He worked on plans with Sippens looking to the actual introduction of gas-plants.

There were bond issues now to float, stock to be marketed, contracts for supplies to be awarded, actual reservoirs and tanks to be built, and pipes to be laid.

A pumped-up public opposition had to be smoothed over.

In all this De Soto Sippens proved a trump.

With Van Sickle, McKibben, and Stimson as his advisers in different sections of the city he would present tabloid propositions to Cowperwood, to which the latter had merely to bow his head in assent or say no.