The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-19
THE NATURAL-eAs QUESTION.

shows that we are likely to have what the
everybody ought to desire, viz: Competi-
ton. AS the case now presents itself it is
| hardly possible to have any other outcome
than this. The city will have gas, will have
it soon and by several companies. That is to
say it may have, and this ought to mean it
will have. With the Indianapolis Company
at the city limits with an abundant supply,
the Consumers Trust Company well advanced
in its work, one company already laying pipes
within the city, and fourth preparing to
enter tho field, the contamination cannot be
long deferred. The question of price is set
tied by the ordinance which has done such
cellent work in that regard. For this, and
for the assurance of permanent supply of
| natural gas at the low rates it fixes, even
lower, the thanks of the community are largely
due to the Consumers Trust Company. That
company organized to insure a supply of gas
at the lowest possible rates, and is likely to
succeed in accomplishing that result. It has
given practical force to the present ordinance,
and compelled other companies to accept its
schedule of prices. In this it achieved vic
tory for the people. But does it follow that
every provision in the ordinance is the wisest
OF best that could possibly be made, and that
the city should insist on the very letter Of
the ordinance as it stands, even to the ex-
clusion of natural gas for an in
definite length of time? That would
be policy of very dou btful wisdom
The Indianapolis company is prepared to
accept the ordinance in all respects
and file its bond Immediately, provided two
changes are made These are, first, that some
fair and just limitation be fixed to the amount
of pipe to be laid annually; and second, that
the meter clause be amended, so that where
consumer desires meter he shall put it in at
his own expense or be required to use it for
specified time. Certainly these changes would
not imperil the rights of the city or of citi-
zens in the slightest degree. while they would,
it is claimed, furnish necessary degree of
protection to any company accepting the or
dinance. With these changes, immaterial to
the public but perhaps important to the
company, the indianapolis company is pre-
nance rates. The Consumers Trust Company
is opposed to these changes, or to any change
whatever in the ordinance, and declares that
it will be able to furnish gas to the entire city
within few months under the ordinance as
it stands. The exact position of this company
is stated in their appeal and protest printed
in another column. Much of what is claimed
in these statements for the Trust company is
true, but the paradipg of its own motives and
the impugning of others should have been
omitted. This is question Of cold business
and as no other company proposes to ask more
for gas than the Trust company or could by
any possibility expect to get more the only
question is whether all others shall be ex-
cluded until the Trust is ready to
come in, which may be three,
six or nine months. The president
of the Trust says their contracts for pipes 'will
soon be made, and we confidently expect to
have an abundant supply of gas at the city
limits by the LIST of April next" The Journal
hopes their expectation may be realized, but
possibly it may not be. Is it wise to put all
our eggs in one basket, and commit the entire
interests of the city to the keeping of one
company The Trust can and will control
the price of gas. What more does it OF the
people desireG No matter how low a rate it
fixes, other companies must conform to it. 1t
is absurd to claim that one company should sup
ply the entire city. All those now seeking
admission are not too many. AS business
proposition it would not seem wise for the
city to allow any company to dictate its
policy, nor to postpone the introduction of
gas many months merely at its caprice. The
Journal is opposed TO any sort of monopoly
"a monopoly of the streets, a monopoly of
price, monopoly of the supply, a monopoly
of the time--and are quite certain that a
vast majority of the people will come to that
way of thinking, if they are not already of
that opinion.