The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-20
Ill. Mex. Landon, Secretary, Says Large
Part of Sixty-MiIe Line TO This
City Will Be Taken Up.
GOOD MARKET IN GAS BELT
INDIANAPOLIS COMPANY PROBABLY
WILL GO TO 1T.
Complaint of Muncie People Is that
They Get Little Gas, While the
Factories Have Plenty.

The Manufacturers Natural Gas Com
pany will quit business in Indianapolis
Sept. l. This announcement was con-
firmed by H. NICK. Landon, superintendent
of the company, last night Mr.. Landon
said the company is Withdrawing from
business in this city because it finds a
more profitable market in the gas belt re-
gion, where its remaining supply of gas
will be sold to manufacturers and towns
along its present lines and near to the
field where its supply is now obtained.
This is the first company that will actually
quit the delivery of natural gas to this
city.
The Manufacturers Gas Company was
organized eleven years ago and laid a line
TO the Hamilton county field. Its particular
purpose was to furnish gas to large manu-
facturers in this city, who were it's in
corporators. and such others as it's supply
would permit, but not 10 engage in do
nestle or other commercial service. 1t
served this purpose with success for many
years, but about four years ago it began
to feel the loss of pressure that was felt
by all other companies. The real effect
OF this fall in pressure had been avoided
before by extensions to new territory and
the establishment of an expensive pump
ing station near Frankton, Madison coan-
ty- Its main source of supply is now about
sixty miles from the city. II continued
to supply such consumers here as it could
uatil last winter, when its supply was so
inadequate that few patrons remained Mr.
Landor said last night that the company
would take up a large portion of it's pipe
line.
The officers of the Manufacturers COM
pany are: George Merritt, president; H.
NICK. Landon, secretary, and F. A. w.
Davis, treasurer. The principal stock
holders are the Indianapolis Water Com
pany, Kingan & Co. and the E c. Atkins
Company
Gas men regard this as the first step
toward the end of gas in Indianapolis. The
policy adopted by the Manufacturers COM
pany is the same indicated by the In
dianapolis Gas Company's announced cessa-
ton of service in this city on Sept 30. 1t is
understood the Indianapolis company can
sell its supply near to the source and has
decided TO do that.
Those who are most familiar with the
practical side of the natural gas question
say Indianapolis is to be the first CITY in
They blame ii all TO the obstinacy of sue
cessive city administrations that would not
abandon the uncomfortable contract svs-
tenn of furnishing gas and adopt the eco
nomical meter system. They say if this
had been done ten years ago the Indianapo-
lis companies could have afforded TO pav
large lease rentals on gas territory but
the diminishing pressure and volume forced
them to abandon much of the most valua-
bic of their uneXplored territory. The In
dianapoiis Company, il is related owned
under lease, an enormous area OF gas land
in Grant county, and its rentals aggregated
$4,000 annually. but the wasteful use in
this city and the increased cost of supply
ing Indianapolis consumers forced il TO
forfeit this land Gas is now at a pre-
MUM, even in the most productive terri
tory, and nearly every town and city is
shifting to the meter basis.
Five years ago, il is also related the
indianapolis company was bringing to this
city 54,00O,000 feet of gas a day. Last winter
the supply was approximately 1900 900 feet
a day. 1t is doubtful now that this last
figure could be maintained because of the
decrease in pressure and the inability to
reinforce the pressure Gas men say the
situation is practically hopeless for Indian
apolis, although the Indiana polls Company
might supply limited number with meter
protection.