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1930 - 1939
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| 1930s |
Gas street lighting is finally eclipsed by electricity. Great Depression reduces demand for manufactured gas. Beginning of the demise of producer gas in heavy industries not directly producing coke; cause is cheap natural gas.
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| 1930 |
1930: Year of final eclipse of gas street lighting by electricity. Long-distance natural gas transmission appears in United States. Coal-tar industry is eclipsed by petroleum-based, synthetic organic chemical industry. |
| 1931 |
Texas Panhandle-Eastern natural gas pipeline passes through Missouri on its way to Chicago. |
| 1932 |
April, Samuel Insull's utility holding empire collapses; Creates pit of Great Depression. General situation of failure of less-stable gas distribution companies. Gas-powered air conditioning introduced in U.S. |
| 1933 |
National Reconstruction Administration takes control of American public utility companies. Western Gas Company extends 1931 Texas natural gas pipeline to Phoenix and Tucson. Congress passes Tennessee Valley Authority Act; TVA moves to confiscate Commonwealth Southern utility holdings in the Valley; Corporate President Wendell Wilkie resists and battles U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1933-1935: US President Franklin Roosevelt orders massive Federal investigation of utility holding companies. |
| 1934 |
California manufactured gas production down to 0.5 percent of natural gas distributed. Large-city manufactured gas plants going on standby for peak-shaving. Water-gas tar emulsions still a prime topic of discussion at gas industry meetings and publications. |
| 1935 |
Passage of U.S. Utility Holding Companies Act as result of investigation. British hydrogenation-based coal-fuel plant built at Billingham; 400 tons coal consumed/day. |
| 1936 |
Los Angeles voters approve measure for comprehensive buyout of electric generation and distribution in the city, leaving then natural-gas distribution to the three existing companies, soon to be consolidated into one company. Germany prepares wartime fuel production; Conversions of Winkler 1921 lignite-gas generators. |
| 1937 |
High-Btu oil-gas process studied by consortium of California gas companies, as peak-shaving. Legislation introduced in U.S. Congress to regulate natural gas industry. UK enacts Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act for oversight by national Ministry of Health. |
| 1938 |
Initial Federal breakup of utility holding companies. U.S. Supreme Court upholds the 1935 Utilities Holding Companies Act. U.S. Natural Gas Act, to regulate ownership of natural gas companies; Court-disputed until 1954. Germany begins treatment of coke-production wastes for recovery of phenols for manufacturing. |
| 1939 |
U.S. War Department undertakes defense by-product capability survey of American MGPs and coke works. Heavy damage to British manufactured gas, coke and coal tar works, by Luftwaffe. Late 1930s: Individual ascension pipes from coal-gas retorts now being replaced by single, collective standpipe; Working conditions improved. |
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