The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-23
METERS FOR NATURAL GAS.
polls Journal:


To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
When extremes meet or. In other words
when men OF opposing interests reach the
same conclusion. travelling In different d.
rections from a common standpoint, II is
fair to presume that that conclusion is
about near right as mortal reasoning
can attain to. 1t is not necessary 10 assume
that either party has been actuated by
selfshness or any dishonorable motive fur
Their than the instincts of honorable BUSH
ness interests may properly dictate. We
have in our municipal affairs just now
most remarkable instance of this reaching
a common conclusion travelling in opposite
directions from a common standpoint The
Consumers Gas Trust, a business organiza-
ton unlike any other in America, created
and maintained wholly for the good of
others. the corporators rendering service
now ten years or more without dollars
compensation. honestly believed at the start
that the equitable method of taxing con-
sumers was by the month, not by measure
ment- Being willing to condone that bit of
depravity, which not only wants some
thing for nothing. but a good deal for very
little, hence they agreed to furnish fuel
to everybody at prime cost, letting them
use 1t as lavishly as they use sunlight or
the zephyrs, and at two-thirds tie mimi
mum rate demanded by the only corpora
ton that would dare to undertake the con-
tract at any price; but it soon developed
that the usual method Of consumption was
perfect recklessness, and II is not extrava-
CANT to say that the average consumer has
used all these years twice as much gas as
he would have used If he had paid for what
he used by measurement But experience
has developed another fact-the supply Is
not inexhaustible. Not oniy nave individual
wells given out, but whole gas districts
have, so that the gas consumed In Indian
apolis is not only brought twice far as
it was at the beginning, but every foot of
II has to be pumped, while the waste OF
gas has not been diminished in the least
but, on the contrary, nothing but the lack
Of gas has prevented increased extrava-
gance.
In this emergency the city, as repre-
sented by the Consumers Gas Trust-for
the city is the sole owner in fee of the
plant and Of every commercial interest In
it-has long been imploring the city as rep
stop this waste of the city's wealth by
enforcing economy in its use. Bat the city
in its legislative department Is In the hands
of men who pay no taxes and VINO regard
fort as perfectly proper. though thousands
who were quite able to help build this
plant as contribution to the city's indi-
vidual property as those who did are cheek
by jowl with those who have no care for
such things. hence the waste continues.
But now comes the city, through its dis
bursting department, and says: I'll be
get. The city in its gas department agreed
to furnish the city Ia its fire department
sufficient fuel for its engine houses at
stipulated price, the which 1t has failed
to do, not through any fault of said gas
department, but really because the supply
was not sufficient to meet the demand, see
ing that so much Is wasted through the
methods the city enforces." Just what the
city in its gas department will say to this
j do not know care, but IL seems to an
unsophisticated layman that 1t would be
good time for the men who have been these
tect its own property-for practically that
is what the Trust is-from waste by max
ing every customer pay for what gas he
uses and no more, to remind the disburs-
ing department that II has at last caught
on to the true theory of the gas question
pay for what you get and for no more, but
make everybody do the same, and We will
be content. This is a clear case OF the
meeting on common ground of parties that
started out In different directions. The
disbursing department wants 10 pay for
only what the fire department used, and
the gas department wants an ordinance
to that effect from the legislative depart
ment and nothing more.
But, after all, what is the difference?
This higgling with the Consumers Trust
by refusing to pay it's bills and taxing
the mains just they have to be replaced
on account of electrolysis and just as they
must be extended into other gas fields. IL
any can be found. and by otherwise robbing
Peter to pay Paul, has a wise side TO II.
Ii will postpone indefinitely the transfer
of the plant from the present management:
without fee or reward. to the management
of the city. and will make necessary the
appointment of a Gas Board. What this
means may be inferred from the doings OF
the Park Board. The longer that transfer
is postponed the better. The Gas Board
cannot run the gas plant any better than
the present management has, and certainly
not any cheaper; hence We will escape the
selling of new bonds to keep up the plant.
l believe / would rather forfeit the little
that remains unreturned of the contribu-
ton i made twelve years ago 10 the ex-
pertinent than to be plunged into the bot
tomless abyss of city ownership of plant
that is to cost the city nothing to obtain,
but millions to run.
But there is the indianapolis Gas Com
pany, and any favor shown the Consum-
ers Trust inures to 1t. Now. am not go
ing to be SO unconventional as to say a
word in its behalf 1t Is big thing and
owns big house, as well as big fran
chise, but 1 remember we'll when its UNI
watered stock was a drug on the market
at so cents on the dollar. The town has
About that time lots on South Meridian
street were selling al $50 front foot. and
dear at that, but no one proposes to put
oppressive conditions upon South Meridian
street or any other city property because 1T
is more valuable now than then. My pres
ent contention relates wholly TO the policy
of Gripping corporation that has con-
tributed so much to the comfort of the
people of Indianapolis through a species
of benevolence without parallel, only that
we may keep those who helped In the be-
ginning out of the money they contributed
with the modest suggestion that this is a
good time not to Cypress our benefactor
with onerous burdens. and just the time
to provide by ordinance that nobody shall
pay for gas they do not get, but shall pay
for all they do get. There is no municipal
election in sight, and good common bust
ness sense may as well obtain in city af-
fairs by way of a change. But will II?
Indianapolis, April q. u. L. SEE.