The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-01


ply Of gas will warrant Again. the present
ordinance was passed at time when it was sup
posed that but one company would supply gas to
the city, and without competition and a more
stringent ordinance was deemed necessary: but
that is not the condition today as there are
-FOUR companies desiring to supply gas in the
CITY, and 10 compel the laying of twenty-five
miles of mains in single year is a discrimina-
ton against small companies. This provision
OF the ordinance presnpposes unlimited
amount of capital well as an unlimited sup
ply OF gas
Amend section IL by adding TO paragraph the
following Provided such shall the time of
for period of at least one year otherwise such
consumer shall pay for such meter at the time of
such corporation, company firm or individual afore-
said shall also have the right to require
10 use meter at any time without expense however,
TO such consumer.
The cost of the cheapest meter is about s25.
ano, when once used and taken out, soon be-
comes out of repair. and. to give the consumer
the sole right to demand a meter without ex-
pense to him, and, too, without any agreement
as 20 how long such. consumer shall be required
TO use the same, Is subiecting a company not
only TO unnecessary expense, but to the annoy
ance of dissatisfied consumers. who might OF
hesitate TO demand n meter for more than
month. If a meter is demanded it should be
furnished for definite time, and, If a company
has reason to believe that any consumer is using
an unnecessary amount of gas under his con-
tract or committing waste in consumption. then
such company should have the equal right to re-
quire such consumer TO use meter.
3. Amend section 13 by striking out all after the
word for" in line four, follows: 'And any such
corporation, company, firm or individual shall
extend ;ts, his their mains, according
the most approved plans along any street. alley
its, his their mains already laid within sixty
days after being ordered by resolution of the Com
shall be pettioned for By owners occupants
of real estate along the line proposed to be extended
and that 10 per of such petitioners shall
agree to become consumers of gas and that in the
opinion of the Common Council and Board of Alder
o7nh cad "a
ought to be made and shall continue such work and
push the same to completion speedily possible;
and failing to comply with any such order shall be
fined, as hereinafter provided and each days failure
to comply with any such order shall sttute sep
arate otfense."
This section is so manifestly unjust that no
business man can object to its amendment 1t
is no answer to say that the question of grant
ing the petition is within the discretion of the
Council and Board of Aldermen, when they will
severaliy be urged by their respective constitu-
ents to act favoraby on such petition, and they
are but human Again, of capital, by this
section. are deferred from investing their money
in an enterprise over which they have little
control; and when irresponsible persons, posi-
blv at the Instance of rival companies might De-
tition the Council and Board of Aldermen to ex-
tend its pipe line at enormous expense, with
out hope of profit for its outlay. By such means
ply. gas to the full extent of it's
ability might be bankrupted and it's supply
of gas dissipatsd to be of no value
to any consumer. This section does not even
specify how many persons along any street.
ETC., may petition for such an extension. but
simply says. by owners or occupants of real
SO that il there were 100 owners or occupants
along such proposed line, and any two of them
should petition, and 10 per cent. of such petit
TONERS should agree to take gas, the petition
under the section would be complete. 1t would
be an easy matter to get sieners to such petit
ton, however. as it costs them nothing, and be-
know that an extension of such pipeline would
enhance the value of their property, and this
fact real estate owners and those specializing in
eatestate would not be slow to take advant-
age Of The principle is wrong and is menace
to capital 1t should be borne in mind, too. that
natural gas cannot he furnished like artificial
the production even of we'll by cubic feet.
! It's pressure only be ascertained, and that is
liable to diminish, as demonstrated in the gas
helds or pennsylvania, so that every company
gas will be compelled to be governed,
not by its actual supply, but by it's possible
ply, as determined oy the pressure of its wells
in the extension of its mains. Without this |
right no company can retain control of its bust
ness, and without the privilege of controlling its |
own business, as Decessitated by its supply of |
gas, monied men Will not invest their money, |
unless they do so in ignorance of the situation |
or in disregard of safe business principles
When this company accepted the ordinance it |
was deemed necessary to do so in order pre- |
vent the grant of exclusive privileges to another
company. At that time we felt that the changes |
now asked for should and would be made if the |
attempt then being made for exclusive privileges |
was defeated. In that belief stipulated in |
our acceptance that we would claim the bone
fits of any amendments that might be made to |
the ordinance In the future. In harmony with |
that stipulation, and entertaining the same
views which we held at that as to the wis |
1om and justice OF these amendments,
ask that they be made, confident
that they are in strict consonapce with COM
mon fairness, justice and sound business prn-
:iples, and not in the least detrimental to the
rights of the citizens any other company de-
string to supply gas in the city Respectfully
d. II. WILEs, President
Mr. Peele gave reasons at length why the
Capital City company desired these changes.
Taking up the section of the old ordinance rela-
ing to the laying of mains petition, he said
hat the section read that mains should be laid
IN the petition Of owners and occupants of any
treet" Even the article the omitted from
he words owners and occupants. and the Sec
ion therefore did not mean that all the owners
r occupants of any street should be required to
'etition the Council Under the section two
nen could petition the Council for the extension
+ main, and if one of them agreed use gas
he petition could be granted. The section took
he business out of the hands of the company
md put IL into the hands Of the citizens.
Under the ordinance as 1T stands" he contin-
led, I'VE cannot induce men to take stock
n our company. Men with capital to invest are |
fraid to risk it under the provision of which is
ere complained. The result of the'secton, lift
vas allowed to stand, would be drive small COM
anies to the wall, and there would be COM
edition after ALL" the only opposition to
mending the ordinance, he said came from |
ompanies that desired to keep other companies
ut until they were ready to come in.
Allen NJ. Fletcher, speaking for the Indian |
polls company, said the amendments asked for |
Tere vital to the management and existence of
natural gas company 1t was fair to assume
nat the people desired nothing except what Was |
ght but of the thirty-eight cities in the couu-
" using natural gas not one required the COM
anies to furnish meters, and in Buffalo, only, |
ere meters used. Speaking of the section re- |
ring to the laying of mains, he said Suppose
company laid a certain number of miles of |
pc, aud afterwards exhausted its supply of |
rs, and that the Council should then require it
lay three or four miles of pipe, at a cost of |
i 900 per mile2 The result would be ruinous
any company, no matter how much money it |
Id" While mr Fletcher was closing his re-
arks the directors of the Trust company, headed
!, the president. Judge Lamb filed into the
'om, and took seats in the part. After {
r. Fletcher had concluded. Councilman Thai
an asked for more expressions, and turning to