San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-26
Believe City, Postpones
Rate Hearing Until Sup
ply Determined.
SINK MORE WELLS
Factories Have Not
Changed Equipment for
Gas Up to Present Time.

That no extensive development OF
natural gas for industrial use can be
had in San Antonio until more
adequate supply is assured and that
the city may defer its rate fight be-
fore the state railroad commission
until the present available supply can
be more nearly determined. was in
dicated Monday. This became known
when announcement was made that
the city had asked a further post
ponement of the hearing. which had
been set for Tuesday. until April 80.
Ii is possible that further postpone
ment will be asked when that date
arrives.
Although no reason has been given
by the city for the last postponement
Of the hearing. aud some had charged
that politics might have been behind
it. it. is generally believed that the
city does not want TO take its fight
for lower rates to the railroad COM
mission until an adequate supply OF
gas has been assured. 1t is also
known that city officials have been
advised that it will require several
uioHlHS u>t VI AHt lttiu oeiuiV ihS
can be determined. Until a large,
supply than the one now available
can be assured, it is pointed out, and
the San Antonio Public Service com
pany given a chance TO develop tho
use of gas for industrial purposes, the
chances are that the efforts of the
city to obtain lower rates would be
handicapped.
Require Several Months.
That the present supply of natural
gas is not adequate for any extensive
development for industrial purposes is
the consensus OF opinion among these
who have made study Of the pro
position. 1t is further confirmed by
the fact that no large industrial
plants in San Antonio have switched
over from oil or coal TO the use oil
natural gas for fuel. Until the ade-
quacy of the supply is determined
which will require several months. il
is pointed out that there probably
will be no change-oyers of any con-
sequence.
Inquiry Monday disclosed the fact
that some trouble has been experienc-
ed in at least one of the gas wells
in the Three Rivers field and that
there is some doubt as to whether
or not the wells now in use will fur
nish sufficient gas for San Antonios
needs industria1ly.
I'VE have had sufficient natural
gas for domestic purposes in San An
tonic so far even on the coolest day, :
W. Il. Tuttle. head of the San An
tonic Public Service company said
Monday.
Drilling Eight More.
Mr.. futile. however. declined to
make any further comment as TO the
amount of gas available or whether n
shortage was in prospect. He pointed
out that his company is a distributor
only and that it purchases its gas from
the pipe line company.
Nj. NJ. Sweetman. president of the
Southern Natural Gas company. cwu-
ers of the pine line which carries the
gas from the fields in .McMullen coun-
ty. expressed the belief that there is
supply all domestic and industrial
needs of San Antonio.i 1t is possible,
Mr.. Sweetman admitted, that TIC
wells already drilled will not he suf-
ficient for San Antonio's gas supply.
He pointed out. however. that gas
is being obtained from the McMullen
county field and from tn, Gas Ridge
field near San Antoine. There arc
now. Mr.. Sweetman said. about eight
wells being drilled. II the supply te'
comes exhausted at 3ne place. he said,
pipes can be laid to another field
and the supply thus kept up TO re-
quiremcnts.
Cannot Forecast Well.
Mr.. Sweetman said he also had
heard that some trouble had been
experienced with one of the wells i'll
the McMullen county field. but said
this might be expected in any gas
field. There are five wells available
in that field he said and 50 far the
supply has been adequate,
Mr.. Swectman said. however, that
no man can forecast how long a gas
we'll will last. The Southwest Texas
field. he said. has not been in use long
enough TO Lctermine just how much
gas is available. Usually six or seven
months is required before the extent
of the supply can be determined, he