The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-08
WHY IT is NOT AMENDED
Opinions as to Changing Some Features
in the Natural-Gas Ordinance.
No Company Wants to Take the Responsible
ity of Asking for Amendments, but the
Council Is Willing to Pass Them.

For time talk about amending the natural
gas ordinance has been avoided, but current
references to it are beginning to lead attention
In that direction again. 1t is assumed that
propositions to that effect will be more favora-
bly, considered by the present Council than they
were by the old, for. gentleman expressed
1t yesterday. the opinion of the people who q
short while since sternly opposed to any
change taking another form, now that there
is certainty of the city having an abundant
supply Of gas within the next two
weeks, if it wants it immediately" But
neither one of the companies is disposed to
ask for amendments, although il anyone
of them would take the lead 1t is supposed that
the others would follow. Mr.. Claypool, of the
Consumers Trust, was asked why his company
did not unite with the others in having amend
ments drafted, if any were necessary. He
piled, '.f the companies desiring q change in the
ordinance will put their views paper I will
submit them to our directors. We can't say
that we want any amendments" The Capital
City company, that accepted the ordinance,
has held rather neutral position. but
some OF it's members. it is understood,
now favor having the changes made as
soon as possible. Councilman Swain says there
are fourteen members of the Council who, he
ground that gas is at the city limits in sufi-
cient quantities there is no sense in keeping it
out. if the amendments in the ordinance not
to be of radical character. It is his opinion
that very little difficulty would be encountered
in the Board of Aldermen, and that work in
laying mains in the city could begin in the next
two weeks There is being used argument,
though, that the winter is half over there
will be no harm done it the city has to wait
until next fall foreits gas, and that necessity
exists for any immediate amendments.
But while the larger corporations are still in
creasing probabilities. the Broad Ripple compa-
ny is quietly advancing its interests by getting
ready to lay pipe in the territory it has selected
for it's first custom. Yesterday it began to pipe
down Illinois street to Seventh whence it is pro-
posed to go west to Hall Place. and thence south
down alley. to Walnut street, and thence
west again TO Mississippi, and from that point
south to New York. Twelve miles Of pipe is at
the mpany's disposal, and this, it is thought,
will be sufficient for all the consumers Il can Oh
tain in the western and northwestern part of the
city for the next four months The company
has promised to make connection in the next
two weeks with the Encaustic tile-works,
with which concern il has q contract
1t will also carry it's line to Maus's brewery and
other factories thereabouts 1t now has eleven
wells. two of which came in last night or this
morning. The Culoertson we'll which was COM
pleted Friday is said to be the best of the COM
panys group. Superintendent Packer says
there is enough gas in these wells to supply
Whatever upon
ter. He was told on coming here that the Broad
Ripple enterprise did n OF amount to anything as
it could never bring gas in paying quantities to
the city. His experience since taking charge Of
the work has proved the untruthfuness of these
stat ements AS the company's affairs are devel-
oping capital 10 being attracted to them and it is
said SIS. 900 investment is to be made this week
in giving the enterprise a still stronger financial
backing.
The Indianapolis company is having some
difficulty in crossing the State ditch, which is
full of water, but by Tuesday evening the entire
work will be practically completed in making
connection with the reducing station. Wednes-
day evening" probably, the promised display will
occur from dozen fourteen stand pipes
supplied with gas from sixteen wells. A high
pressure test of the whole line is to be made to-
day. Yesterday the company added to its wells
with the larger ones of the group
The trust is taking in the money on its sec
ond assessment, and some from subscribers who
were backward in paying the first assessment.
Mr.. Claypool saws the payments are satisfactory
and that while he thought the shrinkage the
first assessment would be SIS. 900, it, appears now
that the full amount may be paid in.
Col Lilly describes the George Haverstick
well, which the company completed yesterday,
making five in all, about thres-fourths the
size of the WaddelL The drill in the Granger
we'll reached Trenton rock last night, and
stopped until to morrow. The Coverdale will bs
in Tuesday and Coverdale No on Wednesday
or Thursday. The Whtsell well is due next
SATURDAY..