The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-01
OBJECT TO GAS METERS
MANY PEOPLE SIGNING PETITION TO
BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.
Denomination Against Meters to Be
Held at Tomlinson Hall To-
Morrow Night.

There was to have been a meeting at the
Denison yesterday afternoon between John
r. Pearson. assistant to the president of
the Indianapolis Gas Company, and Bement
Lyman. secretary and general anage of
the Consumers Gas Company, to settle
upon a meter gas rate to be set out in the
ordinance hat will be presented TO the
Council tomorrow night, but it did not
materialize and it was postponed until to-
morrow morning. Mr.. Pearson said last
night he was unable to say what the rate
will be, but asserted that Is or 80 cents a
thousand will catch the figures. This, he
said, was very reasonable when 1t is taken
into consideration that the companies will
furnish meters without cost to consumers
He said that If meters are introduced
new burners will be required so as to give
a better combustion and that the change
can be made at a nominal cost. For cook
stoves he said burners will be provided for
each hole and oven and that the entire
change can be made for so or 20 cents. The
new burners for heaters he says will be
comparatively nothing. The cost of gas at
meter rates. he asserts, with these changes.
providing moderate economy is exercised,
will be equal to monthly rates.
Early yesterday morning the gas talk be-
came so strong that Lewis Haag had one
hundred petitions printed in the form Of a
remonsttance against the Council passing
the ordinance and they were scattered
broadcast through the business portion OF
the city. Only business and representative
men were seen, the purpose being to make
the petition as effective as possible in the
length of time the opposition has to fight
the ordinance. Late last night over half
of the petitions had been returned to Mr..
Haag. many OF them signed on both sides.
He that they will average at
least twenty-five names to the page, which
is in the neighborhood Of 1,5G signatures.
The petitions were made returnable to-mor-
row night and those still out are expected
to be presented with ar equal number of
names. In addition to these. others will be
printed tomorrow for distribution. The
canvassers report that 50 to 9S per cent. Of
those asked to sign consented and did it
with enthusiasm.
AS to the supply of gas by meter a mar
who has been employed by one of the COM
panies for many years, but declines TO let
his name be used because of his business
relation, CAV some figures as TO the cost.
He used for example a fcur-holed No. s
cook stove; He said the mixers are eight
six~ty-fourths of an inch In diameter and
are made to furnish eighty feet Of gas an
hour at a four ounce pressure with the full
force turned on. Averaging twelve hours
d Qdy, SOiuS at III luil picSSulc, 70 ltcb
would be consumed. At a rate of 30 cents
a thousand, the maximum rate proposed by
the companies, it will cost so cents a day to
supply a cook stove, providing II is used but
twelve hours and the gas is turned on at
full pressure. or 50 a month. These figures,
he asserts, is the result of actual calcula-
ton. In regard 10 the new burners he said
the cost cannot possibly be reduced more
than 20 per cent.
A mass meeting will be held Tomorrow
evening at 7:30. its prime purpose being to
make a demonstration while the Council is
in session in order that the executive body
will more fully appreciate the sentiment.
Controller Johnson said yesterday that the
ordinance will not pass.
G.. G.. Swain, former proprietor of the
Swain-Ertel laundry. had an experience
with using gas three years ago which
shows the difference between meter and
monthly rates. At the time OF going into
the business he paid $40 a month for the use
of gas. 1t was raised 10 $50 a month, and
finally the company insisted on putting IL
a meter. At s cents a thousand the first
month's bill amounted TO between SIS and
$50. AT that lime 5 cents was understood
TO be a cut rate. the regular price being
10 cents a thousand, and the price by meter
almost doubled his gas bill. The same rate
continued until he disposed Of the business
TO another firm.