The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-26
John G. Carlisle Advises Indianapolis
Company that 1t Can Legally
Discontinue Service.
ULTIMATUM OF MR.. HASTINGS
4 HEARING GIVEN BY THE COUNCIL
FRANCHISE COMMITTEE.
Gas Men from Eastern Cities Heard in
Support of Meters-Many Facts
Brought Out.

Before the Council committee on con-
tracts and franchises last night officials of
the Indianapolis Gas Company and of the
Consumers Gas Trust Company went into
exhaustive explanation of the conditions
which now confront them in supplying nat
ural fuel TO local consumers. There were
present also several gas men of promi-
nence from Pittsburg and Dayton and Co
lumbus, o., who gave the committee the
benefit of their experience in supplying gas
to the public by meter measurement.
The meeting was called by the committee
for the purpose of giving the officials of
the gas companies an opportunity tn pre-
sent their side of the meter question, and
in order that the committee might get
working knowledge of the important de-
tails which must be considered before the
ordinance comes to vote in Council.
There were present at the meeting Ferdi-
nand Winter, attorney for the Indianapolis
Gas Company; John r. Pearson, of the In
dianapolis Company; Bement Lyman and
W. H. Shackleford, of the Consumers Gas
Company: Capt. Matthew Bigger, of the
Philadelphia Gas Company, of Pittsburg;
E W. Hanley, of the Dayton Natural Gas
Company; z. Z. Eisenbacb. of the Colum-
bus Natural Gas Company; Prof. w. F. NJ.
Goss head of the department of engineer
ing of Purdue University; Councilmen Neg
lev Cooper, Mcfarland, Rhodes, Sourbier,
Wahl and Meyer, of the committee, and
Councilmen Moriarity and Shea. Mr.. Winter
gave somewhat lengthy statement of the
position of the company which he repre-
sents and of the conditions which they
must overcome in furnishing fuel Mr..
Pearson and Mr.. Lyman spoke briefly along
the same line, and the visiting gas officials
answered questions as to certain points
which came up in the descriptions of how
the meter system works in their cities.
At the conclusion Of his talk Mr.. Winter
read to the committee two letters which
set out with no ambiguity the position
adopted by the indianapolis Gas Company.
One, from President Hastings, of the COM
pany. declares that unless prompt remedial
legislation is obtained the company will go
out OF the gas business in Indianapolis. The
other letter is from John G.. Carlisle, who
advises President Hastings that the COM
pany has a legal right to suspend opera
tions in this city whenever it may desire.
PRESIDENT HASTINGS'S LETTER.
The letter from President Hastings is as
follows:
my Dear Sir-After a mature delibera-
ton and full considera tion of the situation
in indianapolis our board of directors has
determined TO go out of the natural-gas
business and in this determination we have
the approval of d large majority of the
stockholders. without one dissenting voice.
Il need not say that In reaching this
conclusion have been dctuated not by
any mercenary motives but. aside from
the duty we owe TO our stockholders ana
creditors. we find il a financial and
gineering impOssiblity TO continue to bring
natural gas TO indianapolis. with the rap
idly declining field pressure, and sell IL at
the present ruinous rate.
L am glad TO say that your opinion as
TO the legal right of the company to
tire from the natural-gas business has been
heartily ndorsed and cOncurred in by
Grover Cleveland and John G.. Carlisle.
both of whom have made a thorough study
OF the law and facts in the case.
81 have only 10 add that we have been
deferred temporarily from carrying out this
determination by the earnest solicitation
of Mr. j. p. Frenzel. pending certain ef-
forts which, we are informed are now be-
ing made in the direction of suitable legis-
lation designed 10 stop the present methods
of using and wasting gas. and TO enable the
company 10 sell its product at reasonable
price.
II shall not be able 10 restrain our direc-
tors from putting this plan in operation