The Kennewick Courier Reporter

DELAY ASKED GAS FRANCHISE
Tight Money and Trouble at New Well Cause Further Delays

Natural gas will not be available to Kennewick and Pasco residents this winter.

R. B. Newburn, head of the Northwestern Natural Gas Co., which has control of the Benton county gas fields, appeared before the city council Tuesday night and asked for a six months' extension on the company's franchise. The extension was granted.

Owing to the difficulty in financing large enterprises at this time, Mr. Newburn said that it would work a decided hardship upon his company if he were compelled to live up to the letter of his contract at this time. Under the provisions thereof, work of piping the town was to have been commenced by September 4. As a further cause for delay, he explained that the new well eight miles west of town was now progressing satisfactorily and that he had every expectation of securing a substantial flow of gas at that point.

Piping from this point would save twenty miles of mains, as well as save the expense of crossing the Yakima river.

On the advice of his geologists, Mr. Newburn has let a contract for two wells at this location, which is the most favorable one in the entire field, according to latest advices, for the striking of a substantial flow of gas. The present hole has, up to this time, been progressing very slowly. But lately, however, better speed has been obtained and it is hoped to continue the progress at a satisfactory rate. The additional hole will be started upon the completion of the first.