The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-30
METER SYSTEM URGED
NATURAL GAS COMPANIES ADDRESS
A LETTER TO PATRONS,
Notifying Them Thai an Ordinance
Providing for Meters Is to
BE I~ntreduced.

A circular letter was sent to the natural
gas consumers in the city yesterday signed
by the Consumers Gas Trust Company and
the indianapolis Gas Company. notifying
the customers of these two companies that
an ordinance will be introduced in the City
Council next Monday night providing fc-
gas meters to regulate the consumption Of
natural gas.
The letter says that 1.-The continuance OF
the sale of gas by contract, which neces-
sarily carries with i great waste through
the use of old and badly constructed stoves.
CRATES. ranges furnsces, ETC.. together with
~extravagant habits and unlawful practices,
such as using enlarged mixers and burning
without mixers, as well as fires added
without authority, no uncommon practices,
forbidden by law, bat beyond our power to
prevent. and which Illegal use of gas is not
only a severe loss . the companies, but is
a great injustice t, those onsumer who
are using gas in accordance with the law.
means the early los to the majority Of our
citizens of the best fuel ever known. which
cannot. as is commonly hoped, be replaced
by manufactured gas of equal heating
value, even at a cost very much greater
than is paid for natural gas"
1t is further Argued by the companies
that the patrons should be convinced that
meters should be used to prolong the sup
ply of gas. The letter calls upon the con-
sumers to advocate the ordinance, as the
meter question was an issue in the last city
campaign, n unless the city authorities
feel that their constituents were in favor
~ ~ Tho ardipon1a NV ,s,or - -o--5
John r. Pearson, Of the Indianapolis Gas
Company. said last night that the ordi-
nanc had not as yet been prepared. The
officials Of the two companies will hold a
meeting before Monday evening and pre-
pare the ordinance to be introduced in the
Council. He said with the meter system In
vogue in indianapolis he was confident the
supply of gas would be increased 80 per
cent, as the use Of meters would prevent
the enormous waste of fuel. With meters
and economical appliances, Mr.. Pearson
said the citizens would enjoy plenty OF gas
for some time to come, but If the system
is not adopted the gas may give out, owing
to the waste.
There are in the neighborhood of so, 900
consumers I'm the city, and the meters cost
ir the neighborhood OF SIS each. Mr.. Pear
son said it would be unfair to compel con-
sumers to pay for these meters and con-
nections. but that If the ordinance is passed
changes and furnish the mixers, which
would mean in expenditure Of nearly a
half million ddlars. In Chicago the natural
gas rate is SCI cents a thousand feet, and
the gas bills tor cook stoves run from 60
to so cents a aonth, while in Pittsburg the
rate is lower Mr.. Pearson says the COM
panies have lpt agreed on the rate to be
fixed in the ofiinance 10 be introduced, but
says it will le low enough to satisfy the
Several couicilmen were seen yesterday,
and they saidthey had no knowledge of the
ordinance. they would not commit them
selves on wlht action they might take
should the ordnance be introduced. A few
of them admitted that meters might solve
the problem h the gas question, but they
believed The ordinance would not pass the
Council, owiig to the issue taken against
the meters in 1.-THE last city campaign.
Mayor Tagart was asked about the
meter questitn last night, and he said he
Gid not beiieie that either the Republicans
or Democrat in the Council would vote for
the meter sStem, and was convinced the
gas companss could not succeed in getting
such an ordnance passed.