Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-06-01

the necessity Tor extended ana I'M
proved service and for the issuance
OF securities necessary for the produc-
ing OF funds, In order 10 sive ade-
quate service 90 community and
to provide sufficient capacity for all
demands.
This means. in our business, from
the minimum demand OF midsummer
to the peak load OF zero "A varia-
tion, In domestic use, OF about l,200
per cent.
In many states, the commissions
have power 90 pass on the necessity
Tor competition; and this provision
shold apply In all states, In our opin-
ion; because II is unfair and unjust 10
any public utility TO regulate II by
commission, when the city or village
authorities reserve to themselves the
power to grant franchises 10 others
10 engage in the same business; or
even launch the city or village itself
into like business and sell the COM
modify at less than cost, thus destroy
Ing private investment and compell-
ing II, by taxation, 10 contribute 10
the deficit OF the municipality
plant.
In this connection We can see no
valid reason for tho owner OF stock
in public enterprise being compell-
ed 10 accept lower rate OF profit
than tho investor in private enter
prise, all other conditions being equal
Brains, energy and efficiency should
in justice and equity be capitalized.
Otherwise, only the rich can afford to
invest where the rate Of earning can
not exceed certain per cent. on the
investment; and the incentive for i'm
proyement, with the consequent lower
cost Of production and lower price to
the consumer---all the result Of ap-
piled brain energy-will cease; and a
condition similar to absentee land
lordism will prevail
We are, in sense, the stewards Of
the people; and we should keep this
thought in mind; and strive to make
the most of this stewardship.
We should review the past, from
time to time, in order TO determine
whether or not we have been foflow-
ing the proper course; and II not, we
should see that the steering gear is
in trim for sudden change.
As ! have said, we are rendering
public servlce-and If the public does
not fully understand and appreciate
the character and quality Of that SER
vice, the fault is ours
We are engaged In the production
transportation and distribution of gas
and we may well feel proud of the
great work we are doing toward
bringing about a higher and better
civilization
Yes I sometimes feel that we are
too prone to be content with the fact
itself; and not persistent enough in
reminding the public Of the wonder
ful advantages that we are offering.
We contribute, for instance, In n
marked degree, to the comfort and
happiness of the home, by eliminat-
ing the drudgery of coal handling and
ash shifting and the nerve-racking
ard temper destroying labors accom-
panying
We substitute for such drudgery
tho comfort, the luxury, the cleanli-
ness, the convenience OF a fuel that
makes possible the cleaner life that
must precede the better civilization.
Nor Is that all.
For, in considering the benefits de-
rived from the use Of gas as a fuel.
a.. 10
every resident Of n gas-using com
munity, whether he be a consumer
or not.
The 5CS billion cubic feet OF natur-
al gas sold In 1911 was equivalent to
25.500, 900 tons of coal, or an aver
age Of approximately 10000 tons per
day.
Based on 10 per cent. for ashes
and clinkers. this would represent
2,542, 900 tons of ashes to be handled
and disposed Of.
In the city OF Cleveland alone, for
instance, 1,1S5,O0 tons Of coal were
displaced by natural gas during the
year 1912. This eliminated something
like $4,000 tons of ashes, and the
average cost of disposing Of ashes is
zoe per ton. or a saving of $40, 900 to
the city in this one item.
When we add to this the saving
implied in the elimination of damage
to pavements by the handling Of coal
and ashes, the saving In street clean
ing, the abating of the smoke nuis-
ance, the reduction Of loss by fire,
the addition to real estate value,
etcetera, not to mention the revenue
derived from taxation, It will be found
that the natural gas company saves
the municipality very substantial
sum of money every year. without
increasing its expenses, either by re-
quirng police protection or other
Wise.
These facts are impressive and yet
In very few instances do we strive to
drive them home to the public.
The first and foremost demand OF
the public is for adequate service
This too. Is our first consideration.
Yet, in domestic service. as have
pointed out, there Is variation OF
1900 per cent between adequate mid
summer and adequate mid winter
service.
The cost OF rendering such service
as Is now required all the year around
Is quite naturally much greater than
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