The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-23
Product Lacking in Either of
These Properties Consti-
tutes a Violation of Fran
chise, Gardner Says.
ADVISES EXPERTS
CONDUCT TESTS
Franchise Which Expires in
1915 Weak in That 1t Does
Not Specify Heat Units to
Cubic Foot.

BY a STANDARD quality" of artificial
gas. as II Is prescribed in franchise.
the Light, Heat and Power company
shall furnish It's patrons in Richmond,
the city attorney holds includes the
heating as well as lighting properties.
In the Light. Heat and Power fran
chisc Ia the phrase ito furnish artif-
cial gas to the city of Richmond for
lighting, heating and mechanical pur-
poses" Failing to comply with any
one OF these three purposes would
constitute violation of the franchise
according to Gardner.
The city will very likely test the
gas furnished by the Light. Heat and
Power company to determine wheth-
er or not the franchise Is being violat.
cd. As to illuminating and mcchani-
cal purposes. use In gas engines and
laboratories.s Attorney Gardner thinks
the company Is putting out the salts
factory article Of gas. but the heating
properties are doubtful.
The test which the city will probably
apply. will require that the gas to be
furnished sold and distributed. shall
have at least 900 British thermal units
per cubic foot. measured according TO
the standard employed for that pur.
pose"
This standard was that adopted last
year. when the city had negotiations
with the old Richmond Natural Gas
company. regarding the adoption of a
franchise II is the standard by which
the Citizens Gas company of indiana
apolis Is regulated, and believed by
Mr.. Gardner to be a satisfactory one.
Expect to Conduct Tests.
Attorney Gardner recommends that
an expert chemist should be employ
ed by the city to make the test, He
considers Prof. II. ". Holmes of Earl
ham college. man who could give
the city valuable Information. ..
Whether or not Richmond is get.
ting water or coal gas. Is a question
which has been discussed. matters not
to the consumers, according to the
city attorney. II Is question of
good or bad xas. Besides taking the
900 thermal unit test. Mr.. Gardner
will also send for the qualifications
used by tho New York utilities COM
mission.
Regarding the use Of the old natural
gas mains MIR. Gardner said on Thurs.
day morning that he doubts whether
the general public would be in favor
OF excluding the l.. II. & p. from us
ing them even IL the court would de-
eide in the city's favor when the case
II brought to trial.
Regarding New Franchise.
In the Arst place the matter was
brought up by the mayor merely to
get the company In such a position
that q new franchise could be secured.
The expediency OF the move Is now
doubted.
The franchise under which the
Lght. Heat and Power company is
now operating. expires April 1. 1915.
according to City Attorney Gardner.
II suppose" stated Mr.. Gardner
that almost everyone In Richmond
knows that the term "candle-p power"
refers to the Illuminating quality Of
gas. We use the terms daily In rela.
tion to gas and electric light. and
have never heard any one use II in
connection with the heating qualities
Of gas"
Continuing Mr.. Gardner stated.
I'VE do not need an expert to tell
10 what IL meant by the term. but we
would need an expert to make the test
and determine whether or not the gas
was OF Is candle power.
I'm the l.. III. a. y. franchise. it
states that the quality of gas supplied
shall 1T all times be up to the stand
ard. Now. I believe when there is
an occasional deviation from the stan
dard the franchise has been violated
However. the franchise provides that
when an unavoidable accident occurs
the franchise would not be violated. :"
Must Have Heat Qualities.
III Il Is fact" Mr.. Gardner said,
"that the light units of gas have ab.
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