The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-20
Gas FOR A YEAR.
Kansas City, Kan, Residents
Pleased With New Fuel.
Bills Are Reduced Considerably
Since Using " Natural"
NOW IN 5000 HOMES.
Number Of Consumers Have
Doubled Since the Start.
A Large Per Cent Pay Bills of
so Cents Monthly Only.
NOW IN 5000 HOMES.

Kansas City, Kan, Aug. 2O.-A few
days more than year has passed since
natural gas was turned into the mains
here. Real estate men, merchants and
home owners are unanimously of the
opinion that no other one agency has
contributed to so great an extent to-
ward the city's growth and develop
ment 1t Is estimated by dealers that
Kansas City. Kan. real estate has
made a general advance OF nearly 70
per cent since the Introduction of nat
ural gas. The city's population has
increased 1864, or more than II per
cent in the last year
The cheap light and fuel is now USED
by 5000 families for domestic pur-
poses. Six thousand homes are light
Cd and heated exclusively by natural
gas.
Prior to the Introduction of natural
p gas, coal was used almost altogetned
Tor factory fuel. Now more than 5oo
million cubic feet of gas is used each
month for manufacturing purposes.
Fourteen of the largest manufacturing
plants in the city now burn H. me
manufacturers pay eight cents per
/ 1000 cubic feet if more than 40 mil
lion feet is used each month ten
cent rate is made on quantities exceed
ing Y million cubic feet month
we supplied only 1900 patrons
with artificial gas the last year IL was
in use" said w H Mckenzie, super
intendent Of the Wyandotte Gas COM
pany. "a comparison Of our business
done with artificial gas and natural
ga shows what an advantage the con-
sumner has in using natural gas.
The gas company's books show that
the average monthly bill for natural
gas the last year is S1.81- This in
cludes gas for light cooking and heat
ing purposes. The average monthly
bill for artificial gas was $40. This
gas was used almost entirely for light
ing purposes and for cooking
During the winter months OF 1SO4-o
the average monthly consumption OF
artificial gas was 100000 cubic feet
On an average there were 1880 pat
rOns and an average of 2,25O cubic
feet, or 1928 worth. of gas was used
by each consumer
An average of SO million cubic feet
of natural gas was used during the
winter months of 1866 for domestic
consumption alone Each of the $500
consumers used an average OF 1900
cubic feet month, amounting 10
1927. Six thousand consumers heat
ed their houses altogether with gas.
A comparison of the two kinds of
gas during the seven summer months
shows that in 1905 nine million cubic
feet of artificial gas was sold each
month to $500 patrons. Each con-
sumner used an average of 1000 cubic
feet per month, or 50 worth of gas.
The 5000 consumers who are using
natural gas this summer are paying
an average monthly gas bill of only II
cents. More than Is per cent of the
gas company's patrons are paying the
minimum bill of so cents. The total
domestic consumption for this summer
is averaging % million cubic feet a
month
I'VE like the natural gas" said Mr..
Mckenzie Our customers are better
satisfied with it than they were with
the artificial article. New demands for
it are made daily. We are laying a
mile of gas mains a week TO the sub
urban parts of the city and will soon
have the entire city piped. We have
laid more than 80 miles Of mains in the
last year.