The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-08
INVERTED THE SUFFERING
CITY ENJOINs TRUST FROM SHUTTING
OFF HOSPITAL GAS.
Officials Indignant at the Apparent
HeartIessness of This Favored
Corporation.

On the application Of DIR. f. D. Clark,
secretary Of the Board of Health, Judge
Carter yesterday issued an order restraining
the Consumers Gas Company from discon-
tinuing the natural gas service at the City
Hospital The hearing for a permanent in
junction has been set for next Wednesday,
The city contends that under the ordinance
gas companies must furnish gas to all who
apply for it, so long as there is gas enough
This is held to be especially true Of con-
sumers who are already being supplied.
The latter part of December the Board of
Health was notified that when the contract
with the city expired, Dec 81, the company
would discontinue the supply Efforts were
then made to get other companies to bid for
the year 1899, but the only one offering TO
furnish gas on any terms was the Manu-
facturers Natural Gas Company, which
proposed to furnish gas on the meter system
at cents a thousand cubic feet. When it
came to drawing a contract, however, the
company made such one-sided proposition
that it was rejected entirely. In accepting
the bid the board stipulated that it would
take gas at the rate offered Gin such guam
titles as the superintendent might consider
necessary" the intention being to burn coal
under the boilers if this was found prefera-
bic. The company refused this proposition,
insisting that there must be the utmost
economy in the use of the gas, and in the
next sentence asserting that it would only
furnish gas at the rates proposed if gas
were the only fuel. In the event Of coal be-
ing used under the boilers the company
would charge 10 cents a thousand cubic feet
for the gas used in the ranges, CRATES, etc.
The company also reserved the right to dis
ppGfip4rp ba Of
Meantime the Consumers Gas Company
had attempted TO shut off the gas at the CITY
Hospital but was prevented from doing so
ny employees at the institution. Jan. / the
usual bill for the month, $225, was rendered
flhqlnS mat arrangements could not be
made with the Manufacturers COMPANY
CITY Attorney Kern had papers prepared to
enJoin the Consumers Company several
days ago ready for an emergency. Yester-
DAY morning Dr. Clark sent a warrant to
the consumers Company in payment for the
usual bill, but the tender was rejected and a
man was sent to the hospital to shut off the
was secured
The city officials are rather indignant at
Ine shabby way in which the Consumers
Gas Company has acted and no means will
pc spared 1t Is asserted, to establish the
principle that the company must furnish
as bllls are paid and there is enough gas.
IN this connection it is said that consumers
of the Trust Company have had an abund-
aIlce OF gas this winter. This has been true
at the hospital.
1T seems rather peculiar" said Deputy
CITY Attorney Bell, that we should have
this trouble with the Consumers Gas Com
pany, which has been given permission to
lay its mains in the street and to enjoy all
It's privileges at the hands of the city It's
mains have not been taxed the ordinance
provided they might Yet in the face of all
the rights 1t has enjoyed it comes in and
tfleS TO shut off the gas from a charitable
institution of the city at a time when such
a course would entail suffering. The boilers
are not arranged to burn coal and it would
do, 200
III the kitchen are made for natural gas
alone"