The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-10
FOR MORE NATURAL GAS
CITY TAKES STEPS IN COURT FOR AN
INCREASED SUPPLY OF FUEL.
Mandatory Proceedings Brought
pany-The City's Complaint.


Court, asks that the company be required
to lay an additional line Of pipe to its gas
fields and to sink more wells.
The complaint is lengthy ore, and after
setting out the natural-gas ordinance passed
by the Council in 1857 it refers to the ac-
ceptance of all provisions under the ordi-
nance by the Indianapolis Gas Company
and of the contract entered into between the
plaintiff and defendant. The complaint
further says:
That the population OF the city of In
dianapolis at the time of defendants ac-
ceptance of said ordinance was 10000; that
such population is now $4,000; that the de-
mands upon said defendant for natural-gas
fuel made under and pursuant to the pro-
visions of said ordinance have increased
proportionately with such increase in popu-
latlon, until it now has connected with its
lines OF mains In said city more than $4,000
consumers; that as such population and
such demands Increased the said defendant
extended its lines. of mains into the said
gaS-producing territory until, in the year
mains. comprising its original main line,
twelve inches in diameter, extending dis
tance Of about forty miles. and two shorter
lines, each ten inches in diameter, but that
since the year 1896, notwithstanding the
steady increase in population of said city
and the consequent increase of the demands
for natural-gas fuel, the said defendant has
failed and refused. and still fails and re-
fuses, to lay any additional mains into said
gas territory.
HAS $1,000 ACRES.
''That the said defendant company has
leased and under its control more than fifty
thousand acres of gas-producing territory in
said gas field, in which there Is natural gas
in ample quantities to supply all persons in
said city who, under the provisions OF said
ordinance and contract, are and will be en-
titled TO receive the same. That the wells
owned by said defendant with those now in
process of being sunk by it. If supplemented
by twenty-five additional wells sunk in the
territory so in the possession and under the
control, of the defendant, will produce all
natural gas necessary for the supply of all
its said consumers in said city for all pur-
poses, but that the said natural gas so pro-
duced by such wells cannot be brought to
said city by said defendant In such guam
titles as to supply its said consumers be-
cause of the insufficient and inadequate
capacity of the said mains connecting such
wells with said city. That such mains are
so inadequate in capacity that II Is impoS-
sble to convey through them more than
one-half the natural gas flowing and to flow
out of such wells, and that if the said de-
PENDANT corporation will lay an additional
main twelve inches in diameter between its
Meeting its said wells with its system of
mains in said city. and sink twenty-five ad-
ditional wells In the best part of its said
of natural gas fuel in said city for all per-
sons connected with said system and for all
who are entitled under said ordinance to be
so connected, for all purposes
THAT the profits of the said defendant
out of the delivery and sale of natural gas In
said city have been so enormous that since
a I'M N
the same the entire cost OF all Its wells,
mains and other improvements, and paid II
per cent. annual dividends on Its stock ana
s per cent interest on its bonds which stock
and bonds aggregate more than five million
dollars, sum largely In excess OF the va.ue
of said plant; so your petitioner ayers that
there Is no reason why the said defendant
should not sink such additional wells ana
lay additional mains of sufficient capacity
to bring from its abundant supply of natural
gas in its said territory a sufficient volume
for the necessary use OF the inhabitants Oh
said city entitled TO the same That soon
after the acceptance OF said ORDINANCE by
the said defendant II declared and an
nounced that Ii could and would supply all
the people of said city entitled to the same
with natural gas fuel, whereupon all OF the
inhabitants of said city whose. properties
were connected with defendants lines of
mains therein, discarded the use of all other
fuel. and, relying upon the promise, en-
gagement and declaration Of the defendant.
also discarded all appliances for the use Of
such other fuel and provided themselves
other heating apparatus suitable only for
the consumption of natural gas fuel therein,
and that there are more than twelve thou
sand of such consumers OF natural gas on
defendants said lines that are by reason OF
the foregoing fact. unprovided with heating
or cooking apparatus suitable for the use OIL
other fuel than such natural gas.
, CAUSED MUCH SUFFERING.
THAT because of the defendants refusal
to provide itself with sufficient mains to
1rip caf1 oitx tie with xvh oh
it was abundantly supplied in its territory
aforesaid. there was great suffering
amongst the people of said city whose prop
critics were connected with defendants lines
of mains in said city during the winters of
1861, 1898 and 1859: that when the
| weather during said winters cold. such
people had not sufficient supply of natural
gas fuel for either cooking or heating pur-
poses and as a result, there much
sickness, especially amongst women and
| children. That during the ne cold weather dur
| than two thousand houses connected with
| said defendants lines of mains in said city
and occupied by families which were fur
| nished no natural gas fuel at all, or in such
meager quantities that such families, not
being provided with other fuel. were ex-
posed to the cold and subjected TO great
| physical suffering and distress That the
| said defendant is now giving out the false
statement that ii is not practicable TO bring
| to said city any greater supply of natural
| gas thanh now being brought. and so de-
| clares that ii does not intend to lay the adj
| ditional mains necessary 10 supply to Its
said consumers in said city during this and
| future winters any greater supply of such
gas, so that the suffering, inconvenience
| and sickness experienced by such consum-
ers in former winters will be repeated and
winters unless this court intervenes as
| herein prayed.
THAT since the summer of 1896 the said
/ defendant has attempted to utterly repudi-
ate its said contract with said city. by alb
/ solutely refusing,
| all during the winter months TO its con-
| sumers engaged in manufacturing. or to
| any other than domestic consumers.
| 80 To allow new dwelling houses, built
| upon the lines of its mains In said city since
| Jan. /. 1899. TO be connected Herewith so as
| 10 receive any natural gas supply at al,
| although. under the terms Of said ordinance,
/ IL was required to allow such connections.
| 80 To furnish TO any of its consumers III
| said city an adequate supply or natural gas
| during the winter months. or.
1 Il. To sink rhe necessary additional wells
| and lay an additional main 10 its gas terri
| tory, whereby Ii might bring to said city an
| annie and adequate supply of such fuel.
| And your petitioner shows TO the court that
u has no ADEQUATE legal remedy other than
| this proceeding.
| Wherefore your petitioner prays the
court that an alternative writ NAV issue
| commanding the defendant TO proceed
| without delay TO sink twenty-five additional
| natural gas wells In the gas-nrOducing ter
| ritory possessed and controlled by II in the
natural gas field aforesaid. and to lay an
/ additional line of natural gas MAINS not
less than twelve inches in diameter. from
| such wells ard connected with the produc-
| ing gas wells IL already owns. to the city