Madison Journal - 1930 Tallulah Gets Natural Gas

Date submitted: December 28, 2013

Submitted by: Richard P. Sevier

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TALLULAH HOLDS A GAS CELEBRATION
Madison Journal September 19, 1930

The celebration of the advent of gas into Tallulah as sponsored by the Business Men's Luncheon Club, 
was held as scheduled Monday night at the Court House Square and was witnessed by a crowd estimated 
at about five thousand people. There were so many automobiles in Tallulah that parking space could 
hardly be found long before the celebration was scheduled to begin. Several people expressing the 
opinion that a majority of those present were from the town and surrounding territory, but there were 
others from surrounding towns.

Mr. Geo. A. Maloney, President of the Madison Parish Chamber of Commerce, acted as master of ceremonies 
for the occasion. He first feelingly introduced Hon. Jeff B. Snyder, who on behalf of the Business Men's 
Luncheon Club, welcomed everyone to the celebration and expressed appreciation to the Louisiana Power & 
Light Company for undertaking to supply natural gas to the town. Mr. Snyder said that there were many 
things that the older inhabitants of Tallulah had looked forward to for many, years; paved streets, a 
paved highway running through town, modern sewerage system, electricity and water in inexhaustible quantities 
and natural gas. He said we now have them all, and with the completion of the $350,000.00 gravel road program 
of the Police Jury, Tallulah and Madison Parish will be second to none in the State as far as advantages 
are concerned. He said he realized that Tallulah has grown considerably in the recent past, but, with all 
these things now available, he believed it would only be a question of time before Vicksburg on the east 
and Monroe on the west could be annexed as suburbs.

Mr. Maloney then introduced Mr. A. O. Evans, Manager of the Northern Division of-the Louisiana Power & Light 
Company, who responded to Mr. Snyder's talk and expressed appreciation to the Business Men's Luncheon Club 
and to everyone who had assisted in making the celebration a success. Mr. Evans pointed out that, one who 
did not live in Tallulah could so much better note the rapidity of its improvement during the past year. 
He pointed out that a sewerage system had been completed; a large lumber manufacturing industry had located 
here, many new and beautiful homes and public buildings had been erected and a paving program inaugurated.

Following Mr. Evans, Mr. McGregor Smith of New Orleans, Vice-President and General Manager of the Louisiana 
Power & Light Company spoke on the policies of his company ; the advantages of a community being served with 
public utilities by a large, well-financed organization and the advantages of natural gas. He said that every 
employee was instructed to do his inmost to sec that a customer was satisfied. It has been said, according to 
Mr. Smith, that if electricity were cheaper, more of it would he used, and if more of it were used, it could be 
sold cheaper, and in line with this thought his company had, on the first of the year, voluntarily reduced the 
price of electric current, and already the increase in the amount being used is exceeding their expectations. 
He told of the many advantages of natural gas and ended his talk by saying that he dedicated the gas distribution 
system in Tallulah to the housewives in Tallulah, they being the chief benefactors.

Following the speaking, a large gas jet was lighted on the west side of the Court House Square, and the color of 
the flame was changed several times by the introduction of chemicals. The gas was turned on and Mr. W. S. Craig, 
member of the Village Council, lighted the jet with a Roman candle. The flaming gas in the various colors was 
very spectacular.

After this the Louisiana Ramblers, an orchestra composed of Tallulah boys, supplied the music and a dance was 
enjoyed on the paved street recently completed.

Mr. R. R. Spigener, local manager for the Louisiana Power & Light Company, is due especial credit for his efforts 
to cooperate with the committee from the Luncheon Club in their effort to make the celebration a success.

Tuesday morning, the plumbers tells us that they were swamped with orders for houses to be piped as many are anxious 
to get gas into their homes as soon as possible, realizing that the gas had been turned into the mains. However, 
Mr. Spigener tells us that it will be several days yet before any meters can be set, as all the mains will have to 
be blown out before service can be started. Mr. Spigener says that in laying the mains, dirt, dust and rocks accumulate 
in the mains and it is necessary to blow all this out so that it cannot interfere with the governors and meters. 
He says that service should be ready about the latter part of the week.

One plumber told the Journal that he had piped thirty-seven houses and that he had orders for thirty-seven more. He 
said it took very little time to pipe a house for gas, it being possible to pipe the average house in a day.