La Junta tribune., 1913-06-28
MAY HAVE GAS PLANT.
Proposition to Establish Plant In La
Junta Now Being Considered by
Our City Fathers.

La Junta may have a full-fledge ed
gas plant before the snow flies.
or at least that is what the promot.
ers promise providing they are Civ
en- twenty year franchise granting
them the privilege OF using the
streets and alleys OF this budding me.
tropolis G. NJ. Culver and W. II.
Gates, Of Denver. are the promoters
OF the project. and spent several
days in La Junta this week talking
the matter over with numerous citi.
zens OF this city. Last Monday ev.
en!ng there was a special meeting Of
the city council called for the pur-
pose Of having an informal confer.
snce. during which a proposed ordi.
nance granting G. NJ. Culver and
Wellington II. Gates a twenty year
franchise and the privilege OF using
the streets and alleys for the laying
Of mains and pipes was read.
The proposed ordinance grants the
gas company n franchise for the per
Tod Of twenty years, and gives the
city the privilege OF purchasing the
plant at the end of that period The
franchise makes n rate TO consumers
OF 81. so per thousand cubic feet which
IL the rate paid by consumers In
Greeley and Grand Junction. where
plants are In operation under condi'
tions similar to thoes which exist
In La Junta. these conditions In
particular meaning the cost OF raw
material for the manufacture OF gas.
such as coke. etc. On a comparative
basis the promoters say that gas AT
$3.50 per thousand cubic feet In
La Junia will be about ON u par
with gasoline at l5 cents per gallon,
which nov costs US % cents, and
lights at 5 cents per killowau for
which we now pay - cents. The
promoters estimate that gas for
fuel aud lights wili cost the average
family about 81 per month. There
will be no minimum charge for gas
and consumers will pay only for
the gas they use as shown by the
meter.
The plan, that II Is proposed to
install IL what In known as the
Lowe process. or water gas, which
has been very largely adopted In
cities and towns throughout the Unit
ed States. Water gas is manufactur.
I'd by a process In which hydrogen
and the oxides Of carbon. produced
by tho action OF Ateam upon carbon
at n high temperature. are mixed ana
then combined with richly carburet-
ted gases. usually from petroleum.
thus producing the power OF illumina'
ton. The first plant using the
Lowe process WAS erected at Phoe'
nixviiic. Pa. In 1878.
The gas meter IL n simple device.
op"rMteU ny kAA W'"S"''' """''"~
given quantity OF gas. the con
sumption Of which permits rcfiiiiny.
The pressure Of gas Is controlled
both at the central office and At the
point Of consumption. The meter
v n most convenient device for de-
t.rmining the amount OF consumption
and ~ q mechanical bookkecpcr is
presumably without error. though
householder frequently attack It's re-
liability and trushfulness--but per.
haps most Of our readers have had
some experience with electric meters.
and this Information concerning yns
meters will be- more or less superf1n-
ous
10 far A. We have been able to As
certain everybody IN La Junin " In
favor II the establishment of n sar
p,aut in this city. II would be a
great convenience for cooking. "s'
pcciaiiy IN the summer time and
boon that would be- appreciated by e'
cry house wife In la Jun,n. Although
mo definite action WAS taken In The
matter every member of ih. city
council seemed tn be inclined TO CIV"
every encouragement To promot'ra
os the Gas plant. and hope they VII
b. abic IN bring their plans I"
successful issue.