The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-05-19
THE GAS WELL AT THE FAIR
GROUNDS,

To the people it is as a revelation,
and yet there have been frequent
indications of gas as we'll as oil
within and without the corporate
limits of the city.
The we'll from which gas was de
yeloped was being bored for salt
water with which to supply the nat
atorium as planned and agreed to-
Jointly by the City of Shreveport,
the directors of the State Fair and
the Shreveport Traction Company
In maturing this natatorium en-
ierprise, there was provided by the
State Fair and the city $4,000, to
which the Traction Company added
$1,000 additional being an aggregate
of $4,000 for the natatorlum as pro-
grammed.
The boring of the we'll was con-
ditioned on two wells, one being OF
salt water.
There has already been bored a
well from which supply of one
thousand two hundred gallons OF
water can be drawn daily the cost
of which is 81, 200.
The water from this well has been
tested and it has been proven to be
wholesome, as good. pure water as
can be obtained anywhere.
This fresh water we'll OF itself Is
al-important, and disputes the often
reiterated declaration that the only
supply on which Shreveport can de-
pend is the Red river.
The traction Company has no
interest in the gas but it was
concerned in obtaining salt water
for the proposed natatorium.
The two wells, fresh and salt wa
ter. are concomitant. at least must
be i'm the operation of the natatorium
the fresh water being an essential
after souzing in the salt water
bath.
The development of gas instead OF
salt water will exclude, the consld-
Grafton OF the Traction Company
and the gas will become the prep
erty of the city, With the Fair As
ISOLATION having a reserved interest,
on the liquidating of the price o.
the contract for the two wells bored,
the fresh water and the gas wells.
The development of the gas well
has led to the promotion of a series
of suggestions, many of which are
practicable, but the stability of this
gas is yet to be determined.
The flow is encouraging. 1t is the
opinion of the experts who have
viewed this we'll that the flow prom
ises to be from ten to fifteen mil
lion cubic feet daily. There was an
opinion expressed that the gas was
being dampened by salt water. but
this was not accepted seriously.
At any rate it is immaserlal
whether the supply of gas from this
we'll is neutralized by water, there
is the practical, visible demonstra-
ton that the Fair Grounds is in the
gas field territory which extends
from the Caddo field to Majors in
DeSoto Parish, and therefore the
boring of other wells could be null
iiplied, if necessary, and supply the
needs of the people which must
arise.
As this well is the property of the
city with the reserved interest to
The Fair Association the greatest
possibilities may be sanely applied
TO the future.
From this and other wells. if ne
cessary. that could be bored on this
Fair Grounds property, the city
could supply gas to the consumers
at nominal price. besides holding
TO factories and manufacturing en-
prises gas free or at price which
would be almost equivalent to gas
free.
ii may be said without going into
an extreme of ecstacy that Shreve-
port has in its grasp a bonanza
which may be reekoned into the
millions. whose successful develop
nlent must rest on the conservative
practical and sensible action OF Its
representatives in the Council ana
its leading citizens.
I'm this development of the gas
well at the Fair Grounds is In
yolved not only the promotion oil
municipal gas for all the people al
nominal rate but the doubling ant
the tripling of Shreveport's popu-
lation within five years.
Are We going to prove equal tt
opportunity. are we going to seizt
on and hold to what other com
munities less favored than this cit,
would readily give millions of dol
lars TO possesss