The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-31
THE DELAY IN GETTING GAS
A Few Instances of What Loss 1t Has
Already Caused the City.
Uncertainty as to What the Council Is Likely
to Do-Mr. Westcott Sees Nothing 0bjec-
tionable in the Present Ordinance.

Within the past week or ten days the effects
of natural gas being held at the city limits and
not allowed to enter, while the discussion goes
on over a request for reasonable amendment
of the ordinance, has been manifested in driving
three large concerns from Indianapolis. A gen.
item an representing extensive bolt factory
located in New York State, came here to get
what information ne could as to the time when
cheap fuel would be obtainable. He said
that his company was paying So per
ton for coal. and when informed
that under the ordinances rates for natural gas
he could have fuel basis OF 81 per ton. his
reply was, II know that. 1t is what want.
The prices reasonable and were the gas in
the city it would not take us long to begin Great
ing plant here. but the question we would like
to have answered is when get the gasa"
Nobody could inform him and he left with
opinion not altogether favorable to Indianapolis
enterprise. This company is searching for
cheap fuel and it is altogether likely it will get
it elsewhere in Indiana.
There is a large stavefactory here. the own
ers of which are becoming restless in regard to
the delay in getting gas. They do not propose
to take out of the city their present plant but
they have decided to extend their operations
factory. however, is to be located at Noblesville
because the firm wants to begin work at once
and does not care to take any chances on uncer-
.ainties as to cheap fuel. Gas at the city
limits, the members of the firm say.
does them good But there
is still more striking instance of loss. The
fuel expenses for the nail-wor at Greencastle
are enormous compared to what they would be
under prices for natural gas. The company de-
cided some time ago to remove from that locali-
ty, and place it's plant in the cheap fuel region
Several towns were considered, along with In
dianspolis and had gas been flowing in city
mains the nail factory here would have been
nearly completed by this time. The company
waited as long as it could, said its president, the
other day, for Indianapolis offer induce
m I in the way of cheap fuel Even
to learn when gas would be at the command of
manufacturers here. at lie not question As to
price, he SAID. "out when can the gas be sup
piled to the works?' He. too had to leave the
city with the unsatisfactory assurance that
Indianapolis would have gas. but whether
week, a month or six months hence nobody
the company has about decided to go to Green
field. 1t has opened negotiations for the three
wells of the Martindale syndicate in that place,
and an offer has also been made for the one well
there owned by the Indianapolis company. The
purchase. it is understood, is about to be per-
fected. The works will add nearly 1000 people
What the Council will do with the proposed
amendment is question nobody is inclined to
answer. Inquiries as to when the committee
having it in charge will meet also fail to receive
any definite response, but there is observable
significant change in public sentiment. People
who were nnqualihedly opposed to any amend
ment of the ordinance before came down to
the city limits have either modified their views
come souarely over to favorlng the amend
ment asked. which they consider reasonable and
Just. They recognize that the city is losing the
advantages the gas offers, and that the longer it
is kept out the greater loss the city will sustain
The affairs of the several companies remain as
they have been since the line of the Indianapolis
company was completed and the control of the
Broad Ripple passed into the hands of Mr..
Westcot: 1t is understood that this gentleman.
Omer Boardman and Frank Maus own the piaut,
the smaller stock holders having DISPOSED of their
interests. The company will perfect it's line.
and preliminary thereto subjected it to an
air pressure test. All weak places are to be
strengthened by the laying Of new pipe where it
is necessary. 1t will make connection with the
tile works to. morrow and RAPIDLY as possible
cover the territory it has selected.
MIR. Westcott has written the following
letter to a friend here, who is an old citizen:
1.-The numerous letters that | have received
from your city, all of the same character. only
confirm my faith in the natural-eas question.
Before going into the company [ examined the
city ordinance very carefully and can see moth
ing In II wnatsver that is unreasonable. /
think that your Council has acted very wisely
in protecting the citizens and especially the
mechanics and poorer classes who live in small
houses and generally occupy one or two rooms
and require small size cooking and heating
stoves. which makes their fuel come very cheap,
while the rates of the wealthy who live in larger
buildings are considerably higher in proportion.
This equalizes the cost and at the same time
L think 1t Will leave a reasonable profit to
those who invest their money in the
natural-gaS business / have not had the
pleasure of meeting your city engineer, but am
pleased to hear of his having all the
safety guards attached to the lines to protect,
and prevent gas escaping through the earth into
cellars etc. l do not believe there Is anything
in the ordinance that find Objectionable, but
IN case there should be something that should
be burdeDsome to the company and unjust, we
have confidence enough in your city authori- |
ties to believe they would freely grant any
amendments that may be found actually neces- |
sary, when the facts have been properly pre-
sented to them. While the weather is cold |
and the ground frozen the work will naturally |
progress slowly. but as soon the frost is out |
out of the ground we desire to put in as much |
pipe possible. We have doubt to the |
quantity or quality of gas that we have. L be- |
lieve there are only four wells turned the |
corporation line. We have six more wells of |
larger capacity and plenty of ter ritory to sink |
others in"
The Trust Company is still receiving bids for |
pipe, the latest offer being that of the Garrett |
Pipe Company. 1t is said that the contract will
soon be awarded but definite date is fixed. |
The company now has twelve wells. two of
which came in yesterday They repre-
sentsd as being large and of the average |
strength of wells in the Hamilton county |
region. One of the directors said yesterday |
that SAC, 900 had been paid In the second
sessment The third becomes due tomorrow.
A Memorial to Con gress.
BY request, Rev. B. W. Chidlaw. OF Cloves.