The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-09
A NATURAL-GAS PROJECT.
Indications of Scheme to Have the City Pur-
chase the Plant of the Consumers Trust.

1t is probable that Indianapolis will have
deeper interest in the General Assembly
than politicians can furnish, and even more
than the purpose to ask for legislation to
increase her revenue can command. There
will be a great deal to say against meddling
with the Police Board and fire department
to meet political ends, and the pros and
cons concerning taxation measures will be
canvassed, but both these matters of argu-
ment will drop into the background when
they aun afoul of the natural gas
scheme that is to be, it is said,
brought forward to startle the unsuspect-
ing subscribers to the Consumers Trust
Com pany. A person who deals in secrets
has been fostering one for some days, and
a night or two ago he thought it time to let
it have an airing. He began by gradually
approaching the denouement by stating
that there were already appearances of a
lobby here in the interest of the manufact-
urers of gas-pipe. These agents represent
ed, he said, the manufacturers who supplied
the Trust with its pipe, and who hold the
certificates of that company for payment.
Enough was said so warrant an inquiry,
yesterday afternoon, of one well on the in
side of the Trusts affairs. 1t was John P.
Frenzel the reporter met, and asked: who
has charge of that bill that proposes to I'M
load the Consumers Gas Trust on the cityp
Il don't know" replied Mr.. Frenzel, with
the name of all that is Democratic, did you
learn anything about that2p
But there is such bill?"
81 do not know that one has been pre-
pared. Judge Roache has been talking about
9th Of h<a l. ind In Foot ha ic 4 ,a
only person, so far as am aware, who has
had the matter under serious consideration.
1t has not been discussed by the directors
of the Trust"
guard of the pipe manufacturers who hold
the Trusts certificates" :
eff that was the case, would certainly
know it. No, the directors have not
talked about such movement,
aea of tnat tSo practically TSaf 1s
of the company now. There will be three
natural-gas bills before the General AS
sembly. Two have in my pocket and the
third have just given to member OF the
In other directions though it is under
stood that the scheme to have the city
eventually purchase the Trust plant viii
be introduced. One who has knowledge
company said, yesterday, that a syndicate
had been formed to take the plant. Not
long ago." he continued, 1.-The pipe manu-
facturers and contractors who hold the
Trust certificates, offered to sell them to
this syndicate, composed of Judge
Lamb, E. f. Claypool, John p.
Frenzel and others at seventy
five cents on the dollar. l understand
that the offer was refused. but the syndi-
cate desired to obtain a four-months' OPP
ton on the securities. Whether this was
granted or not / cannot say, but the ulti-
mate purpose is, no doubt, to lave the city
take the plant. 1t is proposed to provide
the means for tho purchase by the city
through special taxation for three years
have been figuring what my taxes would
be at the lowest possible limit of this special
levy and find that in place of the few hum
dred dollars am paying now. will have
to pay over 8, 400"
The movement in this direction has been
so carefully guarded that the details as to
the proposed legislation are kept as if in a
box, locked. bound and rebound, but that
there is more than a, probability in the
only the constitutional limit of the city's
lied that prevented something like it being
urged then.