The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-03
PLAN OF BUSINESS men
WILL ASK FOR A FRANCHISE FOR
HEATING AND LIGHTING.
A Committee Representing Merchants
Association Confers with City
OmciaIs-City Affairs.

A committee from the Merchants Associ-
alton conferred with Mayor Bookwalter
and the Board Of Public Works yesterday
afternoon regarding a franchise for heating
and lighting purposes. The committee was
composed Of W. c. Bobbs. F. L. Mayer, III.
p. WATSON, Henry Kahn, G.. a. Gay and
Fred NJ Ayres. but Mr.. WATSON and Mr.
Kahn were absent from the city.
For several weeks the Merchants Associ-
alton has been discussing a plan for CO.
operative heating and lighting plant, CEN
trally located. The theory of this scheme
was that that IL will not only prove an
economical investment for the members,
but in large way solve the smoke abate-
ment question. 1t was at first proposed TO
limit the benefits Of the plant to the MEM
bers OF the association. but there were le-
gal impediments discovered which might
require it TO do a general business in the
district chosen, and for this reason the
plan expanded, and now the corporation
that is likely 10 result will offer service to
all. While the members of the committee
did not divulge much information about the
plan. 1t Is known that thirty members
have subscribed for $4,000 of the capital
stock. The capital stock has been fixed at
N50.O00. and the corporation will be styled
the Merchants Heating and Lighting Com
pany. II Is also known that the association
expects to select as its district the terri
tory bounded by Delaware, Ohio and Cali
fornia streets and the Union Railway COM
pany's tracks. It is understood that the
plant will be located along the Union
tracks on a site between Capitol avenue
and Delaware street, but this exact place
has not been divuged.
The board questioned the committee as
TO It's purpose in case the capital stock sub
scribed was insufficient to build the plant
needed 10 serve all the district. The MEM
bers said that any additional amount would
be subscribed In cash, and that there would
be no bonds outside Of it's membership
issued TO finance the company. AS to
rates and general specifications the COM
mittee said 1t would expect the same
as were made for the Home and Marion
County Heating and Lighting Companies.
1t Is also understood that the company will
Furnish electric light to all who desire 1t in
the district named
Upon the advice of Mayor Bookwalter
and the board the committee agreed to in
vite members of the City Council to a
meeting with the promoters, to be held at
pc Commercial Club soon, when further
details will be made known.
After the conference, in speaking of the
plan, Mayor Bookwalter said: THE plan
proposed by the Merchants association
seems filed with promising things for the
city. Should franchise be granted that
surrounds the city with all proper safe
guards IL looks If the scheme would per-
FORM as we'll a public service. The estab-
hshment OF central heating and lighting
plant means the discontinuance of a num-
Der OF chimneys that fill the downtown
air with smoke. In that far it will abate
the smoke nuisance"
w. c. BoBBS's STATEMENT
This heating and lighting plant" said
Mr.. W. c. Bobbs, as an indirect result Of
the attempt of the association last winter
to solve the smoke problem. Merchants,
finding that the city must resume the use Of
coal. find a return OF dirt they do not want,
OF ashes and fires they do not want to care
for, and the restoration of their coal fuel
heating systems. Practically, they must
come 20 a new basis. The abatement of
smoke was investigated carefully by COM
mttees that visited many cities and was
acknowledged a hopeless problem. This
brought out the suggestion for centrally
located heating plant and a committee was
appointed. This committee found the plan
feasible and reported its conclusions at a
meeting OF the entire membership Saturday
capital stock of 10000 was Subscribed on
the spot and ii was also pledged that the
same amount in bonds would be subscribed
Tor oy the members. No stock or bonds will
be offered outside the membership. 1t had
been the hope of the association to confine
its business to the members, TO continue the
company exclusively in its mutual, cooper
alive character, but the Board of Public
Works very properly told US that If we en-
Tered the streets as privilege for our own
purposes the only return the general public
could get was service from US. so we ex-
panded our enterprise to that extent
There was touch of public spirit in the
whole enterprise that was gratifying. The
merchants look upon the scheme as one of
solely economic character, as they do not
desire TO make money out OF 1t. The mer-
chants nave personal pride In the cleanli-
ness and comfort of themselves and their
patrons and IL is more in this spirit than
any other that they are acting"