The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-10
A FEW WORDS ON GAS.

Few WORDS UN GAS.
The Indianapolis News, in an article full
of disgraceful epithet and impairment lies,
seeks to bring the Journal into disrepute
because of local report printed in its col
umns respecting proposed changes in the
existing natural gas ordinance. The Journal
has quietly rested under the repeated out
rageous insinuations of the News, and of a
few sap-headed fools who have been its
echoes, because we believe the vast majority
of the people to be intelligent and honorable,
and they know that in no thought word,
has the Journal ever desired anything else
than the best interests and prosperity of the
city, however much they have differed with
it. We have remained quiet, replying to
none of the barks of the ours who have been
at our heels, because we are satisfied that the
time will come when the position of the
Journal will be abundantly vindicated, and that
time is not SO very far off. The Journal has
never been the advocate of any company or
person, or organization, but it has persistently
advocated the bringing of natural gas into
the city under the best terms and the strictest
guarantees We have heartily commended
and do commend the Trust for the great work
it has done, and because it has made cheap
gas certainty. But it is folly for the Trust
to think of supplying all the gas that Indian
apolis will need. It cannot do it on the pres
emit basis. There is ample room and patronage
for all the companies and all the money that
can be attracted here, and the Journal is
not in favor of keeping gas out of the city
until September next, or any other time,
of opinion. The Journal never advocated the
rates asked by either the Standard or the In
dianapolis company, but some of the present
shriekers were the loudest in doing so. The
Journal never advocated monopoly of any
kind, either as to price, time or supply. and
it does not now and never will.
We know nothing of the purposes of the
Indianapolis company; but the Journal is not
in favor of the use of any pipe, new or old,
that will not stand the necessary tests, and
the ordinance should not be amended in any
way that will in the least imperil the safety
and security of the city and its citizens. But
the Journal is not bastard enough to gloat
over the explosion of a pipe under test, and to
make that incident ground upon which to
foster unjust prejudice against an enterprise
which means hundreds of thousands Of dollars
to the invested capital of the city, and has given
employment to workingmen who needed it.
A. u g H. H. Il
does not care sou marque about them, save
as they may be essential to the prompt and
proper introduction of natural gas. This we
do know, however: that the treasurer of the
Trust has said he would not go on the
bond required by the ordinance, and would
not advise any other man to do SO; and we
also X, that between the terms of the
ordinance and the terms of the Trust con-
the consumer for any damage from explosions.
We also believe that this is not the popular
idea, but it is a fact nevertheless. However,
let the ordinance stand as it is till doomsday,
so far as we are concerned. The Journal has no
interest, direct or indirect, different from that
of any other citizen of Indianapolis. No one
connected with the Journal has the slightest
interest, direct or indirect, in the Indianapolis
Natural-gas Company, and We are growing
tired of the dishonorable and contemplate
filings and characterizations of the News,
which has been treated with the utmost
courtesy and has repaid it with constant insin-
uations against the integrity of men quite as
good as those who are its owners and directors.