Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-05
STATEMENT BY HEAD OF COMPANY
President Hamilton Says Action Di-'
vests Corporal ton of Responsibility.

vests Corporation of Responsibility.
President Hamilton of the Omaha Gas
company made the following statement: Il
Last July the gas coppany.applied to the
city building inspectorIfor permit to erect
an anal oder On It's tSs
works are located and where the first holder
has been since 1888 and where the gas works
fused by the building Inspector because Of
city ordinance then in existence prohibit
ing the erection OF holders or the enlarge
written consent Of ali the property owners
ton.
January the supreme court of Nebraska
declared this ordinance invalid. January
the city council passed resolution stating
the building inspector be and Is hereby
directed not to issue any permits for the
construction of gas plants, tanks or hold
ers until the city council passes the proper
ordinance regulating the same"
January rs the council by vote of to
passed an ordnance permitting the COM
pany to erect an additional holder on its
property on Twentieth and Center streets.
This last ordinances is the one Mayor Dahl
The erection Of this additional holder has
been desired by the gas company for more
than a year. II is necessary in order TO
enable the company to meet the increasing
demand for gas resulting from the constant
increase Of the population in the city The
material for the holder was ordered and
paid for about a year ago and is now lying
In the shops awaiting shipment II was not
thought possible that the company could
supply the demand during the present win
ter, the consumption OF gas being heavier
In the winter than at any other time of the
year, without this additional equipment,
and II is certain that, taking into considera-
tion the growth that will come before next
winter, that IL will be impossible for the
company TO meet next winters demand
without charging Its facilities. The COM
pany has now fought one restrictive Ordi-
nance through the supreme court and II has
some six months litigation and considerable
expense. 1t has lately urged upon the coun-
ell the passage OF the ordinance of January
70 permitting 1t to build this additional
holder on Its own property and in the Inn
mediate vicinity where the works have been
located for many years. This ordinance not
necessarily fails.
We feel that under all these clrcum-
stances, we have made every effort that
could reasonably be expected Of US to put
ourselves In shape to supply the city and
citizens with gas and II II should happen
that there is a failure or shortage in the
supply at any time hereafter We do not
feel that the company will be responsible
for It in view OF its past efforts to put IT.
self in position to meet the demand
So far as dollar gas Is concerned we
made proposition last summer to the city
authorities, which does not seem to have
met with any great favor. II the price
OF gas should be reduced from si.15, the
considerable increase In our sales OF gas.
and II the city will not permit us TO equip
ourselves to supply the demand at 81 Is, We
do not see how we could be expected 10
supply the larger demand there will be II
the price should be reduced to 81.