The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-21
STILL TALKING ABOUT GAS
The Common Council Continues to Dis
cuss the Cheap Fuel Question.
1t Finally Approves High Pressure System
Of Piping Submitted by the Indianapolis
Legislation Affecting Various Interests.



Constituents of Counc,Imen Crowd the Lobby
Hear Natural-Gss Talk
There a movement in natural-gas inter-
ests late yesterday afternoon that revived ex-
pectation as to a continuation of the struggle in
the Council between the several companies that
have for so many months been contending on
the various phases of this agitation. Shortly
after the formal action relating thereto was
completed a few persons heard of the accept
ance Of the natural gas ordinance by tbs Indi-
annapolis company Whether this alone brought
the crowd again into the lobby of the Council
last night is not certain but the people were
there and that, too, in as great force ever, to
watch the developments that promised final
settlement of tbe cheap.fuel question far
as municipal legislation ia concerned. All the
patural-gas companies represented
by some of their officers. directors and
stockholders. The general crowd blocked the
doors aud cut off every entrance for late com.
ers, while out in the hall were scattered groups
of citizens There was a half hour of patient
waiting through discussion that arose on priv
ileges granted another corporation before the
one absorbing question came up report of
the city clerk to the effect that the Indianapolis
companys acceptance of the natural-gas ordi-
Dance had been filed in his Office. Councilman
Cummings called for the reading of the accept
ance, which done. showing that the COM
pany took the ordinance as IL is. with all its pro-
visions, restrictions, requirements and regula-
tons.
In connection with this the city engineer re-
ported that the Indianapolis company had filed
with him a general plan of the hgh-pressure
system il proposed to create, and that he had
approved it az TO mains, pressure asked to be
carried and the kinds of eScaDeS intended to
take off the leaking gas. Hs reserved the right
To regulate the location of reducers. Accompany
ing this report was map Of the city, with the
streets to be occupied marked thereon. At
tached to the map was communication from
the company. stating that its pipes and mains
to be laid in the center of streets and alleys
SO far as practicable, while the low-pressure
mains will be placed in the alleys when practi-
cable. The highest pressure on the gh-pressure
pipes is to be twenty pounds, and the
highest the low-pressure eight ounces.
Both systems are to be properly equipped so as
to provide for the removal of escaping gas. The
high pressure mains will begin at the reducing
station, corner Of Twelfth and Meridian streets,
extending south to Seventh, thence west to
Mississippi. south to Georgia, east to Della
ware. north 10 Maryland, east to Alabama, north
to Seventh, west to Talbot, north to
Twelfth, and then west to the reducing station.
From this system will radiate in all directions
the low pressure pipes, both IN and without the
limits described.
During the reading of the paper several coun-
cilmen were preparing to try obstructive tactics,
ton to the natural-gas committee Before the
clerk had reached the end of the last document.
Councilman Mackey moved to refer the matter
TO the committee named, with instructions to
print the communication from the company SO
the councilmen could understand It.
Councilman Darnell considered that wholly
unnecessary 1t involved delay, and the
company was ready to go to work, he proposed
to treat it decently. The Broad Ripple
pany's plan had been approved without being
referred to a ommittee and the Indianapolis
company entitled to the same considera-
tion. He was met by an inquiry from Council
man Stuckmeyer, who wanted to know If the
company had filed it's bond.
Councilman Pearson said it was not necessary
TO file bond until the company began it's work.
The ordinance says that the engineer shall be
the first to examine the plans of the companys
eystem. He has done that in this case and rec
ommendsd it for approval by the Council He
certainly had given more time to 1t than any
councilman would, aud the company should
now be allowed TO go to work
II was Councilman Hicklins opinion that no
good reason could be urged in favor of post
poning the matter when it came up in this
form 1t would go out TO the people that the
Council was trying to hamper the company.
Councilman Marley, cisclamine that such
was his purpose. withdrew his motion, which
Councilman Cummings renewed 10 another
form. He moved to refer it TO the natural.gas
committee with instructions to report before
the Council adjourned. This prevailed.
At the outset of the discussion Councilman
Cummings wanted to take mp the majority report
OF the naturaigas committee recommending
that changes should be made in the ordi-
nance, but the Council preferred to consider the
other phase of the subject. When it was dis
posed of he moved that the majority report be
adopted, and Councilman Trusler opposed IL. He
said he not big q coward as the
comp>nies who requested the amendments. He
1oS|ed upon them having been submitted lii
good faith Amendments must be made to the
ordinance, or the South Side will have but little
benefit from natural gas. The ordinance, it
stands, is for the companies, not the people, and
since the companies requested the amendments,
he thought they ought to have stood up and
faced the music.
Councilman Tha'man thought the motion to
adopt the majority report a little prema-
ture as the withdrawal of the Indianapolis
company's requests left nothing TO be done but
TO strike the amending ordinance from the files.
He believed it right. however, to make the
amendments, ana they would no doubt be made
In time; therefore. he did not think the Council
should now put itself on record as being opposed
TO such probable action.
Councilman Swain was convinced that the
dinance would be in time open to amendments,
and said explaining his position the natural
gas question had brought him into conflict with
the Consumers Trust, company largely sup
ported by his constituents. The objections to
his position arose from mis- favoring competition,
which he thought would be the life of all the
companies. Tho majority report was then
adopted. there being but three votes against
those of Pearson Thalman and Trusler
Following this came the report from the nat
ural-gas committee recon oding concurrence
In the city engineers recomme ndations as to the
approval or the Indianapolis company's high
pressure system. 1t was adopted without a dis
senting vote, after which the crowd diminished,
while the Council continued its regular calen.
dar Later in the evening Councilman Hicklin
introduced an ordinance requiring natural gas
TO be sold at cents per ], 600 feet TO consumers
who use not less than certain amount daily
1t was referred to the appropriate committee.
OTHER MATTERS