EXHIBIT 25
________________________________________________________________________________
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D. C.  20549
                           _________________________
                                   FORM  T-1

                           STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                   UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
                  A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
                  ___________________________________________
              CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
               A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________
                   ________________________________________
                           THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
NEW YORK                                                              13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                         (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                                      identification No.)

270 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                                         10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)
                              William H. McDavid
                                General Counsel
                                270 Park Avenue
                           New York, New York 10017
                             Tel:  (212) 270-2611
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                 _____________________________________________
                         NIPSCO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
INDIANA                                                               35-1762940
(State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification No.)

5265 HOHMAN AVENUE
HAMMOND, INDIANA                                                           46320
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                            NIPSCO INDUSTRIES, INC.
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
INDIANA                                                               35-1762940
(State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification No.)

5265 HOHMAN AVENUE
HAMMOND, INDIANA                                                           46320
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)
                                  ___________
                                DEBT SECURITIES
                      (Title of the indenture securities)

 
                                    GENERAL

Item 1. General Information.

     Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

     (a)  Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which
          it is subject.

          New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York
          12110.

          Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 
          20551

          Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, 
          New York, N.Y.

          Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.

     (b)  Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

          Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor.

     If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such 
affiliation.

     None.

Item 16. List of Exhibits

     List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

     1.  A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in effect,
including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment dated
February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982,
February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1
filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

     2.  A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in
connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

     3.  None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained
in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

     4.  A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form 
T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

     5.  Not applicable.

 
     6.  The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see
Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

     7.  A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published
pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

     8.  Not applicable.

     9.  Not applicable.


                                   SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 30th day of October, 1997.

                                       THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK



                                       By  /s/ R. Lorenzen
                                           ----------------------------------
                                           R. Lorenzen
                                           Senior Trust Officer

 
                                       -

                             Exhibit 7 to Form T-1


                               Bank Call Notice

                            RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
                      CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

                           The Chase Manhattan Bank
                 of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
                    and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
                    a member of the Federal Reserve System,

                  at the close of business June 30, 1997, in
        accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
         District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve A

 
 
                                                                DOLLAR
                                                                AMOUNTS
                      ASSETS                                  IN MILLIONS
                                                              -----------
                                                              
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and
  currency and coin..................................           $ 13,892
  Interest-bearing balances..........................              4,282
Securities:
Held to maturity securities..........................              2,857
Available for sale securities........................             34,091
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under
agreements to resell.................................             29,970
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned income.............           $124,827
Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses............              2,753
Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve................                 13
                                                                --------
Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
  allowance, and reserve.............................            122,061
Trading Assets.......................................             56,042
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
  leases)............................................              2,904
Other real estate owned..............................                306
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
  associated companies...............................                232
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances
  outstanding........................................              2,092
Intangible assets....................................              1,532
Other assets.........................................             10,448
                                                                --------
TOTAL ASSETS.........................................           $280,709
                                                                ========


                                     - 4 -

 


                       LIABILITIES
                                                           
Deposits
  In domestic offices......................................  $ 91,249
  Noninterest-bearing......................................  $ 38,157
  Interest-bearing.........................................    53,092
                                                             --------
 
  In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,
  and IBF's................................................    70,192
Noninterest-bearing........................................  $  3,712
  Interest-bearing.........................................    66,480
 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agree-
ments to repurchase........................................    35,185
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury...................     1,000
Trading liabilities........................................    42,307
 
Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness
  and obligations under capitalized leases):
  With a remaining maturity of one year or less............     4,593
With a remaining maturity of more than one year
  through three years......................................       260
      With a remaining maturity of more than three years...       146
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding...     2,092
Subordinated notes and debentures..........................     5,715
Other liabilities..........................................    11,373
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES..........................................   264,112
                                                             --------

                     EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus..............         0
Common stock...............................................     1,211
Surplus  (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)..    10,283
Undivided profits and capital reserves.....................     5,280
Net unrealized holding gains (losses)
on available-for-sale securities...........................      (193)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments........        16
 
TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL.......................................    16,597
                                                             --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY CAPITAL.......................  $280,709
                                                             ========


 
I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby
declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the
instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true
to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                                       JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of
Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

                                       WALTER V. SHIPLEY        )
                                       THOMAS G. LABRECQUE      )   DIRECTORS
                                       WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR. )


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