The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-05
FREE GAS FOR FACTORIES.

The movement for the introduction of
free natural gas for manufactures has
made a good beginning. 1t is in the
hands of enterprising, public-spirited
men, and the feeling thus far developed
in regard to it is highly encouraging.
But it will require more than sympathy
and approving words to make the o
ment successful. These are cheap, but
this undertaking calls for earnest work,
hearty cooperation, and liberal sub
scriptions. The public spirit that con-
tents itself with good words and en-
cOuraging others to do something is of
little account. indianapolis has suffered
enough from that kind of public spirit.
1t must show another kind if it expects
to hold its own in the race of progress,
and in competition with other cities and
towns.
AS to the importance of the present
movement there can be no difference of
opinion. 1t has been demonstrated that
natural gas at present rates does not and
will not attract manufactures. 1t does
not and will not enable indianapolis to
compete with other towns which are
offering free fuel. Of the scores of
manufactures and millions of dollars of
capital that have come into Indiana
since the discovery of natural gas not a
factory nor a dollar has come to this
city on that account. They have gone
to Muncie, Marion, Anderson, Kokomo,
and other towns. We are heartily glad
to see those towns prospecting, but we
want to share in the same prosperity.
More new capital has been invested in
Muncie in the last year than has been
invested here in the last five years. If
we would enjoy like prosperity we must
offer like inducements. We must offer
free fuel for factories, and plenty of it.
The present movement is based on
sound business principles. AS it does
not aim at private profit it does not
appeal to individual avarice. On the con-
trary, as it aims at the general welfare
it appeals to public spirit. Nevertheless,
for stock, IN the plan proposed, will I'LL
timately be benefited to the full amount
of their subscriptions. Any person who
owns land on the Belt railroad can well
afford to donate One-tenth of it or of its
value to introduce free gas along the
line. 1t would be but a very short time
before the nine-tenths of land remaining
would be worth more than all of it is
now. The committees address says:
Commencing at Brightwood, for a distance
of six miles along the line of the Belt road,
the lands within one-half mile on each side
of the road are especially well located for
manufacturing sites, and each lineal mile
contains $40 acres, and SIX miles in length
would embrace $50 acres, and a subscrip-
ton of $50 per acre would produce a fund
of $192, OO0; some portions of the line on
the west of the road a mile in width
would be benefited, and might be expected
to contribute, considerably increasing the
amount, and there is no reason why the
line should not be constructed along the
entire length of the Belt, and if all the
lands benefited were to contribute they
would furnish ample funds to build the line.
and build up a manufacturing district of i'm
mense proportions.
There ought not to be a moments hest
tatiOn on the part of landowners in
adopting this suggestion. Every acre
on the entire line should willingly con-
tribute it's tenth. These land subscrip-
tons should be supplemented by liberal
cash subscriptions, for every property
| owner and business man is interest
ed in the success of the movement. II
it fails, the prospect of any large growth
in our manufacturing interests fails with