The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-06
Hereafter Gas Will Be Supplied to Everybody
at S125 Instead of 81 so Per 900 Cubic
feet. the Ruling Price Heretofore.
Propositions to Reduce the Price Even
Lower Are Rejected by the Council.
Against Accidents in the Use of Natural
Gas-0ther Matters Before the Council.

in regard to a renewal of the iluminatlng-gas
agreement with the city, which terminated the
LIST of the month, promised to the spectator
spirited session. aud to the member golden op-
portunity to talk for his constituents AS has
been the case at many meetings during the past
few months. the lobby was crowded by persons
who never come inside of the Council chamber
unless some matter of more than ordinary in
terest is to be considered Last evening the
observers had, in degree, corporation color
ing. there being present Mr.. Steele. OF the Citi-
zens' Street-railway Company, and j. Creighton
Webb and D. Frank Floyd. of New York, who
taking pointers for the Indianapolis
Cable Railway Company. The Indianapolis Gas
light and Coke Company also had its represent
atives. but before the question that brought
them there was reached Councilman Thalman
introduced an ordinance affecting natural gas in
teres.s. It provides that all mains, pipes or
conduits used for natural gas shall be known
and classified as high pressure mains intended
as feeders for the supply of gas for ageneral sys
tenn of mai MS and pipes; as low pressure, mains
intended to carry gas for the supply of domestic
consumption: service pipes, all those leading
from the mains to the property line Of consum-
sumers. and as house connections, all pipes lead
ing from the property line to. in or through
houses or other places of consumption. All
mains and service pipes it is provided, shall
be placed at depth of not
less than four feet below the surface of any
street, avenue, alley, lane public grounds,
and that the mains service pipes shall occupy
such places may he designated by the city
civil engineer. The maximum for high pressure
mains shall be twenty pounds per square
inch, and for low pressure eight ounces; but If
any company finds it impracticable to operate
IS sA~ ala
pressure mentioned. the city engineer. when the
Common Council and Board of Aldermen con-
cur, can allow such additional pressure
such portion of such plant may
be deemed safe; provided such
writing by the party or parties desiring it. High
pressure mains should be subjected to test OF
eighty pounds air pressure per square inch and
and low pressure and service pipes to g test of
ten pounds per square inch. Gauges used to
register the various tests should be mercurial or
diaphragm. or others equally as good, to be first
approved by the city civil engineer Service
pipes are not, for domestic consumption, 10 be
connected with high pressure mains, except III
specific cases remote from low pressure mains.
supplied to consumers after the same has been
reduced by automatic regulator and cutoff
to the maximum pressure allowed in low pressure
mains No gas Is to be turned into house con-
nections of any consumer until the consumer
has fled with the company a certificate show
ing that the house connections have been sub
mains The tests are to be made under the di-
rection OF the city civil engineer. but
at the expense of the party put
last section provides for the running of high
and low pressure mains into the city engineers
Offices, where the pressure be shown by
gauges. If it is deemed impractcable by the
engineer to have this done, arrangements for
such indications can be made by him in having
the pipes into the engine houses other
public buildings. fine of not more than 500
is prescribed for any violation of the ordinance.
The ordinance was referred to the naturalgas
committee
When the committee on light was called,
Councilman Trusler submitted the foil owing,
signed by himself and Councilman Finch:
Your committee public light have to report that,
instructed have, TO the best of ability,
deavored to ascertain the best terms which
newal of the contract with the INDIANAPOLIS Gas
impossible to master the of the Manufacture
of gas in the short time at disposal but from
formation obtained from par ties more tayoraoy stu
ated, from comparison of the prices paid in other
cities and in view of the fact that whasever may be
facilities In the near future the present company
is the only one now prepared to deal with US, we
would respectfully recommend that contract be en-
tered into with the Indianapolis Gas-hght and Coke
Company to supply the city and private consumers at
for each lamp post for the period of two years from
March 1, the city reserving the right TO experiment
with natural gas
Councilman Markey, of the same committee,
offered minority report differing from that of
the majority in recommending ST. per 1000
cubic feet, $50 for each lamp and one year in
stead of two years for the duration OF the con-
tract.
Councilman Cummings seemed to be in doubt
as to the power of the Council to regulate the
prices for private consumption and asked for
somebody to explain, but offered to
do so the old agreement contract the COM
Dany made with the city was read. At the
close of the reading Councilman Trusler. think
Ing bis colleague Councilman Marley. had
some official information regarding 81 gas
asked If contract could he made for that
figure. Councilman Marley did not know
&c no nraEa1 zzotnl1 ~ nat
lie was acting as his constituents had instructed
him. Councilman TruSer, referring to the
meeting IN his COLLEAGUES ward, said a feeling
mad been created to force the Council TO ask for
something 1T could not get. In Pittsburg gas is
supplied at 81, and in Chicago at ST. %. The
majority of the committee reports only what IL
thinks can be obtained from the company It
would be all right to call for ST rate if it
could be had. So far the ompany has
made but one proposition. and that is at 81 So
There Is nothing as yet to take the place of art-
fetal gas. There has been some talk about
electric light and while it one the committee
commends there is no chance of obtaining it
under contract for less than three years and
that is only possibility. No company will Gre
ate plant for shorter time than that Two
years is short enough for this contract with the
gas company, and by the time that expires the
city will have plenty OF natural gas for illumi-
nation.
Councilman Pearson referred to the figures i'll
the Evening News concerning the cost of pro-
ducing artificial gas not only misleading, but
maliciously false. He called attention to the
testimony IN the Dr1eI OF q suit In court IN
which the cost of manufacturing gas in Indian
apolis was material question. It was then
shown that from 1877 90 1881 it cost 81 20 per
cubic feet to ma nnfacture 1t in Indianapolis.
Councilman Trusler moved that the minority
report be non-concUrred in, which prevailed, by
the following vote:
Yeas-Messrs Burns. Cummings Darnen Davis
Dunn, Elliott Finch, Casper. Hicklin. Kelley, Long
McClenand, Pearson, Smith, Swain, Thalnan, Trus-
Ter and Wilson'S.
Nays-Messrs. Gaul Johnston, Marley, OConnor,
Parkinson Stuckmeyer-6.
A motion from Councilman Trusler.
that the majority be concurred in,
brought Councilman Casper forward
with amendment for ninety-cent
gas. The Mayor, presiding. suggested that 1t
not in order to amend the report, but that
his amendment could apply TO the agree
mant. \ parliamentary tangls occurred
out OF which the Council e .nn by receiving the
section the form of arrepmant which was tn at