*.»; H-17340 C-l Drilling Machine Stopping Machine H-17505 Flanged Tee Makes 2"tol2"cuts through gate valves Used to insert, expand and ex- Used when making a large connection in any size cast iron or steel main - dry tract steel wedge line stoppers. on a steel main. Permits locating valve or under pressure. Power-operated with Other models available for in- on lateral line in most convenient place. H-600 Air Motor or H-602 Gasoline serting stoppers ranging from Drilling and plugging of tee is done Engine Drive Unit. Hand-operated %" through 8"under pressure. under pressure. Sizes 3",4",6'and 8". model also available. Similar machines available in smaller sizes.

These products ore j'usf a portion of the complete selection of H-17790 Machine Inserted gas equipment, supplies and Service Valve Tee specialties offered hy Mueller Co., H-17490 Designed for inserting directly into steel Save-a-Valve Drilling Nipple or cast iron mains under pressure, using designed and manufactured Permits removal of valve when connec- the Mueller"B"Tappmg Machine. Built-in fo traditionally high standards. tion is abandoned. Used when making valve gives complete control of the a connection to steel pipe under pres- service at the main. Copper-encased sure. Inside thread in nipple permits in- neoprene gasket makes pressure-tight sertion of a plug under pressure. Com- joint against pipe. pletion cap makes double leakproof seal.

;:..::....;;;; --."• .

MUELLER CO. H-11104 ^- "O" Ring Seal Gas Curb Stop H-11170 Inverted bronze key is precision ground I LubOseal Gas Meter Stop to a gas-tight fit in a heavy cast iron "0"rings are located at top and bottom of body. Tight seatage is accomplished with precision-ground and lapped key, assur- stainless steel spring under key plus ing gas-tight seat. Lubricant is automatic service line pressure. Seals located ally pressure-fed to longitudinal grooves above and below gasway give positive in key, assuring positive lubrication. assurance against top or bottom leaks.

MUELLER RECO RD Oeei Of all the inquiries received by our Sales Division regarding the advertise- ments describing our "D-4", "E-4" Drill- ing Machines and our No-Bio Fittings and the No. 4 Line Stopper Unit, one was of particular interest to the MUELLER RECORD. The letter was written by Mr. C. Hayashibe who is chief of the Construc- tion Department, Osaka Gas Company, Ltd., Osaka, Japan. The company is located at No. 1 Hiranomachi 5-Chrome, Higashiku, in Osaka. The firm has two branch offices, one in Kyoto, Japan, and another in Kobe, Japan. Mr. Hayashibe's letter, a testimonial of the power of American trade journal advertising, reads as follows: "We have read with great interest your THIS MONTH'S COVER advertisements on your "D-4", "E-4" This thirty-inch natural gas pipe line Drilling Machines and also the No-Bio crossing over the Red River near Natchi- Fittings and the No. 4 Line Stopper Unit toches, Louisiana, forms a spectacular in the April number of GAS JOURNAL web in the sky. The pipe line is the prop- and the May number of GAS. erty of the United Gas Corporation. A "We shall be much obliged if you description of United Gas Corporation's would send us catalogs and complete vast operations and the part it plays in information on these products. the great Gulf South begins on page 4. "With anticipation of your kind favor . . ." Catalogs and complete information on this equipment have been sent to Mr. Hayashibe. In addition, copies of the May issue of the MUELLER RECORD which dealt in some detail with the No. 4 line stopper unit also were mailed. * * * The Pacific Coast Gas Association has chosen a beautiful and appropriate site July • 1954 for its annual convention September 7-10. WALTER H. DYER, Editor The P.C.G.A. will go to Vancouver, B C., a picturesque resort area, for its 61st MUELLER Co. annual meeting. It will be the first time MANUFACTURERS OF WATER AND CAS the P.C.G.A. has ever held a convention DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PRODUCTS in Canada. FACTORIES DECATUR, ILL. LOS ANGELES, CALIF. Vancouver seems particularly appro- SARNIA, ONT. CHATTANOOGA, TENN, priate for the event for it was just 100 SALES OFFICES NEW rORK CITY SAN FRANCISCO years ago that the little village which was to become Vancouver was then TRADE MARK known as "Gastown." MUELLER Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. City officials intend to make the area Member Industrial Editors Association of Chicago "Gastown" all over again and hope to and International Council of Industrial Editors help this P.C.G.A. convention be re- membered as a pleasant one.

JULY 1954 WJ*

A section of 20-inch natural gas pipe line being laid into the Gulf of Mexico. A Titan In The Industry United Gas Corporation Is World's Largest Handler of Natural Gas

FOR THE NATURAL GAS industry, has been one of the prime magnets times have changed drastically since the drawing industry to the South and 20's, when gas literally couldn't be given Southwest in the last couple of decades. away. Amarillo, , trying hard to Billions have been spent in the rush to make use of gas from the Panhandle build plants in the area where this field soon after its discovery in 1923, economical, versatile "wonder fuel" is offered natural gas free for five years to available. Still other billions have been any manufacturer, provided he would invested by the natural gas industry to give employment to 50 people. There find and develop adequate gas reserves, were no takers. to build pipelines, powerful compressor Today the nation's industry clamors stations and distribution systems, es- for this fuel in ever increasing volumes. sential for moving gas from wells to Most observers agree that natural gas eager consumers.

MUELLER RECORD As much as any other resource, largest expansions by a single company natural gas has helped to create the in the history of the industry, involved New South—the thriving industrial, the laying of 1,735 miles of pipeline of commercial and agricultural empire that various sizes, including many miles of stretches from the Texas prairies to the 30" main transmission lines; construc- Atlantic Ocean. tion of new compressor stations, dehy- dration plants and other facilities. Virtually all the South's electric power today is generated from gas, and the The new lines have increased the max- demand for residential use of the fuel imum delivery capacity of United's pipe- is at a record high. As Lt. General Ernest line system from approximately three O. Thompson, chairman of Texas' Rail- billion to some four billion cubic feet a road Commission, recently put it: "You day. Construction of pipeline across the could not successfully tie the housewife Southern countryside is no easy matter. of America to a coal scuttle and an ash Pushing through swamps and dense can when clean, convenient natural gas forests, spanning several wide rivers is available and her home can be heated with suspension bridges, and laying sub- and even temperatures maintained by a marine lines beneath others, construction thermostat on the wall." crews completed the major portion of this project in a record-breaking 18 The abundance of natural gas and months. A notable phase of the project natural gas liquids are largely responsi- was the laying of some 25 miles of un- ble for the phenomenal development of derwater pipe in the Gulf of Mexico, to the South's $3,000,000,000 petrochemical open markets for offshore natural gas industry, with its heavy concentration of developed in fields off the coast of Lou- new plants in the Texas and Louisiana isiana. Gulf Coast region from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Lake Charles, Louisiana. About United Gas has invested more than 85 percent of the nation's petrochemical $500,000,000 in facilities during its 24 operations are now located in the South, and additional large sums already have Aerial view of United Gas Building (large been earmarked for more plants and building) at Shreveport, Louisiana, •which large-scale expansion of present ones. houses the general offices of United Gas Corporation, United Gas Pipe Line Company The South's other newly acquired in- and Union Producing Company- dustries—the steel mills, oil refineries, cement plants, paper mills, and others of various types and sizes—virtually all use natural gas as a fuel because of its premium quality and low cost. One of the titans of the natural gas industry is the United Gas Corporation. This company's far flung system criss- crosses the Gulf South, an area that reaches from the International Boundary at Laredo, Texas, to Pensacola, , and includes major portions of Texas, Louisiana and , plus sections of southern and northwestern Florida. Like most of the natural gas industry, United's most spectacular growth has come in the last 15 years. To meet the ever rising demands of the gas-hungry South, and incidentally strengthening its own position as the world's largest handler of natural gas, United Gas began a three-year, $250,000,000 expansion pro- gram in 1951. The project, one of the

JULY 1954 years of operation. The company was organized in 1930, when more than 40 associated companies were welded into United Gas Corporation. Some of the original companies which became a part of United Gas had started out manufac- turing gas from coal, a half century before the discovery of oil and gas at Spindletop in 1901 ushered in the petrol- eum era in the Southwest. In its first year, United had 100,000 customers and some 8,500 miles of trans- mission, distribution and field pipe lines. During 1953, the system, moved one trillion, 29 billion cubic feet of gas through more than 20,000 miles of lines, supplying fuel for 483 cities and towns and many industrial customers. United engages in all phases of the natural gas business — production and purchase, transportation and distribu- tion. Union Producing Company and United Gas Pipe Line Company are wholly owned subsidiaries of United Gas Corporation. Union Producing Company is engaged A 14-inch natural gas pipe line being laid in the exploration and development of in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana shore. lands for the production of natural gas, crude oil, condensate and other liquid hydrocarbons. At the end of 1953 Union NEW COMPRESSOR STATIONS — Scrubber owned 634 gas wells and had an interest area at Lafayette Compressor station in the in 514 wells used in gas operations. It Southwest Louisiana district. also owned 455 oil wells and had an interest in 191 wells used in oil opera- tions. United Gas Pipe Line Company pur- chases gas from Union Producing Com- pany and others, operates plants for the extraction of natural gasoline and other liquid hydrocarbons and transports gas to cities, towns, industries and other customers. At the end of 1953 it owned and operated 1,254 miles of field lines and 8,040 miles of main transmission lines. As of Jan. 1, 1954 the Distribution Division of United Gas Corporation de- livered gas to residential, commercial, industrial and other customers in 309 cities, towns and communities and in rural areas in Texas, Louisiana and Mis- sissippi. They own and operate 10,876 miles of distribution mains and service lines and at the end of 1953 served 465,254 customers. United Gas is one of the biggest boosters of the Gulf South and conducts MUELLER RECO RD a vigorous program to interest industrial- 4-H Club boys and girls compete an- ists in locating new plants in the area. nually for expense-paid trips to the The company also sponsors an extensive national capital and other awards, based program of farm youth activities, aimed on their 4-H records and accomplish- at helping to develop leadership for the ments in various activities. South of tomorrow. United Gas management has profound Since 1939, United has carried on a faith in the continued growth and pros- national advertising program pointing to perity of the area which the system the Gulf South as the ideal region in serves, the Gulf South. Its efforts are which to build new plants and factories. directed not only to keep pace with this The ads have appeared in publications growth, but to keep ahead of it. of nationwide circulation, describing the Gulf South as a territory of growing markets, dependable fuel supplies, di- versified raw materials and natural re- Marketed production of natural gas sources, deepwater ports, year-round has increased more than 400 percent working climate, and an abundance of in the past 25 years. In 1952 production experienced manpower. of natural gas totaled a record 8.6 tril- lion cubic feet. Despite this tremendous In cooperation with the Agricultural production, proved recoverable reserves Extension Services in three states— of natural gas increased 6 trillion cubic Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi—the feet over the previous year as a result company has for many years sponsored of new discoveries and expansions of a 4-H Junior Leadership Training Pro- estimates in known fields through gram for teen-agers. Many thousands of further drilling and exploration.

A view of a United Gas Pipe Line Company gasoline plant at Carthage, Texas.

\1\1\VV Introducing:

W. A. Coventry, Asst. SaSes Manager, Chattanooga Plant March, 1923, was an important mile- stone in the life of Walter A. (Chuck) Coventry. That was the month that Mr. Coven- try, assistant sales manager at our Chat- tanooga, Tennessee, plant, decided to forego a career as butcher in a Decatur, Illinois, meat market. After graduation from Findlay, Illi- nois, High School, he moved to Decatur where he was employed by the market. Shortly after his twentieth birthday, he quit his job and was employed by Muel- ler Co. He has been with the company ever since. WALTER A. COVENTRY Mr. Coventry first was assigned to the Assembly Department of Mueller Co.'s Decatur plant where he tested and as- Although a considerable portion of sembled plumbing and water distribu- the material manufactured at our Chat- tion products. He worked as an assem- tanooga plant is utilized for the water bler from 1923 until 1926 when he was works industry, much of it is also utilized promoted to the Sales Division as a in the gas industry. Among these are junior sales representative. He was as- gate valves, tapping sleeves and tapping signed to our Oklahoma and Northern valves which are designed with the Texas territory. O-ring stem packing and mechanical Success as a sales representative joints. This makes them ideal for gas prompted the company to send him on a installations. product demonstration tour throughout In addition, the fire protection equip- the Western for several ment for both American Water Works months. After the tour was completed Association and underwriter approved in 1929, Mr. Coventry was named as- installations is quite frequently found sistant branch manager at our Dallas, protecting gas properties. Texas, branch office. In 1932, he re- turned to the main office at Decatur and Mr. Coventry is married and has one was placed in charge of the Billing De- son. His hobby is fishing and bowling. partment. Mr. Coventry headed this department until June, 1937, at which time he was appointed assistant to the assistant sales manager at Chattanooga. The American Gas Association Com- In 1945, he was promoted to his pre- mittee on Reserves estimates that the sent position of assistant sales manager proved recoverable reserves of natural at Chattanooga. He supervises a staff gas in the United States at the begin- of thirteen persons and coordinates ning of 1953 totaled nearly 200 trillion Chattanooga sales and policy with that cubic feet. This estimate includes only of our Decatur, Los Angeles and Sarnia, known reserves in proved fields. Unex- Ontario plants. He handles a consider- plored areas in known fields, new dis- able amount of correspondence with our coveries, Canadian pools and off-shore customers and sales representatives reserves may bring this total to 500 tril- throughout the nation. lion cubic feet. 8 MUELLER RECORD FPC Rilling Paves Way for Piping Mural Gas Into Pacific Northwest The Federal Power Commission has Colorado. Total estimated cost of con- authorized Pacific Northwest Pipeline struction is $23,298,653. Colorado Inter- Corporation of Houston, Texas, to con- state will transport an average of 110 struct a $160,000,000 pipeline system to million cubic feet of gas per day, to be transport natural gas from the San Juan purchased from Pacific Northwest Pipe- Basin in New Mexico and Colorado and line Corporation to its Rocky Mountain other fields along the route to market transmission system, which supplies areas in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, markets in Colorado and Wyoming. Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Commenting on the proposals to bring The Commission at the same time gas in from Canada, the FPC said that denied other competing applications pro- it would not be giving the fullest possible posing to import natural gas from protection to all the prospective cus- Canada to serve some of these same tomers if the sole source of supply were markets in the Pacific Northwest—the through importation from a foreign one remaining large area in the United country without some intergovernmental States still without natural gas service. agreement assuring the continued ade- In addition to the Pacific Northwest quacy of its supply. Pipeline Corporation project, the Com- "Otherwise," the Commission declared, mission's opinion and order authorized "all control over the production, alloca- Colorado Interstate Gas Company of tion, and transportation to our border Colorado Springs, Colorado, to construct . . . would be in the hands of agencies of pipeline facilities which will enable it foreign governments whose primary in- to transport gas received from Pacific terest would of necessity always be in Northwest Pipeline Corporation to mar- the needs and advantages of their own ket areas in Colorado and Wyoming. people, and whose judgements and ac- Pacific Northwest will construct 1,466 tions would be essentially dependent miles of main line, 106 miles of supply upon public opinion within that country, laterals, 327 miles of sales laterals, and rather than upon the interests of the 14 compressor stations—eight initially American consumer." and the other six during the first year of The FPC said that "regardless of any operation. The proposed system will orig- long and cherished friendly relations inate at Ignacio, Colorado, on the north- with any neighbor nation able to supply ern tip of the San Juan Basin, and extend such area with natural gas, it would not through Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, be in the public interest to permit the Idaho, Oregon and Washington with its importation of its gas as the sole source terminus at Bellingham in northwestern for the consumers in need of interrupti- Washington. ble supply at a reasonable price, which The company's market estimates should always be assured by the Com- range from 92,585,211,000 cubic feet of mission to the full extent of its powers." gas in the first year to 122,972,337,000 cubic feet in the third year, with maxi- mum day firms sales of 231,300,000 cubic feet the first year and 319,300,000 cubic Wife, listening to socialite sing at feet the third year. party: "Isn't she wonderful? I think she should be on the stage!" Colorado Interstate Gas Company's project will include 365 miles of 22-inch Bored husband: "Me too! There's one pipe extending from Pacific's system leaving in 30 minutes and if we hurry, near Rock Springs, Wyoming, to Denver, we may get her on it."

JULY 1954 New Public Relations Program A.G.A. Launches Plan To Aid Gas Companies Locally and fmproue Status of Industry

American Gas Association has ideas and techniques: Entitled "Inter- launched a program of new public re- com" (intercommunication), these bulle- lations activities to assist gas companies tins will appear periodically beginning locally and to improve the atmosphere early in May. for the gas industry generally. A.G.A. also plans to expand its cur- Supervision will be exercised by the rent flow of gas industry information A.G.A. Public Information Committee, to local companies, including publicity Willis M. Kimball, director of informa- releases, facts, photographs and back- tion, The Columbia Gas System, Inc., ground material. These will assist local chairman. Remick McDowell, vice pres- companies in developing their relations ident, The Peoples Gas Light & Coke with the public, customers, communities, Company, has been appointed chairman investors, government and labor. of a Public Relations Coordinating Sub- committee to work with Independent Tentatively planned for 1954 are one Natural Gas Association of America, or more "how-to-do-it" booklets on the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Associa- application of public relations techniques tion, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Associa- to specific gas industry problems. tion, and other gas industry organiza- In preparation for the new activities, tions. A.G.A. is surveying member companies Three new major public relations ac- to ascertain their immediate and long- tivities and a number of lesser activities term public relations problems. Informa- are being inaugurated by A.G.A. this tion is being collected on the specific year. First of these is a series of re- public relations activities and require- gional public relations workshops to ments of each gas company. stimulate greater local utility action. Earlier this year, the A.G.A. Board of Company representatives will be en- Directors, in a special resolution, re- couraged to "let their hair down" at quested all member companies to take these sessions and work out methods of any steps necessary to preserve and meeting their individual public rela- strengthen the private enterprise sys- tions problems. Initial workshop in the tem. The extent to which these com- series will be held in New England this panies would use an advertising mat June, under joint sponsorship of New service on the private enterprise theme England Gas Association, A.G.A., is being studied. INGAA and GAMA. Additional work- shops are under consideration for Sep- tember and November. It is planned Two current A.G.A. activities are that each session will be held in co- playing an important role in assisting operation with regional gas associations gas utilities. The School Education in the area concerned, as well as with Program will be continued throughout INGAA and GAMA. A.G.A. also is 1954. About 10,000 of the initial teach- making arrangements for the appearance ers' kits, "Natural Gas—Science Behind of public relations speakers at national Your Burner", have been distributed to and regional gas industry conferences schools throughout the country. Con- and conventions. tents have been carefully evaluated by Special A.G.A. public relations bulle- National Science Teachers Association tins to member companies will provide and have been widely acclaimed by an exchange of material, successful teachers and school principals. A new

10 MUELLER RECO RD booklet entitled "Experiments with of Gas Appliance Manufacturers Associ- Gas" also is now available. ation, Independent Natural Gas Associa- Another major A.G.A. tool for de- tion of America, Liquefied Petroleum veloping better public relations is the Gas Association, and regional gas asso- new customer training program, "Prin- ciations. Agreement upon over-all pol- icies and objectives will permit coor- ciples of Customer Relations." This is a dinated attacks by all segments of the complete packaged program for train- industry on their major public relations ing utility company employees in courte- problems. ous and efficient treatment of custom- A.G.A.'s new public relations activi- ers. The course is based upon years of ties, as well as current public informa- research and study by joint Customer tion work, are financed this year from Relations Committees of American Gas the Association's membership dues fund. Association and Edison Electric Insti- A.G.A.'s school activities are financed by tute accounting groups. the PAR fund. Current and authorized Specific steps are now being taken to A.G.A. projects specifically directed to- coordinate present and new A.G.A. proj- ward improved public relations total ects with the public relations programs about $150,000 this year.

Lon W. Woodson, Mueller Co. Sales Representative In West Texas, Dies

Lon W. Woodson, Mueller Co. sales His fine record as a sales representative representative, died July 6 at his home spoke for him professionally. His keen in Lubbock, Texas, after an illness of wit and warm personality made many several months. He was 43 years old. friends for him and for Mueller Co. Although in poor health, Mr. Woodson remained active in his work until re- cently. His wife, Margaret, assisted him during the early days of his illness and did much of the paper work from their home. She made a number of trips with him this year driving much of the way during his regular calls on our customers. Mr. Woodson, a native Texan, joined Mueller Co. as sales representative on July 1,1950. Through the past four years of association with our firm, he has represented Mueller Co. in the West Texas area. Prior to his association with Mueller Co. he was for several years a sales representative for Well Machinery and Supply Company of Fort Worth, Texas. He was born December 22, 1910, at Burleson, Texas. Besides his wife, he is survived by a married daughter. Funeral services were held July 8 at Ballinger, Texas. Burial was in the Ballinger cemetery. I We at Mueller Co. join Mr. Woodson's many friends in sorrow over his passing. LON W. WOODSON JULY 1954 II All Hands On Deck! A Leak in the Lake Seven endless minutes, a professional deep sea diver and a crew of rugged linemen. That's what it took to repair an Ohio Fuel Gas Company pipeline on the bot- tom of Senacaville Lake in weather LEAK IS LOCATED by Dale Davis, Ohio Fuel employe only one degree above freezing early this [rom Old Washington, who noticed bubbling on surfac of Senecaville Lake. Line which was to be repaired HE year. in 16 feet of water. When it was over, the diver was near collapse from numbing cold and ex- haustion. It all started when Ohio Fuel in- spectors spotted a leak in the gas main that feeds Quaker City, Bethesda and Barnesville. It was about 300 feet from shore on the northwest section of the lake. Norman E. Staley, a professional diver from Templeton, Pa., was con- tacted. Ohio Fuel crews from Cambridge and Barnesville met Staley at the nearby lake to assemble his diving barge. Among them were W. E. Beale, Ohio (Continued on page 21)

HIGH WINDS churn lake and buffet diving raft as Ohio Fuel Gas Company employees fashion windbreak to ward off near freezing wind.

THE PAT with a heav Staley, Temj will be used

"*&%

.''/' ;>.: !'/>•>• I . •-!!.-- Wk* Ly«w«( TENSE MOMENT is caught by camera above as diver, weak from cold and exhaustion, almost tumbles back into lake. He was grabbed by workers on barge. Left to right are: Robert Savage of Cambridge, James Upton of Cambridge, the diver—Norman Staley, and Everett Campbell of Cambridge.

HERE'S THE START of seven freezing minutes for Diver Norman Staley. Stalsv sang at the top of his voice while working—because it's lonesome, and helps keep him warm.

'.. called a "pit-hole saddle," is a clamp •ubber and steel gasket. Diver Norman ton. Pa., examines it prior to diving. It i repair leak. CONTRACTORS

Shown with the United Pipe Line Contractors' "trouble-shooting" truck in front of the Beloit, Wisconsin, firm are, left to right, Clif Auer, Mueller Co. sales representative; E. "Gene" Alters, a partner, and his son, J. "Jack" Alters, who is associated with the company.

When E. "Gene" Alters and R. "Bob" city distribution problems in both low Soehnlen joined forces three years ago and high pressures where service must to organize the United Pipe Line Con- be maintained." Mr. Soehnlen supervises tractors, they brought some new and re- all field work. freshing ideas to the water and gas in- To enable their firm to perform quick dustries on how to get a job done quickly and efficient service for water and gas and efficiently. customers, they set aside one of their Located at 822 Broad Street, Beloit, many trucks and equipped it for trouble- Wisconsin, they now have a firm that shooting. It is completely equipped with employs about forty men. The company Mueller Co. material, and enables the is prepared to work on anything from company to tackle any kind of a water city gate stations through the laying of or gas job and take care of it within the new lines or the replacement of old ones size and limitations of the equipment. to making hookups and the lighting of "We feel this truck which is equipped customers' appliances. with most Mueller equipment is a vital Both men have worked for contractors necessity in our field of operation," Mr. throughout the Midwest on gas, water Alters said. "We have many other trucks and sewer jobs and their combined work equipped with Mueller material and ma- records bring more than twenty-five chines to handle smaller main and nor- years experience to their customers. mal service tie-ins in the low pressure As Mr. Alters, whose responsibilities field," he added. include the making of and setting up all This trouble shooting truck has been contracts and handling office business, in existence the past year and it is be- says, "We are specialists in the field of lieved to be the only one like it in exis-

14 MUELLER RECO RD tence. The service offered is especially good for . small water systems that haven't been able to take full advantage of all Mueller Co. equipment. It is a simple matter for United Pipe Line Con- tractors to rush in and insert gate valves in a distribution system giving quick and efficient service. The company keeps all Mueller valves and fittings for the gas industry in stock. There is no delay in their service, thanks to this novel idea. They have the equipment and the know- how to get a job done. Included in the truck's equipment for the gas industry is a complete set of Mueller No. 1, 2 and 3 line stopper equip- ment as well as our service line stopper. United Pipe Line Contractors can work on from 3/4 inch to eight inch cast iron or steel pipe. They can make connections up to two-inch at 1,200 p. s. i. with our DH-2 machine and can make connections through standard valves up to 500 p. s. i. in 12-inch pipe with a C-l drilling ma- chine. This photo shows our large and small adap- ters for valve inserting equipment, our C-l (Continued on page 21) machine adapters and miscellaneous equip- ment.

Mueller equipment in the photo above in- In left center is our No. 1 line stopper unit cludes upper left, B machine and equipment; equipment while the D-4 machine and equip- upper center, E-4 machine equipment and C-l ment is at center. Our No. 3 line stopper unit machine adapter; upper right, C-l machine completion machine is at upper right while shellcutters; right center, steel wedge line below the shelves, left to right, are our C-l stoppers; lower left. No. 3 steel wedge line machine adapters, gate valve for No. 3 line stopper equipment and air motor; center, stopper unit and our slide valve for valve inserting valve equipment. inserting unit.

JULY 1954 15 A.G.A. Prepares for 36th Annual Meeting Oct. 11-13 in Atlantic City

Authoritative speakers on many sub- General Sessions will be held in the jects of great interest to the entire gas Ballroom Auditorium at 10 a. m. each industry are being scheduled for the morning. The reception and ball and the thirty-sixth annual convention of the entertainment also will be staged at the American Gas Association to be held auditorium. October 11-13, at Atlantic City, N. J. The Operating Section will hold after- The various Section programs are taking noon sessions Monday and Tuesday at final form and outstanding events are Trimble Hall, Hotel Claridge, which has being arranged for the General Sessions been designated as headquarters for the on each of the three mornings of the Operating Section. The program for the Convention. meetings will feature a demonstration Members of the General Convention on remote control of pipelines. A simu- Committee, which is headed by Everett lated pipeline system will be set up with J. Boothby, president, Washington Gas an off-stage control room to be viewed Light Company, have expressed confi- by use of closed-circuit television hook- dence that the coming convention will be up. Valves, meters and other equipment one of the most successful in the history will be operated by remote control. Panel of A.G.A. discussions on customer service, quality The Convention Entertainment Com- control and other pertinent topics will mittee, with L. R. Quad, Public Service be included. Papers on off-shore drilling Electric and Gas Company, Newark, and safety codes will be presented. Offi- New Jersey, as chairman, met at A.G.A. cers will be elected and the Operating Headquarters on June 25. The following Section's Award of Merit will be be- executives have agreed to serve on the stowed at these sessions. entertainment committee: R. R. Black- The Hotel Dennis has been designated burn, Southern California Gas Company; as headquarters for the Residential Gas M. J. Harper, Rockwell Manufacturing Section but the Section will hold its Company; Theodore H. Kendall, South meeting in the Ballroom of the Auditor- Jersey Gas Company; Robert C. LeMay, ium at 2 p. m. Monday. Walter H. Kur- Selas Corporation of America; and delski, Michigan Consolidated Gas Com- Daniel E. Maloney, The East Ohio Gas pany, chairman of the Residential Sec- Company. Other committee members tion, will preside. are: Joseph T. McKay, The Accounting Section, with Paul E. Public Service, Inc.; L. T. Potter, Lone Ewers, Michigan Consolidated Gas Com- Star Gas Company; John H. W. Roper, pany, as chairman, has arranged pro- Washington Gas Light Company; J. grams for meetings at the Viking Room, Gorden Ross, Rochester Gas & Electric Haddon Hall on Monday and Tuesday. Corporation, and Howard T. Scranton, The Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel is Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corpor- headquarters for the Accounting Section. ation. The Home Service Breakfast will be Entertainment plans include the pres- held Tuesday morning, October 12, in the ident's reception, entertainment and ball American Room, Hotel Traymore. Mary on Monday evening; a ladies' party and E. Huck, The Ohio Fuel Gas Company, reception on Tuesday afternoon and a chairman of the Home Service Com- program of excellent entertainment on mittee, will preside. The afternoon meet- Tuesday evening. ing of the Home Service Committee,

16 MUELLER RECO RD featuring the annual round table dis- Room, Hotel Traymore, at 12:30 on cussions and promotional highlights, Tuesday, October 12. An afternoon meet- will take place Tuesday afternoon at the ing will follow with inspirational talks St. Dennis Room, Hotel Dennis. on subjects of interest to management and members of the industrial and com- The General Management Section, will mercial departments of member com- have headquarters at the Chalfonte- panies. Election of offlciers, reports and Haddon Hall Hotel. The Section will other business will round out the after- sponsor its annual luncheon meeting in noon meeting. the Carolina Room, Chalfonte Hotel, on A general luncheon meeting will be Tuesday noon. A prominent speaker will staged at the auditorium on Wednesday, address the management segment of the following the General Session. After industry. luncheon an inspirational meeting will The Shelburne Hotel will be head- be held, with addresses by some of the quarters for the Industrial and Com- industry's finest orators as the final mercial Gas Section. The Section plans highlight of the thirty-sixth annual con- to hold its annual luncheon in the Rose vention. T. T. Arden Is GAMA President-elect; Hunt Bill Unanimously Condemned that would prevent the expansion of the natural gas pipeline into the Northwest, the one section of the country that does not have access to this fuel. (See story on Page 9) The resolution said that most of the opposition to the expansion of the gas network comes "from branches of the coal industry which have virtually priced themselves out of other domestic and industrial fuel markets." It urged the Federal Power Commission to act favor- ably on applications now filed with it to extend natural gas pipelines to the Northwest from Canadian and domestic gas fields. T. T. Arden of Lynwood, Calif., now serving as first vice president of GAMA, was elected president to succeed Sheldon Coleman of The Coleman Co., Wichita. The entire slate of new officers, division and group chairmen and vice chairmen T. T. ARDEN will assume their duties next October. GAMA President-elect Arden is executive vice president of the Grayson Controls division of Robert- Forecasts of a favorable sales year shaw - Fulton Controls Co. despite a slow start, and determination Also elected to GAMA office were to actively combat adverse gas legisla- W. F. Rockwell Jr., president of the tion highlighted the 19th annual conven- Rockwell Manufacturing Co., Pittsburgh, tion of the Gas Appliance Manufacturers first vice president; and A. B. Cameron, Association held recently in Chicago. president of the Ruud Manufacturing The 315 convention registrants unani- Co., Pittsburgh, second vice president. mously approved a resolution con- Lyle C. Harvey, president of Affiliated demning the Hunt Bill, now before the Gas Equipment, Inc., Cleveland, was re- U. S. Senate Commerce subcommittee, elected treasurer.

JULY « 1954 17 On Two Jobs Southern Union Co, Uses Our No, 4 Line Stopper Equipment Mueller No. 4 line stopper equipment, recently perfected for use on ten and twelve inch lines, was used June 8 and 9 by Southern Union Gas Company in Port Arthur, Texas, on ten-inch steel main to shut off 150 p. s. i. Two indi- vidual jobs were completed on the same Old lees and gate valve being removed line several miles apart. from stopped off line. Note temporary by- The first job was near the regulator pass line in left of picture. station where Southern Union Gas Company receives gas from United Gas Pipe Line Company for the purpose of

A Mueller C-l air power operated drilling machine is making cut in ten-inch Mueller A 90 degree ell being installed in stopped line stopper fitting. off line. (Photos by John J. Smith)

MUELLER RECORD supplying Port Arthur and the surround- ing area. An existing gate valve and tee con- nection was to be removed and a welded 90 degree ell installed in its place. To accomplish this task it was necessary to construct a separate four-inch by- pass line to carry the load while the line was stopped off. Only one fitting was used since a plug valve in the pipe line regulator station was utilized for the shut off on the op- posite end. A positive shutoff was ob- tained and the entire job completed with no difficulties.

Mueller H-17445 completion machine as- sembled on line stopper fitting for insertion of the completion plug in the top of the fitting.

valve serves as a by-pass and positive line block around the new regulator station. This shut off also was obtained under 150 p. s. i. with a positive shutoff obtained on both stoppers.

This view shows plug valve being installed in open section of the line.

Two line stopper fittings have been installed (on the second job) and the line stopped off. In this view cr plain section of pipe is being cut for removal.

The second job consisted of placing a new plug valve in the same ten-inch steel main on the outskirts of Port Arthur. Two stoppers and fittings were used on this job. Existing old gate valves in the branch lines enabled a new regu- lator station to be placed in operation to serve as a by-pass during the stop off operation. The newly installed plug

JULY 1954 19 With the rapid spread of natural gas Television and electric lighting are transmission systems into new areas and being improved by gas heat. Glass is a with additional lines into areas already relatively poor heat conductor and is receiving natural gas, the gas utility highly susceptible to breakage when industry is adding gas househeating submitted to uneven thermal stresses customers at a rate of nearly 1,200,000 a caused by failure to balance heat input year. It is estimated that by 1956, the with varying thicknesses of glassware. industry will serve more than 16,100,000 This shrinkage has been minimized by dwelling units with gas househeating. long heat-treating cycles with gas as a This means that one out of every three fuel, thus helping to produce better tele- dwelling units in the nation will be using vision tubes and fluorescent lamps. gas for space heating. •X- * * * -x- * Gas plays an important part in guard- Although the United States probably ing the health of the public. It is used is the greatest producer of natural gas extensively in state and national health in the world, with deposits in 26 differ- laboratories in testing and analyzing ent states, geologists continue to dis- health cultures submitted by physicians cover this valuable fuel in remote corners where the presence of disease-bearing of the earth. An extensive deposit of oil bacteria is suspected. Gas is employed in was found in Umiat, in the southeastern more than twenty different processes section of the Naval Petroleum Reserve utilized in chemistry, physics, micro- in the Arctic Circle. One large natural biology and serology. The Bunsen burner, gas field also was found there. However, one of the first practical applications of because of the great expense involved gas, still remains one of the most effcient in transporting oil and natural gas from implements in laboratory operations re- Northern Alaska, the Navy believes that quiring exact heat to make accurate at least four fields the size of the Umiat tests. deposit that could produce at least 100,- •X- -X- -X- 000 barrels daily would be needed to Modern welding techniques used in the make the venture profitable. construction of high pressure natural * * * gas pipelines have greatly lessened the Nearly thirty years ago the gas in- chance of serious line failures. Standard- dustry became one of the first self-regu- ized welding procedures and rigid inspec- lating industries in the nation when it tions now eliminate faulty welds prior voluntarily established the American to testing, long before the lines are Gas Association Testing Laboratories at placed in operation. Large diameter gas Cleveland, Ohio. Today nearly 5,000 in- pipelines are built by welding forty-foot dividual models of gas appliances and lengths of pipe end to end. equipment are tested each year at the Safe operation of the line depends to A.G.A. Laboratories in Cleveland and a large extent on the strength and ex- Los Angeles. The first laboratory was cellence of these welds. So workmanship established in 1925 and had five em- in welding must approach perfection at ployees. Today more than 150 employees all times. Each welder must "sign" his are working in these laboratories help- work by making his identifying mark ing to make sure that gas appliances on the finished weld. All his welds are tested are safe, durable and efficient. checked and a percentage of them is About 95 percent of the gas appliances checked by X-Ray. An X-Ray laboratory sold today have been tested and approved is set up at the construction site so photo in the gas industry's laboratories. These negatives can be made of the welds and appliances carry the A.G.A. Seal of Ap- then quickly developed. Faulty welds can proval, the certification trade-mark sig- then be spotted and replaced. A welder nifying that appliances meet American can be fired for two or more faulty welds Standards requirements. on one job.

20 MUELLER RECO RD Leak in the Lake COMMERCIAL GAS USE EXCEEDS (Continued from page 12) NATION'S BUSINESS GROWTH Fuel's southeast division superinten- [INDEXES 1941=100] dent; Ross Mitchell, district foreman; 304 James F. Parks, Robert Savage, Everett GAS SALES Campbell, James Upton, all of Cam- TO COMMERCIAL bridge; Clarence Orr and Bill Douglas USERS of Barnesville, and Dale Davis and Ed [VOLUME] DeVolld of Old Washington. Gusts of wind up to 30 miles an hour 171 had churned ice from the lake surface COMMERCIAL into pieces no larger than ice cubes. GAS USERS 123 The barge was nearly swept away by BUSINESS the wind on the first try at launching. ESTABLISHMENTS Four anchors were used to hold it in place. An air pump, used to supply oxygen to the diver, froze. Ohio Fuel crews used an auxiliary hand pump. Even then there was danger that moisture in 1946 '47 '48 '49 '50 '51 '52 1953 airlines might freeze and cut off the SOURCE: AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION supply of air to the diver. N the postwar period the number of commercial gas customers in the I United States rose at a faster rate than retail business establishments. Volume of commercial gas sales has tripled since 1941. Much of this At 12:08 p. m. diver Staley slipped utility gas growth was in the food service field, which has become the into the water. nation's fourth largest industry. Americans spend more than $15 billion Muck from the bottom of the lake meals are cooked with gas. prevented him from seeing. He had to Trouble Shooting Truck "feel" for the leak in the pipe. (Continued from page 15) "It's only a small hole," Staley's voice They are able to make farm taps off called over the two-way telephone unit. transmission lines using either the DH-2 The patch, a "pit-hole saddle" with a or E-4 machine and can make service rubber gasket, was quickly lowered to connections using the E-4 or B or H ma- the diver, along with a wrench. The chine using service tees, service valve saddle would seal a band of rubber and tees, curb valve tees or machine inserted steel around the pipe when it was valve tees. tightened. For the water works industry, the The boat crew waited. Then they company can do valve inserting opera- heard Staley singing over the telephone. tions for four, six and eight inch cast Minutes ticked by as the wind whis- iron pipe. They can make a lateral con- tled around a protective piece of canvas nection through tapping sleeves and on the barge. Suddenly, the telephone valves or standard valves up to 12-inch. quit. Deck crews pumped frantically In addition they can make service con- to make sure Staley had air. nections with the B or E-4 machines and could do line stopper work if the occasion Then the bubbling in the lake stopped, ever arose. the phone started working again, and They have a complete compliment of Ohio Fuel deckhands heard Staley say: equipment and can do every operation "She's ok now. I'm coming up." for which Mueller equipment has been At 12:15 p. m. his diving helmet ap- designed. peared and he was hoisted onto the barge. Weak from cold and exhaustion For the past four years gas utility the 38-year-old Staley almost tumbled companies have added new customers at back into the frigid water. Crew mem- a rate of more than 900,000 annually. bers pulled him to safety. Customers served with natural gas now On Ohio Fuel's records this was aggregate more than 20,600,000 and jotted down: "Leak repaired. No in- comprise about 72 percent of the nation's terruption of service." gas utility customers.

JULY 1954 2! Association and Independent Natural Gas Association of America. Co-sponsors with these three national groups, were The New England Gas Association and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of New England, Inc. The Boston confer- ence considered gas industry public re- lations programs as they benefit New The General Management Section of England distributing utilities. However, the American Gas Association will hold many items on the program are of direct its first annual spring conference early interest to gas companies in other sec- next year. Howard B. Noyes, senior vice- tions of the country. Staged as a pilot- president, Washington Gas Light Com- plant operation, the conference will be pany, and chairman, A.G.A. General followed by similar regional meetings Management Section, has announced the throughout the country during the next appointment of an Arrangements Com- year. mittee to plan the program for the initial meeting of the section. W. B. Tippy, vice - president, Commonwealth Current legal problems of the gas Services, Inc., New York, will serve as pipeline and distribution companies were chairman of the Arrangements Com- analyzed and discussed recently at New mittee. He will be assisted by John H. York City by an outstanding array of Carson, vice-president, The East Ohio professional and executive talent at a Gas Company, Cleveland; Leslie A. five-day symposium jointly sponsored by Brandt, vice-president, The Peoples Gas the American Gas Association and the Light & Coke Company, Chicago; Elmer Practicing Law Institute. The seminar L. Ramsey, asst. vice-president, Laclede attracted an enrollment of more than Gas Company, St. Louis; and Lester J. 250 participants, representing Federal Eck, vice-president, Minneapolis Gas and State Commissions, legal counsel, Company. production, transmission and distribu- tion companies in the gas industry, ac- countants, allied trade associations and The American Gas Association has other interested groups. Delegates come just issued its Annual Report for 1953 from every section of the United States to its member companies and individual to exchange experiences and techniques members. The report is an attractive, and to take home better understanding 32-page, illustrated, two-color presenta- of many controversial and perplexing tion of the achievements of the Associa- problems affecting the gas industry. tion during 1953 under the leadership of Frank C. Smith, president, Houston * * * The Mexican government has been in Natural Gas Corporation, and 1953 presi- the gas business, particularly in natural dent of A.G.A. In his introductory mes- gas exploration and production work sage in the report, Mr. Smith pointed since 1944. Most of the production is out that the major objective of the As- in northeastern Mexico, in the neighbor- sociation during his term in office had hood of the Rio Grande River Valley. been the marshalling of the full strength Housewives in Tia Juana were ready to of the industry and applying that com- launch a minor revolution last year, bined force and effect toward the ac- when for a period of about ten days, complishment of its goals. their gas jets spurted water. Seems *"" -X- * that someone had hooked a water line Five national and regional associations into a gas pipe and the water backed combined to hold a pioneer event on up the gas lines, bringing to real life, June 16—the first joint regional confer- the oft-used gag of cartoonists about ence on gas industry public relations. un-handy husbands doing home plumb- The all-day meeting in Boston, Mass., ing. The government's prosecuting at- presented high spots of the public re- torney promised to investigate and lations plans of American Gas Associa- punish the guilty parties. Not with a tion, Gas Appliance Manufacturers firing squad, we hope.

22 MUELLER RECO RD MUELL LINE STOPPER UNIT

Stop off 10" and 12" steel lines safely, under pressure, with the Mueller No. 4 Line Stopper Unit. Equipped with series n 40 flanges, the No. 4 Unit is designed for working pressures of 500 psi and temperatures up to 250° Fahrenheit with an adequate factor of Safety. ft • The H-17440 Line Stopping Ma- chine, with stee! wedge stopper and special rising stem steel gate valve.

• The H-17445 balanced pressure Completion Machine,

• The H-17257 Line Stopper Fit- ting, sizes 10" and 12", complete with "O" ring type, balanced- pressure completion plug. Spring-loaded ball check valve in completion plug, activated by the inserting or extracting tools, assures equal pressure on both sides, allowing easy insertion and exiraction ol ihe completion plug. Write foi com pie te in form a lion on the No. 4 Line Stopper Unit.

MUELLER CO. MU

INVERTED KEY

1. Large, bronze rap — down- pressure on cap unseals key for easy turning . . . skirt shears ice or other foreign material.

1. Heavy hron/.e key —• invert- ed type . . . accurately machined . . . ground and lapped to gas- lighl fil.

5. False ports in both hody and key — protect "round key sur- luces when stop is closed.

6. Stainless steel spring—al- lows key to be unseated for easy turning . , . reseats key.

7. Heavy cast iron hody with malleable bottom plug— close- grained grey iron gives maxi- mum strength and corrosion resistance.

8. Neoprene impregnated cork gasket —- provides positive sea! at bottom of r-lop . . . prevents leakage along line.

Gas curl) slop keys must fit ibe bo al present sen ice pressures. Non ihal is iliffieiill lo operate or a lulu servicing However, Mueller Co. I, curb slop, \\ilh tbe features show — IT/ turns casil) n'lthoal litliriculi

MUELLER CO.

IMAIN OFFICE & FACTORr DECATUR. ILLINOIS