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

win use every endeavor to increase the
/ supply TO its fullest extent What the
! ultimate capability of this field is does
not appear, but the in-4cations are very
Prior 10 this meeting notice had also
! been sent by said corporation to II. l..
j Driver & Co. that on and after December
! lst, last, that the said Electric Light COM
pany would not receive or distribute
natural gas This action was prevented
/ by Driver & Co., who applied to our
courts and obtained a temporary in
/ junction restraining this proposed action.
/ There are suits involving large amounts
1 OF money for gas claimed to have been
delivered by H. l. Driver & Co. and the
New American Gas and Fuel company
and not accounted for by the Salt Lake
and Ogden Gas and Liectric Light COM
pany, upon whose merits the courts have
not as yet passed but. from the lnforma-
ton at hand, the loss by leakage appears
to be very large and at times excessive,
inasmuch as only 30 per cent of all gas
delivered to the high pressure main is
finally accounted for
After careful considera zion of the re-
ports before them, your memorialists are
of the OPINION:
First.-That there is a suhiciency of
natural gas to supply all domestic de-
mands for fuel and light in this city
Second-That the Salt Lake & Ogden
Gas & Electric Light company have not
used reasonable and proper care to pre-
vent leakage on the high and low pres
sure mains and to supply their consum-
ers with gas at proper pressure
Third.-Tnat the claim that the supply
OF gas was too precarious was not
founded on any substantial basis of fact
nor made in good faith.
Fourth-That since October IS. 1896. at
least. if not earlier. the Salt Lake &
Ogden Gas & Electric Light company
have continually violated the express
terms OF their franchise in charging %
cents per m GU TT. for natural gas.
F1fth--Ihat it appears to be the inten-
ton of the Salt Lake & Ogden Gas 81
Electric Light company to throttle the
natural gas industry by every means in
their power unless the exorbitant de-
mands made to the subcommittee are
complied with.
Your memorialists insist that in return
for the valuable franchises granted the
Salt Lake & Ogden Gas & Electric Light
company, the people of this city have
right to demand from said company
strict compliance with the terms of their
franchises and that they have the right
to enjoy at the price mentioned in said
franchises the natural gas which nature
has placed at our doors.
1t is further insisted that the franchise
TO supply this gas was obtained at the
instance of said company and that the
price liked IN said franchise was agreed
10 by said company.
That said company entered into its
business of distributing natural gas with
its eyes open and had presumptive;y con-
sidered fully every business feature be-
fore it appked for its said franchise.
That because of said franchise and be-
cause OF the representations OF the said
company, the people Of this community
were induced not only TO forge the use
of artificial gas and compelled to make
expensive changes in Illuminating APP
plialces. but We're induced to abandon
heating and cooking apparatus and sup
ply themselves with expensive stoves,
ranges and burners necessary TO the
burning of natural gas for fuel.
n s further insisted that said Salt
a ~ & trio oh
pany ought not to be permitted when the
fancy TO do so seizeS it, to Inconvenience
and discommode the general public by
ceaSing its operations under any par
ucular portion of the franchises granted
TO it by the city. The community have
right to know for longer period than |
from day to day what it may depend
upon from those who have 7quired rights |
from them to distribute gas and furnish |
light
Your memorialists are convinced that |
the supply of natural gas is adequate for !
all present purposes and for the immsdi- |
ate future and that if the -ipe line were |
properly protected from leakage and said |
company would in good faith and by |
proper business methods attempt to sup /
ply natural fuel. there would be no /
further announcements of the failure of |
the product.
So far as your memorialists are able to
judge, the disposition of the Salt Lake
e. Ogden Gas & Electric Light company |
II TO make its service under the natural |
gas FRANCHISE sc uncertain ana IN
popular as to finally enable ii to entirely
cease the delivery of the natural product
and thus open the doors to the delivery
Of much more expensive and less valu-
able form of gas, to the end that its
profits and the burdens of the people may
be increased.
Your memorialists therefore pray that
your honorable body will stand by the
people in this emergency and demand the
strict carrying out Of the gas franchise,
upon the penalty OF revocation of all
other portions of the same. and that upon
all propositions proposed by the Salt
Lake & ogden Gas & Electric Light COM
pany TO increase its franchises and
further rivet the chains it now has upon
the people. that they be permitted TO be
heard in opposition thereto. And your
will ever pray.
For the Joint Committee of the Di-
rectors Of the Chamber of Commerce and
the Citizens Committee by
w. A NELDEN. Chairman.
Attest: CHARLES MOST EYN OWEN,
Secretary.
THE RESOLUTION.
Mr. Taylors I ssolution. which is to be
0rc=arlfa-- in fre council cOncurrentlV with