The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-01
The Discussion Bristled with Some
Sharp Remarks by Stanton j. Peelle.
There Are Plenty of Suggestive References to
Selfshness as Opposed to Philanthropic
Endeayor in Bringing Gas to the City.

met in the city clerks Office. last night an,
listened for three hours to arguments for ant
against the proposed amendments to the natural
gas ordinance The officers only of these com
psnies were there, while the directors of tn
Consumers Trust came in a body. The meetin,
was very spicy one, as all the phases of th
gas question were discussed and at times will
some feeling. Mr.. Thalman, the chairman
stated that it was his desire and that of thu
other Councilman to have the question thorough
.ly canvassed, so that the committee could max,
wise report TO the Council
Ross Hawkins, who appeared for the Indian
apolis company, submitted the following thu
amendments his company desired
Amend Section 2, page 45S, commencing
after the words mot exceed one-half of the
schedule rates shall be charged for CRATES and
stoves used for heating in cases whore boilers or
furnaces used for heating" SO that it vii
read as follows, to-wit:
Any consumer mentioned in the foregoing schedule
shave have the right to require to be furnished by
meter measurement, and not by said schedule rate,
but in that event such corporation company firm,
individual shall have the right to charge and receive
therefor any sum not exceeding 10 cents per 1000
cubic feet. Such meters shall be promptly furnished
upon the written application of any consumer, but
such consumer shall first either pay the amount of the
of such meter, enter into agreement with
the party furnishing gas to through such
meter and the for the period of at least
year from the date at which such meter is connected
The consumer may use such gas TOR heating and
Illuminating purposes.
Any corporation, company, firm individ ual
furnishing gas under the provision of this ordinance
shall have the right to discontinue the further supply
of gas to any consumer in case of days default
after the first day of each succeeding month, in the
payment of charges for said gas. But when payment
of such charges shall have made gas shall again
be furnished TO such consumer on his request. For
all manufacturing purposes, and for all other CON
the foregoing schedule for which natural gas
may be utilized such natural gas shall De supplied
and furnished at the option of the consumer:
E1rSt--Elther
steel coal at 81 per ton or
Secondly special agreement and in that event at
the same rate to all whether large small
err and in shall preference be given IN price
one Consumer over another by the corporation com
pauy. firm, individual furnishing natural gas; or,
Thirdly meter measurement not exceeding seven
Gems PER 'eouseu 9u p t 4 snla 20
firm, individual furnishing such gas; but such
meter enter agreement with the party fur
nishing gas to consume gas through such meter and
use the same for the period of at least one year from
the date at which said meter connected. The
consumer may such for heating and illuminat
rng purposes herenbefore provided.
The Common Council and Board of Aldermen here
by expressly the right revise and refx the
rates and prices herein designated at any time after
the expiration of ten years from the date of the
passage of this ordinance. The rates herenbefore
provided for domestic purposes shall be based upon
Of less than four per square inch
at the point of consumption.
Amend Section Is SO that it shall read as fol-
lows:
Section ID. Any corporation, company, firm or in
vidual accepting the provisions of this ordinance
shall be compelled to furnish 10 all applicants for
provdsd for in Section hereof Whenever applied
for And such corporation company, firm indi-
mains according to the most approved plan, along
any street, alley, lane or public ground. contiguous
to where it's his or Their mans are already laid with
resolution of the Common Council and Board
OF Aldermen r. provided the tn same sh a al.
estate along the lines proposed to be extended and
her cOn Of n at IN of
the Common Council and Board of Aldermen such
pmsds and sbaiI continue snch work and hush the
completion rapidly possible, and failing
matter provided, and each days failure comply
with any such order shall constitute separate Of
fense provided that any such corporation company,
firm individual, after having laid the twenty-five
miles of mains in the first provided in this
dinance shall not be required to lay than ten
any year, and shall not be required to lay mains
under the provisions of this section that will require
the furnishing of greater amount OF gas than the
capacity OF its pipe line will supply.
After reading the PROPOSED amendments. Mr..
Hawkins said the change in regard to meters
was asked for because to compel company to
furnish a meter on the petition of any consumer
would be imposing on it an unnecessary burden.
consumer might demand a meter and then
use it but short time. If consumers desired
meters they should either pay for them them
selves or agree to use them at least one year.
Referring to the amendments of Section 13,
he said it was imposing a hardship on
any company to require it to lay mains on any
street the petition OF 10 per cent. if the own
ers or occupants of real estate. He thought
one-half the people on any street should desire
gas before any company should be compelled to
lay mains that street. With regard to the
amendment reducing the number of miles of
mains to be laid after the first ear the ordinance
as it now stands may require company to lay
mains when it did not have the gas to fill thom.
IL would be a greater hardship on the small than
on the larger companies.
Mr. Branham, president of the Indianapolis
company, said the proposed changes were in the
interest of the consumers, and not of the COM
pany Under the meter system persons who |
had CRATES in which they kindled fire
sicnally would not be compelled to pay for gas |
the entire time. The amendment would obviate |
this imposition on the consumer.
In laying mains every company should act on /
the principle any business man would. He
ought to know what Lis income and outlay are
going to be before he makes an investment.
Under the ordinance a company could not tell !
how much of outlay it would be compelled to
make. All his company asked was to be al !
owed to come in OF business principles I'M
Ter the existing ordinance the company might
DO compelled to lay a mile of pipe, which would
would cost them s5,000 and get nothing in re-
urn.
Stanton j. Peelle, representing the CAPITAL
'ty. said his company did not know what
amendments the Indianapolis company would
'sk. and the changes the Capital City desired
we're little different in character. He then
the following:
Hon. Stanton J. PeelIe and Mr. D. H. Wiles |
II the Capital City Company, presented the fol-
owing communication:
Hon. Isaac That man and others, Committee on |
Natural Gas, of the Common Council: $685. |
1entlemen-ln support of the petition pre-
sented to the Common Council and Board of
Aldermen some days ago. by the CAPITAL City
Natural Gas. Oil and Water Company asking
hat some changes be made in the ordinance
pertaining to natural gas, beg leave to point
INT the material changes we think ought 10 be
made: