The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-17
BIG REDUCTION
TO CONSUMERS
City Council Passed Gas Or
dinance Last Night,
PRICE OF ELECTRIC LIGHTS
Also Much Other Bus
mess Transacted Last Night.

The city council last night passed two
ordinances that beginning with the first
of March, will result in a great saving
to the citizens of Wichita, especially those
who use gas for fuel ara illuminating
purposes and also electric ght; and they
viii also serve to increase the use of gas
and electricity in this city. The ordi-
nances passed We're th0s regulating the
prices OF gas and electricity TO consumers
in this city.
In 1889, the Wichita C s, Electric Light
ana Power Company was granted a fran
chise to furnish gas and electricity to the
citizens of Wichita. The maximum price
was $3.50 per thousand cubic feet for gas
Some years later the company reduced
the price to $500 per thousand.
Within the past few months many peo-
pie have objected to the quality of gas
furnished them and &iso the price. Some
weeks ago the Eagle contained an article
bearing on this subject and at that time
it was stated that n ordinance was be
ing prepared, looking to the lowering of
the price of gas, AID also providing for
gas inspection.
The price for gas is given at $3.50 per
thousand, owing 20 the discount which
the company is required make If the
bills are paid within ten days after the
month during y lich the gas was con-
sumed.
The ordinance passed last night were
as follows and AXE effect on March 1st.
An Ordinance Regulating the Price of
Manufactured Gas to Be Charged by
Any Person Company or Corporation
fn nf
or Its Inhabitants and Providing for
the Inspectiol of Gas Meters and lllum-
mating Gas
Be it ordained by the Mayor and Council
men of the City of Wichita:
Section l. That no person, company or
corporation furnishing gas to consumers
in the city Of Wichita shall. after the
first day OF March 1903. exceed the rate
of one and 5o-100 Csl.50 dollars per thou
sand cubic feet, provided that all con-
sumers of gas in said city who shall pay
for gas consumed on or before the 10th
day of the month succeeding the con-
sumption Of gas so charged for, shall be
entitled 70 a discount or reduction of
10 per cent of said price of one and 5o-l00
G5M dollars per thousand cubic feet
Section 2. For the purpose of enforcing
sAe provisions OF this ordinance relating
20 the manufacturing and selling of IL
Illuminating gas and securing the candle
Flower and quality of gas herin required
same the city electrician of the city of
Wichita shall, in addition to the duties
now imposed upon him by ordinances, eX-
anime and test the accuracy Of all new
gas meters disconnected for repairs before
the same shall be connected for use in
this city and when he finds the same to
be correct to seal the same with some
suitable seal or stamp and mark there
on 10 date q his pXamipa fiOp
Section 3. Upon the application of any
consumer of CASTOR q test of the meter
Through which gas is supplied 10 him, he
shall deposit viii Ghe city electrician one
GD dollar and I}ke his receipt therefor,
then the city electrician shall notify the
person, firm or corporation owning said
meter to dtsconnect- and, remove the same
to the Office of the city electrician. 1t
shall be the duty of the city electrician
to test and seal or return 10 the owner
as Incorrect, any meter so removed upon
application Of the consumer within three
hours of its receipt at his Office; should
the city electrician find any meter cor
rect. he shall pay the one dollar deposited
by the consumer to the Sas company or
vendor and take receipt therefor, but
should the meter be found Incorrect the
city electrician shall return said money
to the consumer
Section 4: The city electrician shall have
his office in the City Building and shan
be provided at the expense Of said gas
company or gas companies. with suitable
apparatus for testing the accuracy Of gas
meters and candle power and quality of
Illuminating gas.
Section 5: No person. company or cor
poration supplying Illuminating gas to the
city or to private consumers in this city
shall supply or sell any Illuminating gas.
five feet of which shall not be capable of
producing a lisht equal in intensity TO
that produced by eighteen standard sperm
candles consuming at the rate Of one hum
dred goo grains per hour each GS candle
power and suitable for Illuminating and
heating purposes.
Section 6: 1t shall be the duty OF the
city electrician to examine daily, except
Sunday and at or about the hour of the
greatest consumption. the gas and candle
power. and as often as it may be deemed
ejdvisable. the quality of the Illuminating
gas furnished the city or its inhabitants.
and whenever the candle power thereof
shall. upon three days in any calendar
month be less than required by this
ordinance or II tn gas furnished shall
not be a good commercial gas. to report
the same at once 10 the corporation or
other vendor supplying the same. and on
the first day of each month he shall file
with the City Clerk n statement under
oath showing the average candle power
OF the gas furnished TO consumers in said f,
city for the proceeding month. which /
statement shall be published in the Off
cial city paper on the first day Of each
month or in the first issue OF said paper
thereafter In case said inspection rs
shown by the published report Of the city !
electrician. shall show an average OF .
less than eighteen 0S candle power. as !
provided herein. for the proceeding month 4
then said gas company or companies sup
plying gas to said city and Inhabitants
thereof and failing to furnish gas Of the 1