Exhibit 4.19a

                  WHEREAS, on August 28, 1986, the Board delegated to any
         two of the Chairman of the Board, President, Executive Vice
         President or Senior Vice President of Laclede Gas Company, the
         standing authority to make certain amendments to employee benefit
         plans (as defined by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
         1974 ("ERISA")) and related trust agreements (the "Plans") to the
         extent such amendments deal with changes necessary or appropriate:
         (1) to comply with, or obtain the benefit of, applicable laws
         and/or regulations, as amended from time to time; (2) to reflect
         minor or routine administrative matters; (3) to clarify the meaning
         of any provisions of the Plans; and/or (4) to evidence changes in
         then existing Plans to reflect the interrelationship thereof with
         newly adopted Plans or amendments to Plans, which newly adopted
         Plans or amendments affect the terms of such other then existing
         Plans (the "Delegated Authority"); and

                  WHEREAS, the Board desires to name additional officers to
         execute such Delegated Authority.

                  RESOLVED, that any two of the Chairman of the Board,
         President, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Chief
         Financial Officer, Treasurer or Corporate Secretary of the Company
         or Laclede Gas Company shall be authorized to execute Plan
         amendments pursuant to the Delegated Authority.