Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-27
Western "Boom" Methods. :

Out in the vivid and spectacular
Northwest, on both sides of the line.
every mothers son-and most of the
daughters-are natural born boom
spasmodically and then everybody but
the officials of the organization forget
it; they all boom all the time. They
do things to talk about and then
'fhollere AS an example, Edmonton.
Alberta, sends out cords of publicity
stuff, some of it so interesting that it
is almost shame to throw it in the
wastebasket just because to notice It
would be free advertising All they
expect or wish is to keep Alberta be-
fore the rest of the world. That is
the way they put places ION the
map" Those afflicted with wander
lust seek out the places of which they
have heard.
One of the stories from Alberta
(another free ADD this week, starts
off:
Edmonton. Alberta. will henceforth be
known as a gas city. At 8 A. M. on Nov.
4, at depth OF 22f0 feet, one of the best
gas wells on the American continent was
tapped FIVE miles north OF Viking, a sta.
continental line, the Grand Trunk Pa
cific 70 miles east OF Edmonton. The
Tow measures 100000 cubic feet per day,
with rock pressure of 500 pounds per
inch Tbia exfanSiH,a
held and with further development a
bountiful supply for this busting city
of 10000 people-the farthest north city
on the american eontinent.--and it all
Thereby hangs a tale. The history OF
gives proof that civic patriotism is not
dead, and, in this age of se1fishness
reads like a tale from an old story book
Gas wells have been sunk by corpora
tons and individuals with the hope OF
private gain; but who ever. heard of such
project being carried out with private
capital and with no thought or possibili-
~ of private gain?
This is the story. There Is in. Edmon-
ton an organization known as the Ed.
monitor Industrial Association, composed
do all in their power to make their city
a better place in which to live and DC
business. During 1913 the city council
employed geological experts TO make
purpose Of locating possible natura
gas supply for the city. Their report
recommended the Viking district. ane
the city at once made application 10 tins
the gas and petroleum rights for approx
irnately 10000 acres in this district
This request was granted on condition
that actual development be begun at ar
early date. In the meantime private
corporation comprised Of local capitalists
endeavored TO secure a FRANCHISE 10 De
liver gas from what is known as th'
Pelican field, 220 miles north OF the city
This proposal was not acceptable TO q
city which has never parted with any
itk street railway, its waterworks, 1T
power plant. its electric. light system
and even its telephones. The bylaw
was defeated, and with ii went down II
defeat Mayor William Short and every
alderman who favored 1t. The citizens
ton gets gas, Edmonton must own ant
operate it, The city charter would no
permit the spending of public funds Il
prospect for gas
Enter the Edmonton Industrial Asso
citation. During the monday luncheon
OF the association on Jan % the newly
elected mayor. W. ]. Mcnamara. ap
pealed to the men present TO subscribe I,
a fund TO prospect the field on the un
derstandng that If gas were found tn
city would take over the well and re
turn TO the subscribers the money the
had risked, but without interest or pro
ut; but that, If gas were not found, the
must be content TO lose all they had sub
scribed. He headed the list with hi
check for 5000 Others followed and 4
less than half an hour enough none
had been raised TO warrant the begin
ming Of the work
on August IS a contract was execute
between the city and the association EN-