The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-18
FAVOR METER SYSTEM TO
SAVE CONSUMERS COMPANY
Legal Committee of the League
Will Prepare Evidence for
the Council.
TO INCREASE

Believing that the most advisable plan
by which the Consumers Gas Trust Com
pany can be saved for the manufacture of
gas is to increase the revenue resulting
from the supplying of natural gas, the legal
committee of the Gas Consumers League
is now preparing a contract whereby the
company will have the right to furnish nat
ural gas by meter and at the same time
manufacture sufficient gas to supply the
demands of the city. The legal committee
yesterday held an interesting meeting at
the Commercial Club, at which many citi-
zens, including fifteen prominent lawyers
of the city, besides l.. c. Walker and d.
w. Howe. were present. The plan of pre-
pairing a meter ordinance was thoroughly
discussed and was favored by all present.
1t was decided to prepare the ordinance.
to be presented at the next meeting of the
committee.
The plan of having the Consumers Gas
Trust Company furnish gas by the meter
comes from the belief which has been
growing of late that the company can Sc
cure larger receipts with which to support
itself by selling gas by the meter. AT pres
ent the company is behind in it's revenues
and it is believed that the receipts result
ing from the meter system would be suffi-
cient to enable the company to bore more
wells and offer a larger supply OF gas, while
in the meantime 1t could be preparing to
manufacture gas. The company now has
a suppl of about 100000 cubic feet OF gas
a day n by charging a rate of Is cents
a thousand feet il could realize revenues
sufficient to double the supply. 1t is also
pointed out that the meter system would
tend to equalize the supply. At present
some people are receiving a good supply OF
gas, while others do not get enough, but
both are paying the same rates. BY means
or meters all would receive the same
amount and pay the same rates.
ALSO MANUFACTURED A
Should the company not be able to supply
the demands of the whole city by the meter
system, the contract will provide that it
manufacture gas in conjunction. Although
1t would hardly be possible to supply nat
ural and artificial gas by means of the same
mains. it is suggested that certain parts OF
the city be provided with natural gas and
the other parts with the artificial gas.
In case the natural gas becomes low the
company can Increase the manufacture OF
gas with the receipts arising from the meter
system.
1.-The city is beginning to realize said
Mr.. Potts yesterday, that the meter sys-
that the company is not making money fol
the stockholders, but that If il gets certain
rights whereby ii can increase its revenues
1t can increase It's output of gas and be bet,
ter able to manufacture gas. L have nc
doubt that the people will be glad to get
gas at q rate of 80 cents a thousand cubic
feet. This would give the company a rev.
enue of $4,000 a day, which would meet ex-
penses and provide a surplus which could 6e
used In the construction of an artificial gas
plant. The gas company is now running be.
hin and will I'm time be wrecked unless
something Is done. The meter system
would sustain 1t while the fight for manu-.
featured gas is being carried on"