Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-01-04
GAS PLIGHT CONDI-
 TIONS HAZARDOUS

(Continued from Page One)
 >o--o-~-0~>>~~~7---~-~--~
 Among prominent officials of the Cotton Belt who signed the petition were, C. J. Lake, chief dispatcher, Arthur Brewster and J. k. Scott. The petition will probably be presented to the city council at their next meet ing. or it is probable that a special meeting will be called to consider the question:.
 Company Under ~Grayson Contract"
 According to Mayor Bloom. the city council has a contract with the gas company known as the "Grayson Con- tract" This contract was granted several years ago to a man by the name of Grayson. The present gas i company came in under this contract, (which" says Mayor Bloom, "is not a good contract from the city's stand point"
 The contract provides for the fur nishing of not under 8 ounces of gas to the consumers, but there is pro- viso which reads, "acts of Providence excepted thus seemingly allowing for a stoppage in the gas supply without the gas company being held liable un- der the contract.
 Insofar as the swollen rivers, result
 ing from heavy rains is considered technically as an "act of Providence" it seems that the hands of the city council are tied. Mayor Bloor stated that the contract was consummated in 1911, and was for a period of twenty years. While it may he true lifat just such accidents as the one now af- flicts the patrons and the company may be styled an "act of providence" yet the rule of reason should apply Had the company acted with due fore sight and diligence in the matter by having reserve supply of gas stored here, much of the suffering which now inflicted upon the gas consumers
 would have been obviated. All realize the installation of reser voirs can not help the present emer- gency. but the winter is yet young, and much will be forgotten the company takes some steps to provide against future "acts of providence" The peo- pie are praying the gas company and ] )city council for relief and some means should be devised to give them this protection.
 C. Of (. To Confer With Officials. At the meeting of the Board Of Trustees of Chamber of Commerce yesterday, the secretary was instruct ed to correspond with Little Rock,
 Hot Springs, Hope, Philadelphia, and other cities using gas with view of having conference in Little Rock at an early date for the purpose of con- ferring with the officials of the Arkan- sas Gas Company, and to use their in- fluence and cooperate with them ill such Improvements as would prevent 8 recurrence of present troubles. Weather Much Colder. The weather since the gas stop page has been severe indeed, and the temperature has ccntinaed lower ev- cry day. The temperature last night
 was 16 above zero. The weather the temperature for today and to- morrow. Confirms Blasted Hopes. While the information contained in the caption of this story came to The Graphic office earlier in the
 evening, yet there fingered a faint hope that matters were not as bad as indicated in the earlier informa- tion, or that the repairs would be
 complete yet in time give the pat rons gas today, the blasted hopes 1 were confirmed by the following l dispatch from Shreveport, relative I to the situation. It is self explana- tory:
 shreveport, La. Jan. 3.-Pipes of the Arkansas Natural Gas company,
 which supply Arkansas cities with gas from the Caddo fields, and which | were put out of commission about a | week ago at Sulphur river crossing.
 blew out again Friday afternoon, as
 the gas was turned on for the first
 time after the pipes had been repair
 ed. The first explosion was caused
 by sudden rise in the stage of the
 river
 'The Arkansas pipe lines supply
 a number of cities in Arkansas. in
 cluding Little Rock, Hope, Texar-
 kama. Hope, Malvern and others"