The possibility of Lycoming County becoming a gas and oil producing territory is of sufficient importance to entice of one of the largest operating companies in the western part of the state to obtain legal sanction for future development here.

This is the explanation on the back of the application by the T.J. Phillips Gaas and Oil Company of Butler, Pa. to the Public Services Commission for the amendment of a charter extending its territory to Lycoming and five other counties, McKean, Potter, Bradford and Clinton.

It was learned in a telephone conversation with the offices the company in Butler, that the purpose of the application is to give the company the ability to acquire and develop property in these six counties. This application does not seek for the company to market natural gas or oil. Such rights will be sought later in the event that gas or oil in commercially important quantities are found. As it is the Butler company contains no immediate prospect of the introduction of natural gas service in this county.

It was learned that the move bears no relationship to the recent bringing in of a highly productive gas well in Tioga County and the sudden interest the oil and gas industry is taking in that county where hundreds of leases have been taken and such drilling is planned.