EXHIBIT 23.9

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

          We hereby consent to the use in the Registration Statement on Form S-1
of our reports dated July 30, 1993, relating to the financial statements and
financial statement schedules of EMPIRE GAS CORPORATION (FORMERLY EMPIRE GAS
ACQUISITION CORPORATION) and our report dated May 27, 1994, relating to the
financial statements of PSNC PROPANE CORPORATION, all of which appear in such
Registration Statement.  We also consent to the reference to us under the
hearing "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

                                   BAIRD, KURTZ & DOBSON


Springfield, Missouri
June 16, 1994