The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-15
NATURAL GAS.
Shall indianapolis People Continue to
Use 1t as Fuels

Use 1t as Fuels
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
No question involving the material well
fare of Indianapolis demands such imme-
date and heroic treatment as this. 1t is
needless TO indulge in regrets or censures
concerning the past and to conjecture what
might have been; n condition Is upon us
which should be met heroically and with
out delay. The Indianapolis company has
forever gone out of the natural gas bust
ness, and the trust must go out in a short
time. unless some change is made in it's
charter that will enable it TO sink new
wells and TO increase the present supply,
with this anomalous fact in the case, that
personally the stockholders are perfectly
Indifferent whether this encouragement is
given or not, with the preference, if any.
that things be permitted to drift as they
are, evidently drifting to a closing out of
the whole business. Can we afford to allow
this without a heroic attempt to prevent it?
The facts are obvious to all. Last winter
the supply was wholly inadequate TO the
demand, yet the compaies collected the
same rates that they did when the supply
was not only ample for all useful purposes,
but for a wicked waste of what was sup
posed 10 be lnexhaustible. But even with
this diminished supply, what little gas was
furnished was cheaper fuel, when judicious-
ly used, than the coal or wood that was
needed to supplement the gas shortage,
not to mention the waste with many by
keeping it at the top of it's speed day and
night, through "doctored'' mixers or with
no mixer at ell. resulting in more than a
dozen fires from overheated stoves and fur
naces owing to the increased supply at
night. Not one of those whose houses were
burned would have kept the gas burning
all night If they had been paying by meas
ure. And soon winter will be upon us with
a still less supply of gas than a year
ago, yet sufficient for many purposes If 1t
could be economically used. To enforce this
economy is the pressing duty of the city
authorities. Meanwhile, however, an ex-
pertinent with artificial gas for culinary
purposes has been made which casts much
light upon the question. 1t has been demon
strated that with artificial gas at 50 cents
per thousand feet, by using ranges adapted
to the purpose, heat for every cooking
purpose can be furnished at much less cost
than with coal and wood. not to mention
the greater convenience cost which is
to be greatly reduced In a few weeks b.
using the automatic lighting and ~extinguish-
ing device; now nearly ready for service;
that many who are yet paying for natural
gas at present ordinance rates and getting
so little as not to be depended upon even
for cooking, have introduced them with en-
tire satisfaction. With natural gas at so
cents a thousand, or II need be. at rs cents.
we could not only run these cooking ranges
purposes in the fall and spring DAYS in
which a small fire is needed, and enough
to greatly lessen the amount of coal in
the coldeSt OF weather. But even with MANY
more wells we cannot have such a luxury
If everybody is allowed to waste it as MANY
have been doing and are now doing. If we
ter and hereafter we must paw for
what we use. 1 have assumed that
at so cents a thousand this can be done.
Whether equity will require more or less
than this figure can easily be left to the
Council, who need no longer be terrorized
by the clamor of those who think 1t their
right to demand gas in any quantity aft
their own price and then waste 1t at pleas
ure. It is gas at some fixed price per thou
sand, and certainly a much higher price
than is fixed In the present charter, or no
An unusual popularity in this affair is
that the stockholders will make no move
towards obtaining a modification of their
charter. the move must come from the peo-
pie who wish to use gas. All who use il at
all this winter must pay the present rates
the coming winter is as good as last winter
my personal experience will lead me to nav
the Scot and take what comes. but some
will not. If the supply greatly falls off,
more and more will discontinue, until the
inevitable overtakes all of US. and natural
gas will be a thing of the past. What the
result of this will be TO the stockholders
one need not care. what 1t will be to the
patrons is easily anticipated. Can we afford
TO be Indifferent to the present siuationp
For one, would be glad to have all I need
on wood and coal. What is to be done
should be done at once. so that meters can
be provided, If possible before winter sets
in, or we can adjust our stoves and CRATES
and furnaces to old-fashioned fuel. The
company itself can afford to be quite in
different. L. L. SEE.
Indianapolis, Aug. Is.