Natural Gas – 100 Years Ago Today, May 19, 1923!
Tom Shepstone
Shepstone Management Company, Inc.
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Natural gas news from a hundred years ago offers great perspective for discussing one of the cleanest sources of energy available then and still today.
I thought it might be fun and illuminating to look back 100 years ago at what was happening with natural gas. It is eye opening, given all we’ve learned over the last century. There is, indeed, little new under the sun, as our stories repeatedly demonstrate.
There is, indeed, little new under the sun, as our stories repeatedly demonstrate. Natural Gas – 100 Years Ago Today, May 19, 1923. Read our 100-year old news items on the subjects of sinking talons into consumers’ flesh, robbery by injunction, star machines, carrying natural gas to Newcastle and Henryetta.
And, We Think the Press Today Is Biased!
There is no subtlety wit this headline. Natural gas distributors were raising prices in 1923 and the backlash was harsh.
19 May 1923, Sat The Frederick Leader (Frederick, Oklahoma) Newspapers.com
Was this merely a case of a headline writer trying to grab attention? Well..
Robbery by Injunction?
It appears more than one headline writer in Oklahoma was upset with natural gas rate increases.
19 May 1923, Sat The American Guardian (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Newspapers.com
The Oklahoma Natural Gas Company apparently stepped on a hornet’s nest.
Meanwhile, Elsewhere in Oklahoma, the Search Was on for
More Natural Gas Using A “Star Machine”
High prices are always the solution to high prices; one of the truisms of economics so many fail to grasp. Higher prices means more risk-taking, more exploration and more development, which soon leads to more supply and lower prices.
19 May 1923, Sat The Ponca City News (Ponca City, Oklahoma) Newspapers.com
If you can’t do with conventional tools, try a “star machine.”
Carrying Coal to Newcastle Makes No Sense, But You Can Sell Natural Gas!
This one speaks for itself as a reminder of an old meme.
19 May 1923, Sat The Star Press (Muncie, Indiana) Newspapers.com
There is a Newcastle, Indiana and it’s the county seat of Henry County. It’s home to New Castle Fieldhouse, the largest high school gymnasium in the world.
And, Then There’s Henryetta!
Henryetta, Oklahama was promoting its coal and natural gas in 1923. Notice, too, they saw the prices as “low.” So, what was all that stuff about along and robbers from other Okie’s?
19 May 1923, Sat Harlow’s Weekly (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Newspapers.com
Today, Henryetta promotes itself thusly:
The “Rodeo Cowboy Capital of the World.” Love it!
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