The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-24
NATURAL-GAS PROBLEM.
What the Broad Ripple Purchasers Are Con-
sidering-The Fuel Rates for the F uture.

, James G. Boyce, attorney for the Oil-well
and Supply Company of Pittsburg. is
guest at the Bates having been called here
In the interest of the new Broad Ripple
Natural-gas Company, which has pur-
chased the old Broad Ripple
plant. This morning the directors
Of the company will meet for the
purpose of Organization. "Our plans are
very unsettled tonight" said Mr.. Boyce to
Journal reporter, because we have not
yet secured all the deeds to the property.
We had to organize a stock company before
we could continue the operations, and we
have only gone that far as yet. The plant
and all the negotiations are rot finished.
We will be through tomorrow morning.
however"
What are your plans for the futureW
There are only three things We can do,
and hardly know what to think about
their respective feasibility. In the first
place we could sell out to either the Indian
apolis company or the trust, provided
only too glad to do so. but from present in
dications hardly think such q sale will
occur. We might lease our plant to either.
which Is also course upon which do'not
place, much dependence Of course, we
woule be only too happy to lease, but we
would require a five-year contract. There
is no doubt but what we could lease on one
years time; with an option for the future
but we-wiH not do that"
Should either of these two courses fail
what will be done7"
Il see only one thing, and that would be
for us to enlarge the plant ourselves. sink
more wells and at once put gas on the
markeJ as rival company. That would
be simply matter of self-protecti0n. You
see we have the Wescott mortgage hanging
over US, and the interest must be paid.
Weeonld not afford to let the plant lie idle,
and if we cannot sell or lease on terms sat-
1sfactory to ourselves, we will, as l said.
cell gas ourselves
Are you satisfied that another company
could thrive in this cityp
Not at the rate that gas sells for to-day
IN indianapolis. IL only takes half an eye
TO SEE that natural gas is being virtually
given away to your citizens to-day. What
is the reason that the companies adhere to
these low ratesi Why, simply because the
city and they want mt" to get their inc ine
terests well established. 1t is lust
like man who. for example. opens livery
stable IN town that has no place of the
horses go out at 80 cents an hour. When he
gets trade, up go his prices, and the peO-
pie cannot say word. That is the posi-
ton of the. gas companies in this city to-
day. Gas is cheap; but you may just mark
my word il will not be long time
before it is as high as coal. Either prices
will have to go up or the companies will go
down. Ii is not reasonable that corpora
tlon. with debts and bills outstanding,
with taxes to pay and all of those neces-
eary expenses. can afford to deceive its Gus
TONERS any great length of time. And then
there is another thing that i notice, and
that is the great waste of gas that
is tolerated. Why, / have been in
the parlo.s OF your best citizens, and
IN them lind natural gas burned in CRATES.
Did you know that on account of the way
CRATES are constructed nearly 30 per cent.
of the heat goes directly. up the chimneyi
1T Is a fact flat has been proved. And
then the burners that are used in stoves
end furnaces are all improperly made.
gas and do not give u.n ANU ,vU n mnre
heat than if they were smaller. No, tell
you that the natural-gas question has
hardly begun to be agitated in indianapolis.
Livery thing has favored the city in that
line, but to make it pay gas fuel should and
will soon be as high coal. 1t is only a
natural sequence of business and invest
meDf.o