The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-30
THE GAS SITUATION.

Only slight touch OF cold weather
has been necessary to emphasize the
highly important fact that the natural
gas supply for this vicinity is to be
woefully weak this winter. On sew
eral of the sharp days of late count
less Topeka housewives have had
barely enough gas for cooking. In
not a few instances IN second and
third story flats, the pressure hasn't
been sufficient to provide them with
any, and they have been forced to
turn to their emergency coal stoves of
the monkey" variety. 1t doesn't take
much of an imagination to figure out
what the situation will be when really
cold weather. and of the continued
variety, arrives
And the already partial failure OF
the supply for even cooking and light
ing this early in the season, is about
all the evidence needed that any num-
Der of people are attempting to use
the gas for heating purposes. This Is
true, because the officials OF the gas
company are certain that there would
be plenty of gas for cooking and light
ing, provided no effort was made on
the part of any of the consumers to
use it for heating. But the gas COM
pany is helpless to prevent the use OF
gas for this purpose. What man
will do with gas that comes into his
own house is his business, and even II
there were laws and ordinances on the
subject, they would be we'll nigh I'M
possible of enforcement.
But there is a remedy for the situa-
ton. And it is to be found in raising
the price of gas to the large consum-
ers, and raising it sufficiently high so
will ha
using the gas for heating purposes
On the reasonable theory of the great
est good to the greatest number, this
is the course that should be followed
AS a fuel for cooking, gas is ideal
It's convenience for this purpose is
recognized on all sides. And it is no
more than just that it be conserved
for this purpose and also for lighting.
Enough gas for cooking and light
ing would be of far greater advantage
to the bulk of the people OF Topeka
and other natural-gas supplied towns,
than not enough for any purpose. This
is g proposition that surely doesn't
need any demonstration. 1t is almost
Self-evident.
The experiences of most families
with natural gas for these purposes
during the spring, the summer ana
the fall. demonstrate In0 TACT lIlSil Lew
of them use more than 10000 feet of
gas a month. There may be some who
use more for cooking and lighting, but
they are not many So the interests
of the largest number of people would
best be conserved by a new schedule
of prices for gas that would give all
consumers the first 10000 feet a
month at 27 or % cents thousand,
(which would make the cost % cents
a. thousand, with the usual rebate for
prompt payment of bills) and then
charge them IS cents a thousand for
all gas that they use in excess OF
10. 900 feet a month.
This is a proposition that has been
submitted by the gas companies to the
utilities commissions of kansas and
Missouri which have the price con-
trolling authority in the premises And
these commissions are not rendering
the best service to. the public by turn
ing deaf ears to this proposal. Instead
of benefiting the great majority of
the gas consumers by holding the
price of gas to it's present figure for
all quantities that may be used, the
commissions are, as a matter of fact,
PLAYING into the hands of the gas hogs,
the large consumers.