Laclede Gas Company is the largest

natural gas Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbo ...

distribution

utility As a topic of economics, utility is used to model worth or value. Its usage has evolved significantly over time. The term was introduced initially as a measure of pleasure or happiness as part of the theory of utilitarianism by moral philosopher ...

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

, serving about 632,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the city of

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

and ten counties in eastern Missouri. As an adjunct to its gas distribution business, the company operates an underground natural gas storage field, a

propane Propane () is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula . It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used a ...

storage cavern, and propane vaporization facilities. Laclede Gas is a regulated public utility and a wholly owned subsidiary of

Spire Inc Spire Inc. () is a public utility holding company based in St. Louis, Missouri, providing natural gas service through its regulated core utility operations while engaging in non-regulated activities that provide business opportunities. Its primar ...

(formerly Laclede Group). Its corporate headquarters is located in the 700 Market building in downtown St. Louis.

History

It was founded as the Laclede Gas Light Company, as the invention of gas lit street and home lamps was a primary, and innovative use of natural gas. Gas lighting displaced candles,

whale oil Whale oil is oil obtained from the blubber of whales. Whale oil from the bowhead whale was sometimes known as train oil, which comes from the Dutch word ''traan'' ("tears, tear" or "drop"). Sperm oil, a special kind of oil obtained from the ...

camphine Camphine, the burning fluid lamp fuel, not to be confused with camphene, the chemical. Composition Camphine was the trade name of a purified spirit of turpentine formerly used for lamps, generally prepared by distilling turpentine with quicklime. ...

burning fluid (a blend of

turpentine Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthene, terebinthine and (colloquially) turps) is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Mainly used as a special ...

and

alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom * Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks Alcohol may also refer to: Chemicals * Ethanol, one of sev ...

) lamps, lamps and

kerosene lamp A kerosene lamp (also known as a paraffin lamp in some countries) is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel. Kerosene lamps have a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe; lamps may be used on a t ...

s, and came before the invention of

electric light An electric light, lamp, or light bulb is an electrical component that produces light. It is the most common form of artificial lighting. Lamps usually have a base made of ceramic, metal, glass, or plastic, which secures the lamp in the soc ...

ing, and gas cooking and heating. Laclede Gas Light Co was chartered in Missouri on March 2, 1857. In 1905, North American Company, a public utilities conglomerate, acquired St. Louis United Railways, the consolidated streetcar company in St. Louis, which operated as St. Louis Transit Company. North American reported they owned

Union Electric The Union Electric Company of Missouri (formerly ) was an electric power utility that was organized in 1902 and grew to be one of the large U.S. companies listed among the S&P 500. In 1997, its holding company merged with a smaller neighboring util ...

and Laclede Gas See Streetcars in St. Louis. In 1909, North American decided to sell Laclede Gas after lawyers advised they might be in violation of Missouri’s antitrust law. American Light and Traction was under consideration as a possible buyer, but they were outbid by a consortium of St. Louis capitalists led by GH Walker and

Adolphus Busch Adolphus Busch (10 July 1839 – 10 October 1913) was the German-born co-founder of Anheuser-Busch with his father-in-law, Eberhard Anheuser. He introduced numerous innovations, building the success of the company in the late 19th and early ...

. They paid $7MM for the seven elevenths of outstanding shares owned by North American. Walker was a broker who planned to resell his shares. Busch’s share was $1MM.St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 11, 1909

References

Sources

* Beck, Bill (2007). ''Laclede Gas and St. Louis: 150 Years Working Together, 1857-2007'', Laclede Gas Company.

External links

Laclede Gas Company website
Natural gas companies of the United States Energy infrastructure in Missouri Companies based in St. Louis American companies established in 1857 Energy companies established in 1857 Non-renewable resource companies established in 1857 1857 establishments in Missouri Former components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average {{US-energy-company-stub

History

See also

References

Sources

External links