The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-12


manufacturing establishments, churches,
business houses, residences, and other
structures in said city, and also for light
sdld city; your orator, having a contract
with said defendant the city of Indian
apohs. to supply gas for the lighting of
z,UV pubic lamps in said city at the rate
OF 30 for each lamp and the only other
lllumnants in use in said city being oils
anu Cahules; tha{ during TINS period your
orator voluntarily reduced the prices
charged for gas from 81 per 1000 cubic
teet, which, by the terms Of said ordinance,
II was entitled to charge, first. to $50 per
LOCO cubic feet then to $50 per /. 900 cubic
feet, and finally to $1.25 per 1000 cubic feet,
at which latter rate il has supplied gas
since the Introduction in said city. at the
date aforesaid of natural gas, and is now
engaged in supplying the same. Prior TO
the introduction in said city of natural gas
there was large consumption during the
day time Of your orators artificial gas for
1uel and other purposes, and your orator
derived large income from gas used for
said purpose.
Il. Your orator further AYERS and shows
that upon the Introduction of natural gas
INTO said city the same entirely supplanted
any use of your orators artificial gas as
fuel, and the entire revenue which had
heretofore been derived by your orator
from such use was lost; that the use of
natural gas as an iluminant also became
quite large in said city and reduced the de-
mand for your orators artificial gas as an
illuminant.
DECREASE IN USE OF GAS.
Your orator further shows that on the
10th day of November, 1885, the Common
Council Of said city passed an ordinance,
which was duly approved by the mayor
thereof, entitled, An ordinance authoriz-
ing the construction and regulating the
operations and maintenance of incandes-
cent and arc electric lighting and power
plants in the city of Indianapolis in and
by which the rights to use the streets, al
leyS ana public grounds of said city was
granted to any and all persons and COM
pahles desiring TO construct and operate
plants for the purpose of supplying to such
city and its inhabitants electricity, as an
lllumlnant, and that under said ordinance
there has since been constructed in said
city complete plants for the purpose of
supplying electricity, which said plants
have been, during the last seven years, and
now are, in operation in said city, supply
ing electricity as an illuminant to said city
and It's inhabitants; that the use of cleo
trlclty for said purpose has become very
general in said city, especially in the manu-
featuring establishments, railroad stations
and shops, public buildings, churches, no.
tells, restaurants, saloons, places of amuse-
ment and other public places, and in the
business houses, shops and stores in said
city, and in many residences therein, and
the use OF your orators artificial gas as an
llumlnant has been almost entirely sup
planted in the public buildings, structures
and places, railroad stations and shops
manufacturing establishments, business
houses, hotels restaurants, saloons and
establishments of said city, and in addition
electricity has been permanently adopted
Tor lighting the streets and other public
places of said city, that your orator,
which before the introduction of electricity
had as before stated, contract with said
city, under which it furnished gas for the
lighting Of $500 public lamps at the rate
of $50 annually for each lamp have lost
said contract, except as to 112 of said
lamps and for them it receives the sum of
only SIG per lamp annually, for which sum
it is required in addition to light, eXtin-
gush and keep in repair said lamps
%. Your orator AYERS and shows that
Notwithstanding by reason of the facts
aforesaid, natural gas had entirely sup
planted the use of your orators artificial
gas as fuel and to a considerable extent
as an illuminant, so that your orator no
longer has any demand for the use of it's
artificial gas except as an illuminant and
is deprived of all use thereof during the
time, and that by the use of electricity as
an tlluminant, the use of your orators arti-
fetal gas is supplanted almost entirely as
an illuminant of the streets ana other pub
lie places of said city, and in the railroad
stations and shops, hotels, places of amuse-
ment, churches, restaurants, and saloons,
theaters, and other public buildings and
structures, and business houses in the city,
occupying the central and compactly built
portion of said city, nevertheless your ora
tor is required to maintain in all portions
Of said city its systems of mains and pipes
and to have the same at all times supplied
with gas; that your orator has no large
consumers of gas, but Is almost entirely
restricted to supplying dwelling houses and
small business establishments in said city;
that the number of consumers to the mile of
main averages only seventy-nine which is
much less than in other cities of the same
population, on account of all which your
orator Is subjected to more than usual loss
OF gas by condensation ana leakage, ano
put to greater expense than it otherwise
would be for maintaining and keeping in
repair its systems of pipes and mains and
in distributing gas to the consumers thereof
SO. Your orator further ayers and shows
that it's plant is now and has at all times
been constructed, equipped and adapted to
the manufacture, distribution and SUPPLY of
gas of proper quality with the utmost econ
oY11xr 0C1pc ictp will 10 ma Of
said plant in an efficient and safe condition;
that all coal, lime, meters, fittings and other
supplies and materials have at all times
been purchased, as far as practicable, in
large quantities, especially the supply of
coal and lime, as to which the quantities
required in each year for the entire year
have been purchased at one time and at
such time and with full competition, and
under such other circumstances as to secure
the same at the lowest market rate; that
only such supplies have been bought and
used in the manufacture and distribution
Of your orators artificial gas as were
needed, and at the same and all such sup
plies have been used skillfully and without
waste; and that the labor now being en-
ployed and at all times heretofore en-
ployed by your orator in the manufacture
distribution and supply Of its artificial gas
and in maintaining its artificial gas plant
is and has been only Sucn as were necessary
to carry on your orators said business
and the wages paid for said labor is now
monty paid in said city for labor of that
character, that the Office expenses of your
orator. including clerical services and office
supplies and material are now and at all
times have been only such in the number
and character of the persons employed and
in the amounts, character and quality of the
supplies used and in the wages paid to the
employees and prices paid for such supplies
as were necessary and usual in said city
for such services and supplies In other
business of like character and magnitude
and that the salaries paid by your orator
to it's superintendent of the manufacture
of artificial gas; to the assistant, to the
president, who has immediate and general
charge and superintendence of all the bus
mess of your orator in said city of Indian
apolis; to your orators president. secretary
and treasurer and assistant secretary, who
are all the offices of your orator, to whom
salaries are paid are such only as are US
ually paid to such officers, and are reason
able in amount.
MOST INCOME FROM NATURAL GAS.
The complaint continues saying that its
natural gas and artificial gas plants have
always been kept distinct.
Continuing the complaint says: your
orator further shows that more than two
thirds of the gross and net incomes of
your orator are derived from its natural
gas business, and therefore that it is rea-
sOnable and just to charge only One-third
salaries Of it's officers aforesaid, for legal
services office rent and other general and
miscellaneous expenses expense of
your orators artificial gas business.
Your orator further AYERS and charges
that In said year 1896, it derived an in
ammonia. residual products of the manu-
faCture of gas; that in said year, as in all
former years, your orator sold all such
products for the highest prices that could