The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
-4-
Fellow Member, the time has come to face up to this '.ifficult situation. We no longer can ignore it. Our constituents will not allow us to postpone action much longer, 3f that I can assure you. Nor can we refuse tc acknowledge frankly that the price of natural gas is too low. The reason eastern consumers are getting the finest fuel in the world at prices considerably below the cost of other fuels is the well- head price monopoly. For examples a St. Louis home heated with fuel-oil jays the owner of a Texas oil well 451 out of every $100 spent (or heating; the same home heated with natural gas from Texas says the producer $7.28 out of every X100 spent. The problem is ours and needs our attention now. If ie meet it frankly, the net benefit to Texas and Texans will prove sufficient in time to amaze us all. Until we do, our State will not receive anything like the return it should get, industries will not have an incentive to move here, and some >f our own industries will be lost (as in the cases of process- ing plants for Texas gas moving into the East). When we gather in a few days, I will have my bill to accomplish this, believing sincerely that it is appropos to the call. I am convinced that through it we can provide a solution to our present problem and a far more prosperous texas of the future. All I ask is that you give it your careful attention. Yours very truly, Sam E. Wohlford