The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-26

The joint committee of citizens and
directors OF the chamber OF commerce
yesterday entered a vehement and un-
1ristakable protest against the methods
of the Salt Lake and ogden Gas and
Electric Light company in their dis
tribution of natural gas. About Is wer.
present, and without one voice being
raised in dissent, they passed a me-
mortal to the city council, containing
a vigorous condemnation of the cleo
trio light company and asking that, in
the matter of gas rates, they be held
rigidly to the terms of the original
contract
The convention met at o'clock in
the chamber of commerce, and every
thing was transacted with machine
like celebrity.
ALL ONE WAY.
Upon the arrival Of Chairman Nelden
and Secretary c. NJ. Owen, the me-
mortal was at once given considera-
ton. No questions were asked as to
the memorial and no words in defense
CT the company were uttered. 1t sim
ply sailed through on the indignant
wings of popular adverse opinion.
The memorial was the great thUn-
derboit Of the day, but the commits
sion had yet another shaft lurking up
us sleeve. When the memorial blast
had passed over, Mr.. Taylor offered
resolution, providing that meters be
periodically tested by competent in
sDectors not connected with the light
company
The temper of the meeting was
shown by the occasional ebullitiOns of
wrath with which members of the
committee referred to infTactions of
their contract by the light company.
The company, said one of the men,
bers. runs its charges up TO the most
exorbitant and fluctuating figures, and
just as long as the people were will
ing to be imposed upon, the imposition
would continue.
I understand" remarked another
member, clearing the way for another
flank movement at the enemy. that
the pipe lines between here and the
gas wells are not really owned by the
company. Two individuals have the
sole ownership
What figure would that cut?" in
Quired Thomas Jennings.
only this: The company claims an
investment of 500 600 on the pipe line,
and on the strength of this claim, de-
mand that they are entitled to per
cent on the investment
THE MEMORIAL.
On motion, a committee of three was
appointed TO present the memorial to
the city council. This consisted Of z.
w Taylor, Mr.. AIillner and James An
derson. The memorial was:
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council salt Lake City. Utah:
Your memorialists a committee of cit
liens and the chamber OF commerce. by
its directors. respectfully represent that
within short distance OF our city there
exists q large natural gas field the de-
volOpment of which is great benefit TO
our citizens for light and fuel: that there
exists u corporation known as the Salt
Lake and Ogden Gas and Electric Light
company, whose business consists among
other things. of the distribution of gas,
and 70 whom. AT their own solicitation.
your honorable body has heretofore
granted q franchise whereby they we're
permitted to occupy our streets with their
gas mains.
That in accordance with the terms of
said franchise. . maximum charge OF 30
cents per LOCO cubic feet was allowed
them for natural gas a price which was
considerably in excess OF the charges
permitted in other cities of the United
States in like conditions: that this fran
chise was duly accepted by this corpora
ton
a contract with the New American Gas
and Fuel company for The product of the
gas wells. by which the Salt Lake and /
Ogden Gas and Electric Light company
had been granted the said New American |
Gas and Fuel company by your prede- |
ceSsors in Office and under which a charge /
not TO exceed 80 cents per LOCO cubic |
feet was permitted.
A high pressure PIPE line 1874 miles in |
length. six inches in diameter, was subse- /
ouently constructed connecting the gas /
wells and the gas works for the pur-
pose OF conveying the gas to the city.
Upon the completion Of this pipe line /
PHI consumers Of gas were notified by said /
Salt Lake and Ogden Gas and Electric /
Light company. that after certain date I
natural gas only would be furnished and !
10 supply themselves with such appliances /
As would be necessary Tor the use Of /
natural gas. Having no alternative this |
was done at considerable cost to the /
Al a SUBSEQUENT date a contract was
made by this corporation with II. L. |
Driver * Co. who also own and operate
gas wells in the same locality for sup
on October q, 1896. the New American
Gas and Fuel company was notified by
he Salt Lake and Ogden Gas and Electric
Light company that it had annulled the
contract heretofore existing and would
-eceive no more gas from their wells and
n furtherance Of It's action old cut OF
he line from their wells to the high
pressure main.
temporary shortage in the gas supply
which lasted until November 10th, 1896,
! condition that obtains in all known
natural gas fields
on said November 10th the normal con-
iitions were again resumed, but, by the
equation Of valves by the Electric Light
company. the citizens were not given the
benefit of these conditions. but were given
. mixed gas at q low pressure, the neces-
ity for which has not yet been salts
actoriiy explained
About this time the consumers were
lotiiied by postal cards and notices in
he papers from said corporation that
he supply of natural gas had become
so precarious" that in justice to the
consumers said corporation could not con-
niue to furnish this product. but must
esort to the use of artificial gas the
harges for which ranged from SIS TO
? per LOCO cubic feet, 10 commence from
December J. 1886.
Alarmed at this notice, a number Of the
consumers met together and organized
hmseIves into committee of investiga-
ion es to the truth of this statement
At the second meeting Of the consumers
ommittee an invitation was extended by
he directors Of the chamber of COM
aerce to hold a joint meeting of that
o6y to consider the situation. A. this
1eeting were present h1eSsrs. Hayward. I
Ioffat and henpf. Of the SAT- Lake and
'gden Gas and Electric Light company.
II Driver. for II. L. Driver K Co, and
fr Rogers of the New American Gas
nd Fuel company. The statements of
he different parties then made were so
Numerically opposed that it was de-
ided 10 appoint a subcommittee OF seven
ersons who should make an exhaustive
atural gas supply. This investigation
as been completed and two reports filed.
-hfch are submitted herewith. both of
-hich are agreed that as at present de-
eloped. there is an ample supply of
atrIrai gas for domestic purposes and
or ! very considerable Increase over and
hove the present consumption. The de-
aIopment of this gas field is as yet