The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-19
SHALL CHANGES BE MADE?
The Trust Strongly Urges that the Gas
Ordinance Shall Stand As 1t Is,
But the Indianapolis Company Insists that
Some Changes Are Necessary Before Gas
Can Be Supplied to Citizens.

received most general attention yesterday was
the answer of Mr.. Fletcher, together with that
OF Mr. Wles, to misleading statements. by the
Evening News about the pet tions of the Indi-
annapolis and Capital City companies suggesting
changes in in the present gas ordi-
nance. The emphatic declaration of the
two gentlemen that there was
no foundation for the assertion of the News that
there was collision between the two companies.
and that the publication was malicious in pur-
pose. was made the subject for extended editorial
comment by the paper. in which it endeavored
to justify its statements Of the previous even
ing In answer to the assertions Of
the News last evening, Mr.. George f.
Branham, president of the Indian
apolis company, said to Journal reporter,
THE most casual reading of that paper
will disclose to any air-minGed person that its
real object is to absolutely prohibit and prevent
our and other companies from entering the city
and furnishing gas to it's citizens at ordinance
rates While valid or good reason is given
why the amendments desired by the company
should not be made. we are met by
the bald proposition that if this company
does come into the city it will secure an
advantage by being able to furnish gas before
the Trust company is ready and able to do so.
This company has invested large amount OF
capital. and its pipeline, with large supply of
gas, is at the corporate limits. 1t is ready and
willing to supply the gas at the ordinance rates.
The question now is, do the people desire them
to do 500"
what effect would these amendments have7"
he was asked.
''They cannot in the nature of things" he
replied. ''affect either the people or the
Consumers company That company
will not be obliged to follow or conform
to them if it prefers to furnish meters
without cost to consumers and for any length
OF time they desire 1t can do so. and it will no
doubt be an inducement for consumers to pat
ronize it. A reasonable limit as to the number
of miles of mains a company may be compelled
to lay in any one year cannot harm the
sumers company anyone else, for that COM
pany states that it proposes to lay mains and
sup ply the whole city with gas at once and to
portion of its patrons at less than
ordinance rates; that it has the money
and gas to do all that 1T proposes, and now has
5000 valid contracts with consumers. If its
statements are true. what has the company to
fear from competition. Or these changes in the
ordinance2 What other motive can prompt such
strenuous efforts in seeking to prevent the
adoption of these amendments than that OF per-
SOUal pESJuulC6 against bulS company. ana d U6-
sire, if possible, to injure and destroy its prop
erty."
Repeated references made to your of
old pipe What about that statement.
1T is said it is proposed by this change to sub
stitute for standard quality and improved pat
tern old pipe. with the responsibility to be ur
loaded on the city on the ground of a preni-
nary test. leaving it to take the risk This is
absolutely untrue, and must have been known
to have been untrue when it was written, for it
has been repeatedly stated that this company
v1f~ &Ia% bod
to five times the pressure that
would ever be placed upon it. There can be no
unloading of risk upon the city, as the comra2v
proposes to give bond of $50 COO to covor all
risks. and the company IS primarily liable aside
from any obligation on the bond, all of which is
well known. Will the News openly state that
the pipe proposed to be used by this company is
rotten and unsafe? Or will it say that this
company proposes to endanger the lives
property of the citizens of this city by
using pipe or any appliances that unsafe
dangerous, and that have not been pronounced
practical and safe Tor the use of natural CAST If
not, why repeatedly insinuate such to be the
casel But it is said that by the use or this pipe
the company will make fftsen-mile jump
ahead of any other. This is the milk in the
cocoanut. and what the News fears more
than any danger that might result from the
use of the pipe The predictions of the News,
80 it says were based upon the nature of the
critter.' lin this connection and in conclusion, [
desire to say that if the opinion of that paper in
regard to this company and its stockholders is
voiced by the public statements of it's associate
editor-and We submit it is fair to assume such
to be the case since he has stated that all
the stockholders of the indianapolis company
scoundrels, and that of them
is the biggest scoundrel in the city. with one
ception, who, he said, could be found in another
company-we cannot expect anything better
than Misrepresentation and abuse in the columns
of that paper. and anything like fair argument
ton. quite willing to leave the final de-
cision of this matter in the hands of the public
Communications from the Trust Company.
By order of the directors of the Trust COM
pany, President Lamb yesterday issued the fol-
lowing address to the public. protesting against
any changes being made in the present gas
ordinance:
To the People of Indianapolis:
We call your attention to the fact that an
other effort is being made to change the exist
ing ordinance in relation to natural gas. We
have already filed with the committee on nat
urai gas to be used by them and presented to
the City Council, protest, setting forth the
reasons why the provisions of the ordinance
should remain unchanged. The Consumers
Gas Trust Company, which represent,
you know, is engaged in work for the benefit
of all our people. The success of the enterprise
will not result in profit to the stockholders be-
yond a fair return for the use of their money
until it is repaid to them. but will rebound to
the comfort. happiness and profit of every man,
woman and child In the city. We have been in
jects Of the enterprise, as they are declared in
the articles of association. with which the pub
lie are familiar, and we intend, in good faith to
see that those objects realized for the bene-
fit of all. In our operations thus far have
been guided solely by business principles, and
have been as cautious in administering the
affairs committed to our hands as if they
cerned our own personal fortunes. We
have expended money in fruitless
efforts TO obtain a supply of gas where it
was evident that the SIMPLY would be
inadequate for the purpose. There has been no
money expended in inducing competitors to
leave the field. We have procured our territory
and are proceeding with the work of developing
it, and have already succeeded beyond our most
sanguine expectations. The fact is demonstrated
that we have within reach already supply
sufficient to meet the demands of the entire
population of the city. We have pledged our
selves from the start that shis gas should be
to consumers at Jrices not to exceed
the ordinance rates We have taken thousands
of contracts in the expectation that the ordi-
nance rate would be reduced and all persons
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