The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-14
He Thinks 1t Could BE Dispensed
from Floating Tanks, Such as
Used for Artificial Gas.
Mr.. EXPERTS METER STAND
THINKS HE WOULD BE MOBBED IF
HE VOTED FOR SYSTEM.
One COunciIman's Constituents Favor
Mcters-AnOther Citizens Meet
ing Called.

If the gas companies should adopt a Sug-
gestion made yesterday by Councilman Will
liam A. Rhodes, of the Sixth ward, Mr.
Rhodes believes that Indianapolis people
might not only have more gas, but that the
pressure would be so regulated throughout
the coolest weather that there would be no
sudden and marked decrease of pressure
when the gas is most needed. Mr.. Rhodes
will present his plan to the Council COM
mittee on contracts and franchises. At
present he is investigating details relat-
ing to cost and feasibility.
The suggestion made by Councilman
Rhodes is that the Indianapolis Gas Com
pany and the Consumers Gas Company
adopt the same system in dispensing and
preserving the natural gas pressure in this
city that they adopt in dispensing and pre-
serving the pressure of Illuminating gas.
They should construct in indianapolis, he
thinks, gasometers, or floating tanks of
the kind used in collecting a supply of IL
Illuminating gas and maintaining uniform
pressure in it's distribution. Each company,
he believes, should put up enough of these
tanks to benefit every section of the city.
1t could be done, he believes, without
prohibitive expense, and the results would
justify large outlay. With such gasometers
in use, and in consequence more gas at a
uniform pressure throughout cold spells,
Mr.. Rhodes is of opinion that meters at a
fair rate would be beneficial for all the
people of the city.
DISTRIBUTING GAS.
I'm distributing Illuminating gas" said
Mr.. Rhodes yesterday, "all Illuminating gas
companies are able to keep on hand con-
stantly sufficient supply of fuel to prevent
hardship to anyone. They obtain sufficient
supply by the use of gasometers, or tanks
which register automatically increase or
decrease of pressure. These tanks. floating
in basins, rise when the supply of gas in
creases and sink when the supply decreases.
have given the subject some thought and
believe that the Indianapolis natural gas
companies might have success If they tried
the same plan in distributing natural fuel.
By tanks the companies could maintain
good pressure pretty equally during the
suffer most when the mercury goes down.
What we all want is more gas first, and sec
ond, uniform pressure L believe gaso-
II eterS would attain those ends.
Mr.. Rhodes says that Sixth ward people
have not manifested great interest so far
in the meter question. When asked if he
would call ward meeting TO discuss the
question, he said: II don't have the utmost
confidence in the reliability of the express
sion of these ward meetings. The people
should be given every opportunity to eX
press their views, but it seems TO me that
it is very easy TO pack a hall with friends
of the one side or the other. If my con-
stituents desire a meeting l will call it,"
Fourth ward people have lost no time in
informing Councilman Fred Expert where
they stand on the meter question. and
as TO his duty to them. Mr.. Expert
says he receives delegations daily at his
house and store, all of which inform him
that he is a 'goner" politically if he gives
support to the meter ordinance.
THE sentiment against meters is so
strong in my ward" said Expert yesterday
that l believe they would mob me if L
| vote for that ordinance"
What is the cause of their determined
! opposition Mr.. Expert was asked.
PLENTY OF GAS NOW
1.-The reason is that they have plenty of
gas now under the contract system" he
replied, land they feel that if meters were
brought into use they would not get any
| more gas but that their rates would be
made higher
! THAT does not seem to be true all over
the city. In some sections people declare
that they have no gas at all Ought they
not favor meters?' Mr.. Expert was asked
1T would seem Meters certainly could
not do them any harm, and might do good.
! But L know the feeling in my own ward is
| bitter against the ordinance"
Mr.. Expert will make a postal card can
vass of his constituents, asking on every
| card: please state briefly how you stand
| on the question of natural gas by the COM
| pulsory meter system" He thinks the plan
| will work out better than ward meetings.
! COuncilman-at-large Jacquelin s. Holiday
/ said yesterday that he had not been able
| To obtain many expressions of opinion as
/ yet. but that the sentiment of people in his
neighborhood is strongly for trial of the
meter system.
What has become of the 1O-cent meter
| ordjnance?'
|
of the whole" said Mr.. Expert. ''Messrs.
| Burke and Warrum, who had ii introduced,
have never furnished any infOrma ton
about the Chicago company said to be anx-
ious to enter Indianapolis, and we cannot
! take any action until they give us some
| thing definite instead of vague assurances. -