New-York tribune., 1900-12-13
7HEFTS or GAS CHARGED.
DIRECTORS OF THE INDIANAPOLIS HAS
COMPANY GIVE EXCUSE foh
DEFERRED DIVIDEND.

-rbo a,rsc,ors of the indianapolis Gas Company,
through Frank S. Hastings Of this city the presl-
dent have issued circular TO the stockhoiueIs III
which they announce that they are compeHeo 10
defer action for the present the question OF
dividends and declare that their course mas Deeh
made necessary by heavy and continuous losses
suffered by the company through the alleged inert
~ gas by all sorts and conditions Of consumers in
the city of Indianapolis. the offenders including
even cergymen The circular to the stockhoioers Il
in part follows:
Under an old municipal ordinance your company
has been selling natural gas IN IhIlahSpoIiS ny ~
this plan accepted generally Dy natuIsi SSs
companies & n tne ~ ,;s See Iauabe pToduct The re-
sultant wastage of gas. as is now wen KNOWN mas
held which has made It Impossible to render salts
factory service Every enort mas oeGn ZEN aGy ldontoO
Of economical devices and the compulsory use on
nosittoD ~ tbe people OF Indianapolis our efforts
in that direction have far failed; In the mean
dfS q ,be sysaI5 Of selling gas by meter with
satisfactory results not only TO the local companies
but 10 the consumers themselves.
Notwithstanding the fact that we have expended
and additional pipe lines in the field for the pur-
city it has been found Impossible to furnish
satisfactory service SO long as me present mas r
revenues have very largely decreased in conse-
Quence OF the wide extent OF this practice.
In spite of existing prohibitory statutes large
percentage Of our customers have unlawfully In
s 6ohg 1e out ther mixers Every efort has been
T made by your managers to stop this unlawful
! wastage. but although the best legal talent has
been employed supported by ndisputable proofs, II
has been found utterly impossible 10 secure con-
victiOn beca Of the fact that this Illegal prac-
/ tice has been generally INDUCED in.
The boring out it Is explained. is the cutting Of
additional small holes in the feed pipes all the gas
received through these apertures being stolen. IL
is said that than three-fourths OF the eighteen
thousand consumers have been guilty of this prac-
tice and that IL is defended by public sentiment in
Indianapolis The company not only loses the rev.
which il should receive for furnishing the
large volume Of gas thus stolen but It is also put
I additional heavy expense in drilling new gas
wells and laying mains a response to COM
plants Of diminished pressure and scanty supply.
!. c Benedict Of the directors Of the company,
: said yesterday OF the outlook. quoted
They will crowd as TO bankruptcy II this goes on.
We have no way OF obtaining judgment. With no
preachers 20 decry il, jury judge decide a
I suit In favor, what dO2 In my opinion
the people Of this country ought 10 the peo
pie Of Indianapolis for this gigantic steal. 1t has
/ been the custom Of people from the time gas com
! panies formed TO regard them as mans
/ natural enemy. and TO be assailed.
Indianapolis. Dec. l2.-Concerning the charge as
] stated above patrons of the company deny that
they have stolen natural gas. They declare there
has been no gas 10 steal. and that efforts TO In
crease the supply have failed