The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-19
NATURAL GAS.
FURRY OVER THE SUPPOSED IN
CREASE IN RATES.
Patrons Notified That Hereafter, the
Minimum Charge Will Be $3.50
Per Month Secretary Moffat
Makes the Matter Clear From
the Company's Point of View.

A good many people using natural
gas were somewhat surprised to find
the following legend stamped upon the
bills left with them by the gas COM
pany this month:
Minimum Charge $3.50 Per Month
After First Day of March.
The surprise was due to the fact that
it was generally understood that un-
der the franchise a maximum rate of
so cents per thousand was fixed and
that a charge exceeding that could not
be maze. IN places where the gas is
used for fuel only, and only used occa-
sionally and in small quantities, the
amount would be but a few cents, and
this increase to $3.50 was looked upon
as square violation of the ordinance
The franchise was granted on No
Vember u, 1884, and among the pro-
visions are the following:
THE ORDINANCE.
An ordinance tor the construction and
maintenance of street mains and services
for utilizing, and dis tributing natural ami
manufactured fuel gas in the city of Salt
Lake, Utah territory
Section BE it ordained nv the ,,ity
council of Salt Lake City, Utah. that the
said city OF Salt Lake hereby gives and
grants to the New American Gas and
Fuel company, corporation organized
ana existing under the laws of Utah ter
iltory, ana its assigns, as hereinafter
specified and provided, for the term of
twenty years from and after the pas
sage of this ordinance, the right and priv
Iege OF constructing. maintaining and
operating pipe lines for distributing and
utilizing natural and manufactured gas in
the city of Salt Lake; and for sale to
consumers generally.
Provided. that the rates to be charged
consumers for such natural gas snail not
exceed the sum of 80 cents per Gne thou
sand cubic feet. as measured by Whe
standard gas meters, for the term of
Two years after this bill shall become
an ordinance, and after the expiration of
said two years, such price per one thou
sand cubic feet may be reduced by the
city council to a sum not less than -
cents, and the rate to be charged for
such manufactured gas, so measured,
shall not exceed one dollar and twenty
five cents per one thousand cubic feet:
and for the purpose of furthering and as
sisting said New American Gas and Fuel
and its successors and assigns,
in supplying said natural and fuel gas,
the said New American Gas and Fuel
and it successors and ass. gns,
l. =
and privilege to use any and all streets,
avenues and alleys of Salt Lake city,
under the supervision of the city engln-
eer, in which to lay and maintain mans
and service pipes for conveying ana ols-
tributing said natural and fuel gas as
aforesaid throughout said city;
Section ). If at any time, said COM
pany upon notice from the city council
shall fail, neglect or refuse for a perlod
of sixty days to comply with any pro-
-;o of robiSa n he nv If COM
Piled with, or shall fail. neglect or re-
fuse for sixty days to comply with any
regulation which may hereafter be law
fully imposedHby the city council, TINS
franchise and all rights under 1t shall,
at the option of the city council, be for
feited, and the city shall at once upon
such forfeiture have the right to require
all pipes and other property of SAID
company to be removed from its streets
by said company.
THE COMPANY'S SIDE.
Of course there are two sides to
every story. the company has it's.
and Secretary Moffat presented it to
Herald reporter:
This minimum charge of $3.50 per
said; Mr. Moffat. does not
apply to any customers except those
who are taking this service only.
Where electric lights are used. the
charge will only be for what gas is
at the regular rate We
nave, however, considerable number
IF customers who use only the natural
gas and the amount consumed is so
.rifiing that it would really be better
20 give it to them than attempt to
charge the regular rates"
PETTY CHARGES.
OPENING the books. Mr. Moffat then
showed the reporter great many
charges for last month, the amounts
from 10 cents to 60 cents.
Now then" said the secretary,
how can this or any company furnish
10 cents worth of gas, send a man
around to have the meter read. run
he charge of 10 cents through the
books, have bills made out and finally
send the collector around to bring
n this dime? 1t is simply out
If the question. We cannot sup
,ly a house with natural gas
where the amount consumed is
holding up whatever about this, no
sttempt to extort, no desire to obtain
cent more than is absolutely just
But isn't it violation of ordinance?
f a man uses but 30 cents worth of
,as, and you charge S1.50, how do you
conform to the ordinance fixing the
maximum at so cents per thousand?"
1--WE do not look at it in that way
It ALL Our only object is to avoid fur
fishing say 10 cents worth of gas a
month. We cannot do it, and that's
III there is about it. And 1 don't sup
ose any reasonable person would insist
IN such q thing. We do not raise the
rice at all. we only fix minimum on
he quantity to be used and that is
cry small There is no violation of
he ordinance whatever We have
Ooked into the matter carefully, of
curse, and know just where we stand"
ARE NOT SATISFIED.
Whether or not this explanation will
Ne satisfactory to the public remains
0 be seen. It is claimed, for instance,
hat man uses 80 cents worth of gas
rer month; that he has absolutely no
Use for any greater quantity than that
nd cannot use more. Therefore, he is,
n fact, required under this rule to pay
1 80 fer an amout of gas for which the
aw says the maximum charge shall
re fifty cents.
1t is said that the matter will be
rought to the attention of the city
ouncil next Tuesday night and an
inquiry made.
mo skill nor expenditure has been
Dared to make it the model railroad