The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1915-12-09
SAY GAS WILL BE
HERE IN 6 MONTHS
FRANCHISE is DISCUSSED
ATTORNEY HARDIN CONFERS
WITH COMMITTEE OF CON-
WAY COUNCILMEN.

! WA SOC NO1LME Elm.
/ From Tuesdays Daily
That gas from the newly y-discover-
ed Kibler field in Crawford county
will be brought in pipeline to Con-
way within six months is the belief
and intention of the officers of the
Clear Greek Oil and Gas Company of
Fort Smith, owners of the field, ac-
cording to their attorney, G. c. Har-
din, who was here last night confer
ring with committee of the Conway
city council relative to franchise.
Mr.. Hardin stated that President
Scott Robinson of the company had
informed him that the company had
assurances of ample finances with
which to construct the pipeline and
there would be no delay on that ac-
count Franchises are now being con-
sidered by the city councils of all the
important cities along the line be-
tween Conway and Van Buren. In
the meantime, the company is prepar-
| ing to drill five more wells, the first
of which will be started within few
days. AS soon as the franchises are
granted and the wells drilled, con-
struction of the pipe lines will be be-
gun.
The proposed franchise was dis
cussed last night with Mr. Hardin by
Mayor J. Frank Jones and council
committee composed of Aldermen G..
C. Denney, William J. drummer and
Frank E. Robins. 1t was agreed that
the franchise would not be an eX-
elusive one and that it would become
null and void if the grantee did not
begin supplying gas to local consum-
ers within 18 months. Twenty-Five
cents per 1000 cubic feet was agreed
upon as the maximum rate to be
charged under the franchise. Num-
erous other details were discussed and
the council committee decided to send
representative to Arkadelphia, NAL
vern and Benton, cities which are now
being supplied with natural gas from
the Caddo fields in Louisiana, to in
vestigate the terms of the franchises
in those cities and ascertain any pos
sible Objectionable features which
might be eliminated in the Conway
franchise. All members Of the COM
mittee expressed desire to encour-
age the gas project, but also to safe
guard the interests of consumers in
granting the franchise, the life OF
which will probably be so years.
The territory around Fort Smith
is tremendously excited over the gas
and oil prospects. A story in Mon
days Times-Record, says in part:
"The enthusiasm created by the big
gas strike of the Clear Creek Oil and
Gas Company in the Kibler field will
result in the thorough development OF
the Fort Smith territory.
New companies are springing up
as fast as the blue sky law of this
state will permit them. 1t is not ex-
pected that this law will have an ef-
feet upon the development further
than the consuming of organization
lust the adding of little more red
tape.
1.-The companies are not all looking
toward the Kibler field, although a
large number Of them will profit by
the strike that has been made there
and endeavor to assist in the develop
ment of that field, instead of the find
ing of new locations.
Leases are being secured on all
side of the the city, and some of the
parties interested in the securing of
the gas and oil rights on the sur
rounding lands have not stopped at
the city limits, but are taking leases
inside the city. That means that Fort
Smith will reap greater benefit from
the strikes than any city that has yet
been favored by the discovery of gas
or oil, for it will not be necessary for
the building of extensive pipe lines
before the strike can be utilized. This
advantage was demonstrated when
the Massard prairie field was brought
in: that field is about the same dis
tance from the heart of the city that
industrial suburbs are usually locat-
ed, but many of the companies that
are getting ready for operations are
even closer than that"