The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-20
GAS AT ORDINANCE RATES
1t Will Reduce the Fuel Expense of
Many Manufacturers Fifty Per Cent.
There Are Few, However. to Whom II Will
Be No Advantage and Some. Because 1t Is
Unnecessary, Will Make No Use of 1t.

In order TO learn what was the general expec-
tation among manufacturers IN regard TO the
benefits to be derived from natural gas Jour
nal reporter visited q number OF establish
ments and inquired what per cent. of the fuel
expense they expected to cut off by its use at
ordinance rates. Il will be seen that IN q ma
jority of instances saving of so per cent. in the
way of the cost of fuel was anticipated In one
or two instances the manufacturer expected to
save even more than that. and in some instances
less. 1t will be Observed however, that in those
places where the best of coal is not required the
saving will be merely in the expense of hand
ling the fuel and not in the simple cost Of the
fuel itself Where any considerable proportion
of slack can be used it is considered that the gas
bill wi II be heavy the coal bill has been,
but all the expense of employing men to handle
the coal will be dispensed with.
ID. w. Marmon, of Nordyke & Marmon,
founders and machinists, said: eve will not
save so much as others by the introduction of
gas, but we expect to use it. and are waiting
anxiously for it. We now mixed slack. and
our coal bill Is, therefore, no heavier perhaps,
than our gas bill will be- but we will save all
the expense Of handling, which probably costs
US 81. 500 year. Then we will have more yard
room, which very desirable feature. AT
present we frequently have from twelve to
ade on the railroads"
Mr.. Hasselman. Of the Eagle machine works:
We now make use of GOOD deal of offal, and
thus cut down our coal bills. Nevertheless we
expect TO reduce our fuel expense, which is now
about So, 900, almost one-half by using
E. G. Atkins. of E. G. Atkins & Co, saw man
ufacturers: We will save at least so per cent.
of fuel expense by the of gas-that is.
IL We obtain it at ordinance rates. OF course. if
we could get it at Pittsburg rates the saving
would be still greater. However, as our annual
expense for fuel is something like Sc, 900 ST.
600. we consider getting good thing in
the opportunity to knock off half of that.
Mr.. ID. L. Whittier, proprietor of the steel
pulley and machne-works South Pennsylvania
street: have not undertaken to compute just
what our saving will be in using natural gas.
for the reason that we are guaranteed that it
will cost us not more than half what coal has
been costing We perfectly willing to
make the change, with that Kind of guarantee.
An additional saving in using gas will be that of
the labor now employed in handling coal and
ashes. do not know just what our fuel has
been costing us-somewhere between 500 and
ST 900 per annum.
Mr.. John Elmer, OF the firm of Elmer Aldag
& Co. the varnish manufacturers whose place
of business is at the corner of Pine and Ohio
streets, said he expected their firm to cut down
their fuel expense one-half by adopting natural
gas. Their fuel at present costs them about
5000 per annum
Mr. Benjamin f. Hetherington, of the firm Of
Hetherington d Berner boiler manufacturers,
West South street: We have already put in our
new machinery in the expectation of using
gets to MS. We expect to save fully half-yes,
more than half, say 60 per cent. of present
fuel expense by the use of gas. l have not fig
ured out what the saving will be, but am conf
dent it will be 60 per cent l do not know what
our annual expense for fuel now is, but it is
about $780,
Mr. Henry Bauer, president of the Cabinet
Makers Union, on East Market street: We
have not been considering the matter of gas for
the reason that the present company has sold
out, and is not figuring anything for the
future. OF course, however, it would be a
ing TO us If We had natural gas. but not very
great one Woodworking establishments will
not be benefited so much by gas as iron manu- |
factories, for the reason that they have great |
many scraps that they can use for fuel. Now
we use our scraps, shavings. etc. along with |
slack which we can buy at from 81. Is to- 81. 80
per ton. Without the scraps, of course, slack |
would be useless. However, if gas comes down
this way will doubtless it and sell our
scraps. and think we can obtain enough in that
way to pay for our gas.
l.. L. Curtiss, book-keeper for w. II. Cole
man. the stave manufacturer 1t will not be
any saving TO as TO use gas, as we use our ref
use material for fuel If gas at all it
will be simply for illuminating purposes, as We
generally a couple OF hours after dark
The Indianapolis Manufacturers and Carpen-
ters Union, whose building is on South New
Jersey street, will not use natural gas. as they
little fuel of any other kind. Indeed, in summer
time, when their business is heavy, their scraps
become burden on their hands.
Secretary Davis of Sinker, Davis q CO..
will cut down our expense for fuel one-half, if
not three-quarters. Our EXPENSE in that direc-
ton at present is about So, 900.
A Supplementary Gas Ordinance.
While the requests of the Indianapolis COM
pany for amendments to the natural gas ordi-
nance will be withdrawn at the meeting of