The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-16
THE CITY'S GAS SUPPLY
COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGAIN IN THE
CONSUMERS FIELD.
The Gilman Pumping Station In
spected-AII Available Gas Be-
ing Furnished.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

ANDERSON, Ind, Jan. 15.--The investi-
eating committee of the Indianapolis City
Council completed its first days trip to the
gas field this evening and arrived back in
Anderson after dark, tired, if no nearer
perfection as gas experts The party, con-
sisting of Keller, Munro, Billingsley and
Moriarity, of the special committee, Coun-
cilmen Negley, Kelley and Daller, Secre-
tary Lyman and Superintendent Shackle-
ton, of the Consumers Gas Trust Com
pany, and a Journal reporter, left Indi-
annapolis at 6:45 this morning with the de-
termination of ascertaining the condition
of the gas field controlled by the Consum-
ers' company in Madison county. State
Gas Inspector Leach joined the party after
arriving here.
The day was spent in visiting the COM
pany's enormous pumping station at Gill
man. and inspecting a few of the gas wells
in this territory. The trip was replete
with incidents of humorous character. The
party left Anderson in carriages and drove
directly to the pumping station. The DEM
ocratic members of the councilmanic party,
Kelley and Moriarity. stuck together like
twin peas in a pod. They occupied the
same carriage until late in the afternoon
wien they had to be separated, as their
combined weight caused the carriage
to, sink deep i'm the mire and the horses
banked repeatedly.
AT PUMPING STATION.
After arriving at the pumping station the
members of the party talked over the sit
uation and rehearsed the trip made to the
station near Noblesville last week. Super
intendent Shackleton was asked if another
station was between Indianapolis and No
blesville would it increase the gas supply
III Indianapolis. He said a station in that
territory would do no good, as the No. /
station is ample to handle the gas 1T re-
ceives, but another station north of the
Gilman station might give more adequate
supply of gas.
station, who was credited with making a
statement that the Consumers company
was not furnishing all the gas at its COM
mand, entered an absolute denial to the
Journal representative of having made such
a statement.
The Gilman station is much larger than
the No. station In the boiler room is a
battery of fourteen boilers, with double the
capacity of the boilers In the No. l station.
a smaller per cent. of the gas is used in
furnishing the power for the Gilman sta
ton. The pressure under the boilers was
eight ounces. In the other department are
six immense COMPRISING engines, with a
combined capacity of 26000,000 feet of gas
daily and 5000 horse power. The station
cost nearly 100000. and the average cost
of maintaining 1t is 5000 day, 800 less than
the No. l station The Gilman station re-
ceives gas from 120 wells. part of which are
III the richest part of the gas field, cover
ing an area of about sixty-five square
miles. The station was constructed a year
ago last summer and is large enough to &C
commodate four more COMPRISING engines,
which will probably be installed in the near
future. The gauges showed eighty pounds
inlet pressure and 295 pounds outlet pres
sure, the inlet temperature being As de-
grees and the outlet temperature 40 de-
grees.
THE GAS WELLS.
The afternoon was spent in inspecting
many gas wells north and west of the
pumping station. Some of the wells have
| been in operation for several years. while
the last ones tested were only drilled but
few weeks ago. The pipe pressure varied
from 1O2 pounds to 10 pounds and the
gauges showed that the wells fed to the
pipes on an average of three to four pounds
EACH The higher pressure wells of course
delivered more gas to the pipes than the
| lower pressure wells.
|. The trip tomorrow will be made toy the
| extreme limits of the Consumers Com
pany's territory. The members of the COM
| mittee express themselves as satisfied that
| the company is supplying all the gas at
its command, but Will make q thorough in
vestigation before making a report.
MR.. LYMAN'S STATEMENT.
Secretary Lyman. of the Consumers
| Company. said to-day that a question will
| soon be tested in the courts to determine
| the rights of the Big Four Railroad Com
| pany to give right of way and permission
| to drill gas wells along its road to the
American Plate Glass Company, of Alex
| andria. Mr.. Lyman said the matter was
| now in the hands Of Attorney Miller, and
| ii will be the first case of its kind ever
| brought in the courts. The Big Four Com
| pany. IL is claimed, has given permission
| to the American Plate Glass Company 10
lay gas main and drill for gas along its
right of way from Alexandria TO Fair
| mount. The Consumers Company controls
| gas territory lying adjacent TO the rail
| road property and will test the rights OF
| the railroad company TO grant such per-
| mission TO the plate glass company. The
/ latter company has already begun laying
| its mains. and If 1t attempts TO drill wells
an injunction suit may be brought The
| farmers who own the land will, IL is said
| stand with the Consumers Company as
/ they realize they will be unable TO lease
| their lands IL wells are drilled on the rail-
| road right of way.