Montana oil journal. (Great Falls, Mont.) 192?-1931, 1931-03-14

/ am a firm believer that
the people Of Montana and
Montana industries should be
supplied BY Montana produe-
ers with natural gas at rea-
sonable rate, in preference 70
consumers outside Of the state.
Cheaper gas IS absolutely es-
sential to encourage new in
dustries 10 come into Montana
such as sugar beet factories,
brick plants, gas plants, ce
ment plants; and ! might also
add that the cost Of producing
copper and zinc in Montana
has a direct bearing on our
labor situation, and cheap fuel
is one OF the principal items
in the cost Of their production
Cheaper fuel viii increase la
Dor IN all lines Of industry
There has been considerable
effort put forth to develop
enough gas to supply, not only
Great Falls and our local IN
dustries. but also the cities Of
Butte, Anaconda and Helena,
with their industrial plants,
and other neighboring towns.
I believe that we all appreci-
ate the fact that there is not
one field in Montana capable
Of supplying this market, at
least at the present time. / was
pleased to learn that Mr.. Il. B
ONeil has contract to sup
ply the cities of Butte and
Anaconda and also the plants
Of the Anaconda Copper COM
pany, because it now places
the contract in the hands Of
responsible party who can
get the gas producers Of north
ern Montana together to de-
velop a sufficient amount Of
gas to supply these wonderful
markets.
Personally, I believe that it
win be advisable to gather this
supply through three major
lines, thus making Great Falls
the gathering point for these
lines, namely: One 12-inch line
which Is now built, taking gas
from the Kelvin field, the
Sweetgrass Hills, and Canada,
besides nearby fields; sec
ond 12-inch line that / propose
to build from the Bear Paw
Mountain district 70 gather the
gas from this area third
line could and would be built
by Mr. O'Neil bringing gas in
from Cut Bank, possibly the
Milk River structures, and
other surrounding territory.
This would give at least from
30 to 40 inch open diameter Of
lines, which would join 81
Great Falls. These three lines
would be ample for serving
Great Falls and supplying a
20-ineh line which could be
taken to the southern part Of
the state.
With reference to the fran
chise in Great Falls, / am
frank ia saying that / do not
believe in a duplication Of
service If it would prove to
be an economic waste, but my
contention is that the Great
Falls Gas company is not q
pubIie utility in the strict
sense Of the word, but an or
ganigation in the gas business
which is selling gas at a rate
that only people who could
afford this luxury could buy.
They are now serving only 20
per cent Of the load in the
city 81 Great Falls, thus there
would be at least the equiva-
lent Of twenty -four thousand
people IN Great Falls who are
not now using gas. I claim to
have an available supply and
with these twenty four thou
sand people, within one hun
above the price Of coal ia or
der % make a fair return on
dred miles Of this supply /
WAS perfectly justified from
an engineering standpoint to
apply for this franchise. I feet
that Great Falls Is entitled to
a new up-t0-date high pressure
natural gas system
While appreciate the fact
that the Great Falls 6as com
pamg has been making some