Exhibit-10.19



                                            September 1, 1999




Mr. Ronald L. Krutzman
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
Laclede Gas Company
720 Olive Street
St. Louis, Missouri  63101

Dear Mr. Krutzman:

UMB Bank of St. Louis, n.a. (the "Bank") is pleased to provide a
$10,000,000.00 line of credit maturing January 31, 2000 to Laclede Gas
Company ("Laclede") for general corporate purposes and for commercial paper
backup.  The Bank will consider requests for advances under the line of
credit until January 31, 2000.  Our officers may, at their discretion, make
short-term loans to Laclede under the following terms.

All borrowings will be priced at Laclede's option at (i) Bank's prime rate,
(ii) at Libor for a similar principal amount and maturity adjusted +1/4%, or
(iii) CD's adjusted +1/2% for available maturities up to 90 days.  Notes
issued under this line shall not exceed 90 days.  If a whole note is
outstanding with a maturity after January 31, 2000, the note shall be
renewed in whole or in part provided no note shall mature later than May 1,
2000.

Interest shall be payable at maturity or on date of repayment.  Interest
shall be computed on the basis of actual 365/366 days for prime borrowings
and on actual 360 day basis for LIBOR or CD loans.  Notes issued may be
prepaid at any time without penalty.

It is understood that any loans obtained by any subsidiary of Laclede Gas
Company, whether or not they are guaranteed by Laclede Gas Company, are
excluded from this agreement and shall not be charged against the line of
credit described above.


















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We ask that you supply us with current financial and other information,
which current information will be furnished to the Bank as it may from time
to time reasonably request.  The Bank may terminate this agreement at any
time if Bank determines in good faith that we are not satisfied with your
conditions, operations or performance, financial or otherwise.  This letter,
a/k/a the Line of Credit Agreement, constitutes the entire understanding
between the Bank and Laclede regarding the line of credit.


UMB Bank of St. Louis, n.a.

By:  /s/ Ken E. Kotiza

Name:  Ken E. Kotiza

Title:  Regional President


Accepted this 10th day of September, 1999

Laclede Gas Company

By:  /s/ Ronald L. Krutzman

Name: Ronald L. Krutzman

Title:  Treasurer & Asst. Secretary



























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