PUBLIC UTILITIES: Second Pipe

When Kansas Pipe Line & Gas Co. asked the Federal Power Commission fortnight ago for permission to build a 2,346-mile, $21,470,000 pipe line north through unpiped country to the Mesabi Iron Range in northern Minnesota, the National Bituminous Coal Commission, the United Mine Workers and various coal companies were swift to protest (TIME, Sept. 26). Last week the coal-men had new cause for worry. Also lured by the low-grade ores now lying undug at Mesabi for lack of cheap fuel to smelt them, Public Service Gas Co. of Montana asked FPC for permission to build a 1,500-mile $49,402,000 pipe line to the Mesabi Range from natural gas fields in Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota.