The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-26

in Pittsburg has given consumers more
gas and more even supply Councilman
Cooper inquired If the Philadelphia Gas
Company requires It's patrons TO pay a
minimum rate Of 81 a month. whether that
much gas Is burned or not. The Pittsburg
consumers are SO charged. he was in
formed, although II the Is company notified
that a house Is 10 be closed for a month or
more the connections are removed and 10
charge is made
a NEW POINT.
Councilman Meyer asked Attorney Win
ter if the Indianapolis company would
agree to accept short-term contract, so
that people could find out how the meter
works without binding themselves for a
long term Of years. That brought a point
that has not been considered I'm a discussion
of the gas question Mr.. Winter said that
under the city charter the Council has no
right to make a contract for a certain term
OF years. The charter makes the Council
legislative body. he said, and the ordinance
IS legislative matter. not contract in
any way. If the Council passes the ordi-
nance, he said. IL would have the right 10
repeal it in sixty days IL il desired. A
short-term contract would not be legal, he
said, because the Council must consider
the ordinance as piece of legislation and
not contract Mr. Negley asked II the
rule would not work both ways and X
the companies would not have the right to
refuse to accept the ordinance IL the Coun-
ell passed IL. Certainly" replied Mr. Win
ter. There Is nothing in the draft which
compels the company TO do anything
Professor Goss, of Purdue University,
then explained TO the committee the rela-
tive values of natural gas and wood and
coal as heat producers. When hard coal is
worth 81 per ton. he said. gas is worth
cents per loo cubic feet. When hard coal
is worth So per ton gas is worth AZ cents
per 1000 cubic feet. With soft coal at 81
per ton gas is worth cents per 1000 cubic
feet With soft coal at SO per ton gas is
worth "a cents per 1000 cubic feet Wood
at 81 per cord is the same as gas at II cents
per 1000 cubic feet. and at s. per cord
equals gas at 55 cents per 1000 cubic feet.
Professor GOsS explained interestingly how
the tests were made from which his figures
were obtained. There doubt, he
said, as 10 their exact accuracy. In an
swering questions he gave IL as his view
that there is no truth in statements which
have been made that gas and air could be
mixed 10 the benefit OF companies and TO
the detriment of the consumer. 1T would
be an exceedingly dangerous proceeding"
he said. ''and would not work at ALL"
r. w. Hanley, of Dayton. O.. said that
mis- company has 1900 consumers who are
burning gas by meter at - cents for 100
cubic feet. They pay, too, he said, meter
rental of 50 annually. He said that the
supply under meters had been very good
until this last winter. Bills average about
$3.50 annually. he said and the small con-
sumner pays no more than so annually.
There are thousands Of poor people In
Dayton, he said, whose gas bills run no
higher than > cents per month in summer
and from 30 cents 10 s. In the winter lie
stated that the one-dollar minimum rate,
although not enforced by his company,
is entirely just. lie discussed the necessity
Of using economical appliances I'm con-
nection with meter measurement and re-
marked on the absurdity OF expecting that
gas could be burned in old coal and wood
stoves and furnaces.
Chairman Negley said after the meeting
that IL had developed a number OF points
of the greatest interest 10 the committed
The matter was beginning to assume some
definite proportions. he said. instead OF
being helter-skeltcr consideration.