The Donaldsonville chief., 1918-03-23
A SPLENDID SUGGESTION.

A SPLENDID SUGGESTION.
!, F. Fl. Allen Proposes Economical Plau
for Use of Natural Gas.
We take pleasure in reproducing
the following editorial from the New
; Orleans Item of March IS, and in
adding our cordial Endorsement of the
expressions therein contained regard
ing the valuable service rendered to
the commonwealth by thoughtful and
| public-spirited men like our esteemed
| fellow-townsman, Mr.. Allen:
| "We publish elsewhere ali interest
ling letter from F. H. Allen, of Dom
aldsonville, La, containing some sug-
tgestions concerning natural gas. Mr..
Allen suggests that gas be turned into
electricity at the well, the electricity
to be transferred to New Orleans and
distributed over the state at less cost
than would be involved in laying gas
pipe lines.
s'It is undoubtedly desirable that
south Louisiana should continue to
explore for gas. The presence of this
article in very great and permanent
quantities in south Louisiana would
naturally build up that section into
great manufacturing center Other
states have benefited from the use of
this same cheap fuel. Moreover, an
terprising owners of gas wells should
find very little difficulty in bringing
enterprises here from sections where
natural gas has given out.
s'It is a great pity that Louisiana
has not organized itself 20 secure
more benefits from it's natural re-
sources W.henrn private enterprise
brings in product of this kind 1t is
entitled to great reward. But the
state is likewise entitled to share in
the vast profit which comes from such
products.
.'The timber resources Of Louisi-
ana are being cut away at a rate
probably exceeding one hundred mil
lions Of dollars year.
'sThis state produces considerable
quantities of oil, It is likely TO pro-
tluee great quantities of natural gas.
Tt produces a large propofSlon of the
worlds sulphur Its fisheries are of
immense value.
house it's insane people. It does not
properly educate its children.
The state is not doing what It
should to settle up its eut-oyer lands,
nor to drain its wet lands. 1t is still
cursed with miserable, antiquated
highway system when it should have
i great system of hard roads. It has
not done what it should TO develop it's
canals and waterways.
I'VE are not among those who
would reflect upon the devoted and
underpaid little bands Of men who i
are doing their best TO promote agri-
cultural and industrial education IN
4 Louisiana. The inadequate apprc-
.priations made for education Of tins
kind III Louisiana were b disgrace TO
Eti1e rsbs ~ sissa isagk
now that the state Is prosperous from
Arkansas to the Gulf maintenance of
the old attitude toward educational
institutions Of this class is nothing
short Of ridiculous.
we take additional pleasure n 4
publishing Mr. Aliens letter because
IT indicates that thoughtful men
throughout Louisiana have their
minds on the development Of the state.
Inst now the development of natural
gas has a decided bearing on the fuel
problem and, IN turn, on the winning
If the war. Patriotism that takes a
practical and constructive direction
Is the patriotism that counts. History
is made by men who do things.
Following is the letter from Mr..
Allen fo which reference is made in
the foregoing editorial:
.To the Editor Of The Itssan:
sSince you take such s1ep interest
in securing the benefits of natural
gas from The Houma fields for your
city, I'd like to suggest plan by
which this could be done very quickly
and at small expense.
tsIn utilizing water power the water
is not piped to different places, but is
turned into electricity at the most
convenient place and the electricity
iconveyed to it's destination over wires.
Why not turn the gas into electricity
right at the wells and bring it to New
Orleans over wires!
aYou will probably say that this
will require many boilers and that
boilers are as scarce as pipes, but
take, for instance, the New Orleans
Electric Light Company, they have
boilers; let these boilers, with the en-
gines and dynanos, be moved 70 tne
gas fields, one or two batteries at
time, SO as not to interrupt operations.
MANY other companies IN the same
position could do likewise.
"A power line extending from
Houma to Thibodaux, thence to Dom
aldsonvilIe, Baton Rouge and New
l0rleans on both sides Of the river,
supplying light and power to the
Towns and rice pumps and sugar plan
ltations on these routes, would be
splendid investme ent; trolley lines
might be established, too. !,
Gwen the Texas & Pacific Railroad
teould be electrified between New Or
IIeans and Adds, and no end OF users
found for the gas the wells could
produce, but it should be, turned into
power on the spot.
Yours truly,
| seF. H ALLEN,
ssDonaldsonville, La.