraging. Mr.. Devore, an expe
. rienced man, was left in charge.
II Unfortunately there was lack o
81 material necessary on the ground
/ to control and to hold the we'll, ami
'e gradually but pereeptibly the weak
d. ness of the we'll was becoming Wis
II ible On the scene assisting Mr.. De
vorre were George Epple, commits
IS sioner of streets and parks, with al
IS officer in charge of number o
n convicts who were working diligent
n ly but ineffectively for all practica
1T purposes.
D,,.. In this recital, which the Caucas
id ian could give intelligently into
,e condensation of fifteen to twent,
Id lines, the details are presented de
IS liberately.
Ill 1t was about o'clock Frida
u. when the Caucasian's editor was ad
vised to be ready to go to the Fai
Grounds with Mr.. Queries, who ha