The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-06-16
Position OF 4. ~. G. p.
Company is Anything
BUt Rosy Hued Now
Is FOyCen Gas Offer of Logan Gas and Fuel Corpor-
alton Simply Bribe to Help Along Financial Skull
duggery of the Usual Standard Oil Variety?
Representatives of Allegheny
Gas Company Will Be in
This City Tomorrow to-
Present Draft.

BetwiNt the devil of an expiring
franchise and the deep blue sea OF
proposed natural gas competition. the
present position of the Light. Heat and
Power company is anything but rosy
hued.
Two years ago when the failure OF
its gas wells forced the old Richmond
Natural Gas company out OF business.
the supply and service mains OF that
concern were sold. 10 Glenn Hooyen.
an Anderson. capitalist. AT that time
the Hooven interests were negotiat-
ing for supply of natural gas from
the Logan Gas and Fuel corporation.
the concern that now wants TO supply
Richmond with natural gas.
Hooven Bought Old Mains
The Hooven interests thought they
had a definite understanding with the
Logan company to supply them with
natural gas at the state line. three
miles east of the city. at 20 cents a
thousand feet. At meeting in Pitts
tgsg of representatives OF the two
interests. Hooven was informed that
the lowest rate that would be given
was 221a cents
While the Hooven representatives
were comforting regarding the accept
ance of the modified proposition. the
president OF the United Gas and Elec.
trio company, the parent concern that
controls the Light, Heat and Power
company. appeared on the scepsnand
asked them if il were true tn4 they
were willing to sell the old mains in
Richmond. Informed that they were.
a deal was quickly arranged. and at
price in the neighborhood OF s200.0
the local Light, Heat and Power COM
pany. through it's holding company.
became the possessor of the service
lines of the Richmond Natural Gas
company in Richmond. In this man.
ner gas competition for the time be-
ing was forstalled.
New Spectre Appeared.
Meantime the supply lines of the
Logan company from it's West Lrginia
fields have been steadily creeping
across Ohio and into Indiana Like
the tenacies of an octopus, that deni-
zen of the sea so often used to rep
resent those Standard Oil interests
that are supposed TO control this very
company AS the supply mains neared
this locality IL is claimed the interests
in control of the Light, Heat and
Power company tried to deal with the
Logan company for a supply of natural
gas. The price named for each thous-
and feet. however. was so high that
the local company could not afford to
continue negotiations on that basis
Then came the Representatives of the
Logan company. They offered to sup
ply Richmond with 30 cent gas. To
the suggestion that this might be ac-
complished without tearing up the
streets to lay new mains by buying
the old natural gas mains now owned
by the l.. II. and p. company. objec
tions were interposed. The mains
were old and leaky. The service con-
nectious to houses were too small
The streets would not be torn up much
as the new mains could be laid IN the
alleys. And besides. the price asked
for the old mains by the local COM
pany was too high.
Quick Action Demanded.
The artificial gas companv's fran
chise expires in 1915. The new COM
pany applies for a franchise two years
before that time. To secure quick ac-
tion, and too quick action might ena-
BILE gentlemen who know just what
they want to obtain IT, natural gas by
the beginning of winter is promised II
the franchise is passed right away.
With this new franchise in its pock-
ct, the Logan concern is in position
to say to the L., ii. and p. company:
Gentlemen. we will give you SO and
so much for your old mains. Take IL
or leave it," And .he l.. r. and p
company will be in the position of the
bankrupt VINO couldn't even borrow
kerosene to start a fire with.
True, the citizens of Richmond may
have 40 cent natural gas. But how
much protection for the future VIII
have been provided In hastily drawn
and considered franchise? And be
sides, is the 20 cent offer simply O
bribe to help along financial skuldug.
gerry of the usual Standard oil variety7
Explanation of Delay.
! ASCoiulAs " S1Atthicnh VI H. ".
Krick made to S. K. Swayne over the
! long distance telephone this morning
the representatives of the Allegheny
Gas company will be in Richmond to
. morrow morning to present a draft Of
a franchise for natural gas.
Mr.. Krick claims that the company
was ready today with the franchise,
i but at the request of City Attorney
: Bond the matter YVES held over until
! tomorrow as the city attorney claimed
: that he would be too busy to give the
matter consideration before Tuesday
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