Ha (Srmtite Seating (Slmtrt
Natural Gas
Corporation
Section
Natural Gas
Corporation
Section
Volume XXIX
LA GRANDE, OREGON, MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1931
NUMBER 123
AGRMBE TOMitlOW
GAS
FOl
LA GRANDE THE FIRST
OREGON CITY TO GET
NEW GAS SERVICE
City Officials and Citi
zens to Join With Nat
ural Gas Corporation
in Dedicating New Plant
. Tomorrow promptly at noon gas
will bo turned into the mains or this
city for the first time, at a cere
mony to be participated In by city
officials and members of the official
staff of the Natural Gas Corporation
of Oregon.
La Grande has the distinction of
being the first city to have gas serv
ice under the huge program of de
velopment undertaken earlier in the
year by Natural Gas Corporation of
Oregon and bringing of gas to num
erous communities within this state.
All residents are invited to attend
the opening ceremony which will be
held promptly at 12 noon, at the
local plant which has Just been com
pleted In this city. .
Every preparation has been made
for this momentous event, and Ex
ecutive Vice President R. E. Aitche
son, accompanied by Merchandise
Manager T. E. Bartlett have arrived
from - the San Francisco offices of
the company to participate In these
ceremonies.
A. E. Strong, in charge of organ
ization work for the Oregon and
Washington properties of the com
pany hits also arrived from the Port
land office, and will be present for
the opening event. t
The machinery at this newly con
structed plant will be put into op
eration following a few remarks of
appreciation for their Indication of
faith In the soundness of this com
munity by city officials, ana a re
sponse made by Executive Vice Presi
dent R. E. Aitcheson.
All residents who are Interested
will then be taken on an .inspection
.tour of the plant properties.
The turning on of gas in this city
comes as a grand finale of many
months of preparation on the part
of the Natural Gas Corporation of
Oregon, beginning first with the ap
plication on the part of the company
for a franchise to distribute gus in
the community, followed by the Is
suance of permission from the Ore
gon public service commission.
Then came 'the work of laying the
mains and distribution system
through the streets to tho homes' of
prospective consumers and then the
solicitation of residents who might
desire to use gas. The response to
this solicitation justified, according
to officials of the gas. company, the
original determination to place a gas
plant in La Grande.
Recently a store was opened here,
where the company placed on display
all types of modern gas equipment,
from ranges to water heaters and heat
ing plants. This store was opened
by Merchandise Mar.Sd.' T. E. Bart
lett. and H. D. ScoU placed in charge
as manager.
The plant which the company has
erected hero is one of moro than
forty gas plants of the same type
which aro being constructed on the
Pacific coast. The plant is of a de
sign prepared by-Thebo, Stan and
Anderton. after years of survey and
study of the uses of liquefied petrol
eum gases and is the last word In
construction and efficiency.
The construction of the distribu
tion system was carried out by the
contracting firm of Lindgren and
Swinerton, while all work was done
under the direction of Standard Man
agement and Operating corporation.
Natural Gas Corporation of Oregon
is a subsidiary of Natural Gas Prop
erties, Inc., with affiliated companies
of Natural Gas Corporation of Wash
ington and Natural Gas Corporation
of California, all of which are sub
sidiaries of Pacific Public Service.
In discussing the arrival of gas
in La Grande, Executive Vice Presi
dent Aitcheson of the company, made
the following statement:
"Wo are more than pleased with
results of the applications for gas
service which have been made in
this community. To date more than
1000 persons have made application
for service and this is an indica
tion of a highly pleasing nature that
La Grande appreciates tho invest
ment which out" company has made
toward giving a utility service that
will modernize the city and ploce
it upon a parity with larger cities
throughout the state.
"Gas service is a convenience which
no growing city can long do without.
Heretofore it has been impossible be
causo of high construction costs in
connection with, the building of gas
plants to bring gas service to cities
of this size.
"With this new type of plant which
Natural Gas Corporation of Oregon
had developed, the construction costs
have been overcome and it is pos
sible to give gas service at rates that
compare with rates in the larger
cities.
"There Is a convenience to gas
which can bo had with no other type
of fuel. Particularly this new gas
is attractive to the consumer be
cause it contains no impurities, is
cleanly to tho highest degree and the
heat value is equivalent to the type
of gas which for many years has been
served to people in the metropolitan
areas.
"For convenience in shipping this
gas Is brought here via tank cars In
liquefied form, ond Is vaporized at
the plant before It is sent out in the
distributing systems that have been
laid through the streets."
In view of the fact that many peo
ple of this city have never before
used gas, Aitcheson onnounced that
a number of representatives of the
company will be on hand to visit the
homes of consumers who have already
attached appliances, to assure that
'ail appliances and the system is In
working order.
No stone has been left unturned
by the company to make the instal
lation of gas service a memorable
event in the history of La Grande.
The system has been found to be In
perfect working order. During the"
week tests have been made and gas
put into the distribution mains and
the pipes purged of all Impurities.
Gas was placed in the system at high
pressure to ascertain if there were
any leaks in the pipes.
It was announced by the company
that plants and distribution systems
will soon be completed In numerous
other Oregon towns. Including Klam
ath Palls. Coqullle, Bend and Cot
toge Grove, with numerous others to
be started during the early part of
1931.
Refrigeration
By Gas New In
House Keeping
Gas, the better fuel, provides the
most modern type of modern refrig
eration known. It is the only kind
that furnishes silent operation.
There are no moving parts to cause
noise or repair bills. The gas re
frigerator Is designed to furnish the
proper temperature determined by
experts to keep your food sweet for
aays ac a time.
So refrigeration by gas has been
adopted as tho modern method be
cause It is the only one that combines
au tnese advantages, it is a good
investment, too, as there is almost
nothing to get out of order . . .
gas refrigerator will last for many
years. It Is not expensive to own.
as the. running cost Is much less
man you nave always paid for ice or
other forms of refrigeration. The
gas refrigerator is the lost wo.rd in
modern home-keeping apDllances-
Youi own gas company has the new
models on display and will gladly ad
vise you about the proper size for
your nome. nememoer-- gas reirig
erators require no oiling or other
mechanical attention and save nerves
and worry- See them today. You
may purchase one oft., convenient
terms if you desire.
R. D. Scott to Head Personnel
Of Gas Corporation Staff Here
Tho local personnel for the Nat
ural Gas Corporation of Oregon, has
been selected with the idea In mind
of assuring all residents of maximum
service at all times.
R. D. Scott, local representative, has
been In this city for the past several
weeks, and has already succeeded in
making many friends in La Grande.
He has had previous experience with
R. D. SCOTT
It. I). Scott, -local representative
of the Natural Gas Corporation
of Oregon, came to, La iramle
from previous positions with Die
corporation 1" California.
" - " 'wmrmmmffmm
IS HERE
Every Citizen of La Grande is Cordially
Invited to Attend the Dedication of
YOUR GAS PLANT
and the ceremonies incident to the "turning-on" of Gas on
Tuesday, January 20, at noon
Free Transportation From Our Off ice to the Plant
This community may justly feel proud that gas service is being supplied by Natural Gas Corporation of
Oregon as no other enterprise could so manifestly prove this is a growing and stable community.
Big Enterprises Do Not Select Backward Communities When They Plan Developments
f The new "Era" is here let us make the most of it.
Natural Gas Corporation
Of Oregon
the Natural Gas Corporation of Cali
fornia, an affiliated company with
Natural Gas Corporation of Oregon,
and previous to that time has had
additional experience In the utility
field with the Pacific Gas and Elec
tric company.
He will be assisted in his work
here by F. T. Smith, who has also
had additional utility experience at
San Jose, California, and by Lloyd
R. Barnwell, local resident and well
known In this city. J. P. Pinnegan
has also come from the Natural Gas
Corporation of California, and will
be of material aid In the increasing
of sales in this territory.
Miss Vera Hettick has also accepted
a position and will be connected with
the local office of the company. She
Is a graduate of the University of
Washington.
The local force of the company
will be augmented from time to time
as business warrants additional help,
and It is anticipated this will be
quite rapidly, from the present In
dications concerning gas service In
this city. '
Gas Was Named
In Year 1609 By
J.B.VonHelmont
To John Baptlste Von Hclmont, an
alchemist of Brussels, goes the credit
for the naming of gas In 1009 Von
Helmont was conducting some ex
periments In an effort to discover
a secret for the changing of lead
Into gold.
As he stood before a small furnace
Intently watching a heated crucible,
a strango spirit leaped up like a
gust of wind! Startled, he cried.
"Gecst," which is Dutch for "ghost."
So gas was discovered and so it got
its name. . Gas is also sometimes
(Continued on Page Two)
Gas 7o7
Gas for
Gas for
GaS for
Inauguration of Gas Service Takes
Place In La Grande Tomorrow
tttt . ' '
Comes as Grand Finale to Months of Preparation
Part of Huge Program in Oregon, Washington
and California
The inauguration of gas service in
La Grande tomorrow comes as a grand !
flnalo of months of work on the part
of the Natural Gas Corporation of
Oregon, and represent the Invest
ment of several hundred thousands'
of dollars in this territory.
This is a part of tho huge program
of Natural Gas Properties, Inc., for
tho bringing of gas service to num
erous communities throughout Ore
gon, Washington and California, and
is a clear indication of the belief j
of this organization in the economic j
soundness of these communities.
Construction work was started here ;
early in the fall, and Included the ,
laying of a distribution system, to-:
gether with the building of a plant
and installation of machinery for the
vaporization of gas shipped here in
liquefied form by tank car. i
At the present time these has
been a total of 121,000 ieet of dis
tribution main laid in .La Grande,
and an additional total of 103,400
feet of service pipe, to connect the
1002 consumers who have already
signed for service In this area.
Officials of the company express
. themselves as very much pleased
with the acceptance of gas service in
this city, and anticipate a constantly
Increasing number to take advantage
of this new fuel, now that It Is
available.
The construction of this plant and
distribution system in this city Is a
part of a huge program of develop
ment undertaken by Natural Gas Cor
poration of Oregon for tho bringing
of gns to numerous communities in
this state who havo heretofore boon
denied gas service, and is also a
part of the program of affiliated com
panles for the bringing of this same
You :
only pay
for
whatyou
usej
service to Washington and California
cities. All of this has been made pos
sible through the development of
butane gas, which Is proving highly
satisfactory In. the numerous-plants
where It Is alrealy In operation.
Numerous Uses For
v ' Gas in Industry
Gas In Industry has grown In leaps
and bounds. Today It bakes bread,
cooka candy, roasts coffee, smokes
meat, pasteurizes milk and otherwise
serves the food Industry In countless
ways. I
In the metal trades gas Is indls-.
pcnslble In forging, heating rivets,
melting brass, galvanizing, welding
and cutting. Gas plants play an Im
portant part In making your clothes
and pressing them.
Cms enters Into tho firing of your
china and tho soldering of your wed
ding ring and even In tho making
of your coin and paper money. .
Methods of applying gas to manu
facturing processes have developed
as rapidly as Industry Itself. - In
many cases gas has been responsible
for the great Improvements in manu
facturing methods.
Poles on Mars
.At tlio poles of rotation on the
plunet Mors are usually soon bril
liant white patches, termed polar
caps. They wax find wane with the
change of seasons und ure so sim
ilar in notion tn our own polar
snow Odds that it ts believed that
Mtpy are snow and tin.
WHAT GAS MEANS TO
THIS COMMUNITY IS
EXPLAINED BY SCOTT
Brings New Conveniences and Comforts to La
Grande All Residents Are Urged to Take
'Early Advantage of This New Fuel '
Gas Appliances
Are Welcome To
The Housewives
.-. Elner Martin, popular home econ
omist of the Natural Oas Corporation
of Oregon, states she Is sure all house
wives In this city will welcome the
fact that gas appliances require so
Uttlo care.
v"In lact," states Miss Martin,
"most gas appliances are now so per
fectly constructed that they will glvo
good service, even when neglected,
"but occasional cleaning will moan
even better results.
' "For example, the ennmel on your
gas range should be rubbed frequent
ly vlth a damp cloth, and If you ac
cldently spill food or liquid on the
burners, a wire brush will be very
helpful. .
' "Onco In a while It Is a good Idea
to have the range inspected by an ex
pert. A connection may need adjust
ing,' the some as In your car. Don't
1 neglect these trifles, they grow larger
If you wait. Tho same applies to gas
'water heaters, and other devices
which the gas Industry has provided
for your comfort and convenience.
'' "Natural Ons Corporation of Ore
gon will be pleased to moke these
adjustments whenever requested. Just
phono or -write your local office and
very shortly a sorvlco representative
will be at your door to take care of
the needed work."
By It. P. Scott
Local Representative, Natural Gas
Corporation of Oregon
AU the comforts and conveniences .
of modem gas service will mean so
much In this community, that Bllr
residents are urged to take early ad
vantage of this new fuel.
And no matter whether It be for
cooking, for heating your home
building, office or church, heating
water, refrigeration or any of the
many other uses, you will find gas
the perfect fuel.
And because it Is economical, It
will add both to the comfort and con
venience of your homes. It will do
away with dust, dirt and ashes, and
the attendant labor always neces- ,
sary with tho use of other fuel.
Natural gas is all heat there ts
no waste; It Is reliable, delivered
through underground mains protect -cd
from tho elements; It is easy to
control and will dellover exactly the
amount of heat called for. . -
It gives heat without waiting, and
does automatically work which for
merly needed human effort.
'Today's cook need not wait-for the
fire to get hot she may put her cake
In tho oven, set the regulator at the
desired degree and know; shn Is not .
dependent on luck for results. In
sulated ovens, closed tops, rounded
corners, vitreous enamels and heat,
regulators all contribute to the satis
faction of better cooking. .
Instantaneous and 'automatic gas
heated water 1b the highest type of
modern hot water supply known, and
compared to the convenience and Joy
it gives with that of other articles,
Its cost Is very reasonable. Once a
man, woman or child has tried the
tremendous conveniences of Instant
hot water, they will never be with
out it.
. Gas heat Is on In an instant and
off just as quickly. Single rooms
irwy be heated by a new unit system.
This effects substantial economic?.
There are many kinds of gas heating
equipment which may heat an entire .
home or a small spaco. - .
Oaa hoat Is so controllable that
you can set a thermostat and de
pend on gas to do the rest. This aim- :
ple-tipYlce will ,, turn .thec heat on 30 ,
minutes before the alarm ling--- Get
ting up and finding a warm house Is
a real Joy. f
And more than this, gas will be of
material aid In the future develop
ment of this .community, both from
a commercial and homeownlng stand
point those contemplating coming
hero to live will consider economical
gas service In making their decision, ;
and the business, man will be , glad
to consider gas in his work, as well.
U. S. Government
First to Use Gas
Tho United States government was
among tho first to make uso of , gas
for lighting. Some few years after -tho
discovery of natural gas at Pre
dojiia. New York, some Ingenious
parties rnndo a contract with tho
govenime'nt to supply the lighthouse
at Barcelona Harbor with this fuel.
Using a barrel for a gasometer, they
sealed it over a gas spring; then con
structed a pipe line half a mile long
running to tho base of the light
house from which the gas was con
veyed to the summit by an ordinary
lead pipe.
In this way thoy were able to sup
ply more gas than was required for
tho consumption of 144 burners fur
nishing a bright and steady light to
this lighthouse for over 26 years.
Gas Heating Was
Started In 1835
Wilson foretold tho future of gas
for heating as early as 1805; but It
was not until thirty years later that
gns heating stoves began to be de
veloped. One of tho earliest Eng
lish models was inn do in terra cot to.
designed like a beehive with scroll
work und filigree added.
Tho first gas heating stove In tho
United States was used in Boston
in 1B00. ,
535-Pound Roast
Cooked in Gas Oven
In IBS0. Soyer, the maotcr chef
of Franco, roasted a 635-pound Joint
of beef in a brick oven heated with
210 gas Jets, thus proving that gas
could perform feats of cooking that
were possible with no other form of
fuel.
During tho next twenty years gas
cooking mnde rapid strides. Gus
stovefl began to be manufactured with
the result, that in hotels, restaurant
and many homes the kitchen chom
or fire building was replaced with
the clean. Instant heat of gas.
Industry Turned
To (Has Long Ago
Gob van a help lu Industry as early
rut 1800, when Joslnh Pemberton
uacd It to Bolder buttons as well as
to llBht tho Iront of his factory in
UlrmiiiRharn, Engtnnd. Fifty years
luter KIKticr Bald that thero was
pructlcully no form of factory heat
iiik for which gaa could not be rec
uimncndcd. .
Puffs of Locomotive
For every revolution of Its ilrlv.
Ing wheel a locomotive gives forth
four sepnrnto puffs. These are
uinae hy the rapid sending out ot
wnste steiim from the smoke stock.
A locomotive with u wheel of river
ngo size going fa miles an hour
gives out SOU puffi a minute. When
there are more (linn 18 per second
the liuinun enr enn no .longer ills-
i tlngulsh them.