The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-09

the present conditions of which I speak L
repeat that il would be the part OF wisdom
for most people TO see that their wood
sheds and coal bins are we'll filed
Mr.. Pearson further declared that until
the introduction Of meters the gas situa-
ton Will continue to cause u~nDounded
trouble. He said that the companies are
not anxious for meters for their own imam
cial benefit, because. he said. the fact had
been demonstrated that IL was cheaper Tor
the public TO use the meter system than
any other way. The benefit of 1t, he de-
clared, lies in the fact that II is the one
thing that will force people to be econom-
ical of gas. When individuals are forced
to cease wasting gas 1t acts for the beneht
of the many.
MIR. LYMAN's STATEMENT.
Bement Lyman. of the Consumers Gas
Trust Company. takes a view of the situa-
ton hardly more hopeful for the users of
gas than that Of Mr.. Pearson. He says
that the pressure in the fields of his COM
pany has decreased greatly within the last
year, and that the new wells of the COM
pany show no change for the better. The
Consumers company operates now about
800 wells, and eighty-four Of the number
have been drilled for tapping this season.
He states that the subscriptions of the
company have fallen of somewhat. but
that the decrease in the lumber Of fires Is
more noticeable than in the number of
subscribers. Like Mr.. Pearson, he takes
occasion 10 say that the violation of con-
tracts by consumers is a big factor in the
weakening OF the gas supply lie says
that every inspection of the company
shows that some consumer is using more
fires than his contract entities him to. Re-
garding the attitude Of his company toward
new subscribers, he states that his COM
pany has not yet determined what its de-
cision in the matter will be. AT present
the company is not DESTROYS of booking
any new subscribers.
Neither Mr.. Pearson nor Mr.. Lyman
cared TO discuss the future attitude of he
company toward new subscribers. Mr.. Ly-
man said that, in view of the recent Su-
preme Court decision stating that gas COM
panies had not the right 10 refuse new
subscribers, he did not care at this time
to state the policy of the Trust in regard
10 the point. Mr.. Pearson said that the
conditions relating to the request would
have weight with his company. If the APP
plicant lived near the mains of the COM
pany and if, in the opinion of the company,
the applicant was one who would not use
gas recklessly, the subscription might be
booked. Both officials said that their first
duty is toward the old subscribers.
COAL AND WOOD DEALERS.
Coal and wood dealers say that their bust
ness has increased appreciably and they
attribute the increase to the fact that peo-
pie are returning to the old-fashioned kind
of fuel. They say that they arc handling
about all the business they can attend to
and think that a good share of the present
rush is due to the fact that people are get
ting in their winter supplies Of coal and
wood before severe weather sets In. Mr..
A. B. Meyer, of the firm of A.. b. Meyer
* CO., in discussing the fuel question. is
of opinion that the public will buy much
more coal and wood than in fOrme- years,
but he does not believe that the chaEge
will be as marked this year as many pee
pie think. He is of opinion that the change
from gas to the more inconVenlent kinds
years, but he does not think that people
are going to desert the gas companies un-
til the last flicker of gas.
The Friendly Inn, which for years has
prepared and sold wood for fuel. is doing
a remarkable business this season.. Super
intendent Reagin, of the institution, stated
to the Journal that every day more thar
200 requests for loads of wood are sent in
and that it is impossible for him to fill al
the orders. Last year the Friendly InT
sold 1900 cords of wood, and at the present
rate the sales will be doubled for the pres
ent season. Mr.. Reagin attributes the in
crease in the buying of wood to the weak
ening of the gas supply. He says that each
year the wood sales of the institution have
increased steadily in a manner which seems
10 be cOincident with the failing of the
gas. He stated that it has come under hi:
notice that farmers who make a practice OF
! hauling wood to town for sale are bringing
in more loads than ever before, and thai
they are selling it largely to people wis
have been in the habit of using gas exclu
sively.
will probably be no increase i'm the price!
of the fuel except increases which have
their origin in causes foreign to the Indian
apolis situation.