The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-10
Orders Extension Pipe Lines to
Insure Plenty Gas.
THE COMPANY HAS THE MONEY
And Must Use 1t in Reaching
the New Fields.
Choice of Three Separate Lines
Is Held Out.

In a decision at IL o'clock this morn
ing the public utilities commission or
dered the Kansas Natural Gas COM
pany to make immediate extensions of
its pipe lines to insure a sufficient sup
ply of gas for next winter. The work
on these extensions must begin, the
commission declares, not later than
July 17-one week from today. No in
crease in rates to consumers is per-
mitted by the commission in their or
der.
Evidence offered at the hearing be-
fore the commission Wednesday was
to the effect that the gas company at
this time has in it's possession cash
and collectable accounts aggregatlng
nearly a million dollars. The COM
pany must use this money, the COM
mission says, to make the extensions.
The gas company is offered the al
ternatives of making at least one or
the following three pipe line extensions
at once: To the Gushing field, to the
Haskell field or to the Okomulgee HELD.
The pipe lines must be 16 inch mains
and immediate steps must be taken to
begin work. The cost the commission
finds will be about $2S5,OOO to 100000.
Something Must Be Done.
In his opinion in the gas case, Hen
derson S. Martin, chairman of the
utilities commission, holds that 1t Is
to secure ample gas for next winter.
But he says that no steps have been
taken or contemplated to secure TINS
added supply, and that to insure re-
lief something must be done at once.
Martin then suggests extensions or the
pipelines of the Kansas Natural com
pany to the new gas fields of Okla
homa To reach these fields 1t Will
be necessary to extend the pipe lines
about 80 miles.
The opinion also points out the fact
that evidence shows that there is am
pie supply of gas at Graham station
and in wells at Mound Valley, con-
tiguous to the pipe lines, that can be
at insignificant cost. Martin
suggests that the company make I'M
arrangements, through its re-
ceivers, to obtain this extra supply OF
gas. 49,,
Just what will be done regarding the
opinion. is a matter of much specula-
ton. The gas company was given one
week in which to get busy. Shoulo
the receivers fail to show some prog
ress at the end of the week, then IL
will be up to the commission to en-
force it's order. And just how that
order will be enforced is matter
which is subject to debate
1.-The courts haven't turned over a
dollars worth of property to the state
receivers said Chester 1. Long, one
of the attorneys IOT lue SIatS HP
pointees, "and there really isn't any
thing that they can do until they get
control of the property
Receivership Troubles.
The receivership troubles are still
in court and there is slight promise
of a decision before October or No
vember-too late to insure relief this
year. So the matter of adding to the
gas supply seems to be entirely with
the federal receivers.
.sNhat will you do about the order?
was asked of George Sharltt, one OF |
the federal receivers.
.1J don't know" said Sharitt. Il
haven't talked to my lawyers about 1t
yet.'
And that was all Mr.. Sharitt cared !
TO saw about the matter.
AT the state house it is rumored that
The federal receivers will go back to
he federal court for further instruc-
lions. They will probably hang pretty
close to the federal courts instruc-
ions, it is asserted, and that may
mean a conflict between the orders or
the court and the utilities commits :
sion.
Should the receivers refuse to try |
10 obtain more gas, then the commits !
sion will try to enforce its order. The !
procedure will probably be through an
application to the supreme court for a ]
writ of mandamus. And that method !
raises a close legal question as to
whether the state court can interfere
with the orders of the federal court
and whether there is really any legal
course open for the utilities commits
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