The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-15
The New Directors Feel that the Fu-
ture of the Company Lies with
the People.
EMPLOYMENT OF AN ENGINEER
AN EXPERT WILL EXAMINE PLANS
AND SUGGESTIONS.
Feasibility of Company Embarkfng
i'm Artificial Gas Business to
De Investigated.

The mass meeting Of citizens and stock
holders of the Consumers Gas Trust Com
pany to be held in Masonic Hall to-mor-
row night may have an important bearing
on the future Of the gas trust. The char
acter of the meeting will be such that its
expression will nave the utmost significance.
The new directors of the company feel that
the future Of the Consumers Company lies
mainly with the people. The board has the
power TO say that the company shall do
certain things. the manufacture of artificial
gas being the most important. but it lies
with the public whether the company shall
successfully perform any new functions.
Major w. j. Richards, in discussing the
probable effect of the public meeting in
the interests of the manufacture of arti-
fetal gas by the Consumers Company, said
last night: 1T is impossible to predict just
what the meeting will decide or what it's
influence will be upon the future of the
company; but 1t will give the people ar
opportunity Of expressing themselves as to
their views and willingness to assist the
directors. The situation certainly promises
much in the way of help from the public.
There Is more feeling right now than there
was when the company was first organized
to thwart the plans of the Standard Oil
Company. L believe the people or Indian
apolis are animated by that degree of pub
lie spirit which will lead them to act as well
as TO talk"
NO TIME WASTED.
Major Richards said that no time would
be wasted in putting the affairs of the
company in order. AS soon as practicable
the American Auditing Company will go
over the books and submit a report. An
expert engineer. unbiased, will go over the
plans and suggestions that have been made
and will determine whether it is feasible
for the company to embark in the business
of furnishing artificial gas. A number OF
important matters will have to be investi-
gated by him. including the suitability OF
the present pipe lines for artificial gas dis
tribution. the exact cost of necessary i'm
r~rovements, the approximate cost of main
tenance and other matters.
81 understand the in charge
of the selection of an expert engineer is
making headway," concluded Major Rich
ards.
Alfred F.. Potts, who issued the call fol-
the mass-meeting tomorrow night, thinks
that Masonic Hall will be crowded with
consumers and citizens generally. Herman
Lieber, a heavy stakeholder in the company
since its organization. will preside, and
speeches will be made by John w. Kern
Lawson NJ. Harvey and other prominent
citizens.
1t developed in the meeting of the di
rectors Friday morning that the COMPANY
sold recently 1000 acres Of oil leases fol
1925, 900. The board of directors had full
authority to do this, 1t Is stated, and tn,
notes accepted are equivalent to cash
Enormous tracts of valuable oil land are
still held by the company, and 1t Is believed
that a very large sum could be realized
from their sale If necessary.
All talk Of quo warranto proceeding!
against the Eureka Investment Company
is regarded as absurd. BY the resolution
to pay off the stockholders the member;
of this company are placed in the SAINT
| position as other certificate holders of thu
Consumers Gas Trust Company.