The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-19
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FREE GAS AND LAND.

We take no stock in the idea that the future
prosperity of indianapolis depends on furnish
ing free natural gas and free land, one or both,
to manufactures. No doubt it would be
good thing to do, il possible, as It would to
offer free fuel, free houses and free bread and
meat to all corners, but it is not essential to
the prosperity of the city or to enable it to
take and keen good place in the race. It
has had good place in the past, and willhave
better one in the future. We attach far too
great weight to the city's other advantages to
be willing to admit that its future prosperity
IS dependent on the one condition named
That condition assured would doubtless add
to the prosperity of the city, but there will be
large measure of prosperity without it. Be
fore the discovery OF natural gas Indianapolis
stood on an equality with other Indiana
towns in respect Of fuel, yet it surpassed
them all in growth, and its mar ufacturing in
dustries were never as strong OF prosperous as
they were when natural gas was discovered.
Its former growth was largely due to its Gen.
trail location, its railroad facilities and it's
All these advantages it still possesses, and in
addition natural gas at q much lower rate
than any other city in the United
States at all approaching it in size
or commercial Importance. The pres
emit price of gas for manufacturing pur-
poses is exceedingly low. Even now it can
be had for considerably less than half the
cost of coal at 81 per ton, and the indications
are it will be furnished still lower. A manu-
facturer who wants fuel cheaper than this
Awould probably not be satisfied If he had it
for nothing. Some people want the EARTH A
manufacturer who places indianapolis on an
equality with any other natursl-gas town in
the State in respect of commercial and social
advantages, expecting this city to give free
gas and free land because some small town
offers to do SO, does not appreciate the situa-
ton. He might well go to Chicago and
ask the Council to remit his taxes for twenty
years, or offer to locate in Cincinnati if they
would raise guarantee fund.- With natural
gas at present rates and land at fair price,
Indianapolis offers greater inducements for
manufacturing than any other town in the
State that offers gas and land for nothing.
OF course, these towns will secure some
manufactures by that means, and we hope
they will secure d large number; the
more the better. But after they have
got all that can be obtained by
such inducements there will still
be large number of other manufactures
that will give the preference to this city, and
they will come here this year, next year and
future years. Does it follow, then, that we
should sit down. fold our hands and wait for
the fruit to fall into our lapf By no means.
There never was time in the history of the
city when there was more need of energy,
enterprise, public spirit and activity to adver-
tise the advantages of the city and to attract
foreign capital and enterprise. The advan-
tages are here all they need Is advertising.
Let us not depreciate them by holding out
the idea that the prosperity of the city de-
ponds on offering free gas and free land TO
manufactures.