The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-27
SOME PHASES OF THE GAS QUESTION


The question of the cutting off of natural
gas service by the Indianapolis Company
on Oct. 1 seems TO be settled as far the
company is concerned. President Hastings
wires that the proposed revival OF the
meter ordinance comes too late. and he
takes occasion to remind the city govern
ment and people that the former city au-
thorities had abundant opportunity for
many years to adopt such measures as
were necessary to retain whatever gas re-
mains in the field, but failed TO take the
necessary action. The process of stealing
gas BY portion of the people and of reck-
lessly wasting it by a still larger number
was so fascinating that the Council was
fooled into believing it could last forever.
Now that those authorities have failed to
protect the people," says President Hast
ings, I'VE shall endeavor TO adopt such
measures as will bring the use of artificial
gas for fuel purposes within the reach of
the poorest consumers by the rental or sale
on easy terms Of modern economical ranges
and other gas-consuming devices, is
now being successfully done in nearly all
cities and towns in the United States"
This, therefore, appears to be the fixed
purpose of the company. Whether it can
be restrained by litigation remains to be
seen. The attempt would be costly and the
result doubtful, with the chances in favor
Of the company. The local executive Of
ficer Of the company is reported as saying
do + hot he
courts would hold that a company must
continue in business when that business
is losing money. That depends. If a COM
pany were under clear contract to do GER
tain things or to render certain service at
a specified rate for a specified period the
its contract whether the business was max
ing or losing money. That is not the ques-
ton in the present case The question is
whether the company's acceptance of the
ordinance of 1887 obligated it TO furnish
gas at the ordinance rates for any specified
period. There is no provision in the orig
inal ordinance nor in any of its amend
ments fixing its life or naming any specific
period for its operation. It's provisions as
to prices, etc, were accepted in writing by
five different companies, but none of them
did more than agree to be bound by its
requirements and regulations as long as
they should continue in the business. There
is nothing in the ordinance that could be
construed as prohibiting any company from
quitting the business whenever II should be-
come Improbable. If acceptance of the
ordinance constituted a perpetual contract
the city might hold the companies to the
duty Of furnishing gas at ordinance rates
long after the supply in this State was
completely exhausted. If the city had
wanted to make acceptance of the ordi-
nance constitute contract for a specified
term of years, * should have so stated in
the ordinance. The time to make a con-
tract is when it is made. This is only one
of many legal questions involved in the
proposed litigation.
What President Hastings says in regard
to the growing of artificial gas for fuel
purposes in many cities is true, if by fuel
purposes is meant cooking purposes only
1t is not believed that artificial gas is used
anywhere for heating purposes or that il
can be offered to the public at price that
would make it available for that purpose
Ii is, however, used in many cities by meter
measurement for cooking purposes, and al
so cents per thousand feet is cheaper thar
wood or coal. In Eastern cities the Goa
strike has greatly increased the use OF
artificial gas for domestic purposes. Ir
Philadelphia it is estimated that it is useC
| for cooking in not less than one-third OF
/ the houses. Statistics show it is used il
266,O0O dwellings in that city There may b,
a legal question to whether the Indian
/ apolis Company would have a right to us,
pipes laid for supplying natural gas for tn,
| purpose OF supplying artificial gas. but i
would seem to be the height of folly to try
/ TO prevent the company from furnishins
/ for domestic purposes a fuel which Il
/ cleaner and cheaper than wood or coal an,
second only to natural gas. If the Indian
apolis Company intends TO quit furnishin.
natural gas in this city on Oct l, as i
seems fully determined to do, it would b.
foolish for the Council to try to throw an,
obstacles in the way of it's furnishing ar
tifcial gas at fair rate for domestic pur
poses.