Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-12-26
A STUDY
Into the Matter OF the Supply of
Natural Gas and Electricity for
the City OF Louisville Discloses
Many Interesting Facts.

During the nine months prior W
March, 1914, nearly 200 miles OF
twelve-inch pipe were laid and
tested by the Kentucky Pipe Line
Company. In the meanwhile the
Louisville Gas and Electric Company
built about fifteen miles of medium
pressure line from sixteen to ten
inches. This starts at reducing
station on the outskirts and forms
a belt line about the city, serving
eight new regulating stations.
Through these regulators gas is fed
into the low pressure distributing
mains and holders. The company
was fortunate in contracting for Its
gas supply in West Virginia, as this
State is the largest producer in the
Union and the supply is enormous.
Upon the introduction of natural
gas into the city, about the middle
of last March, the manufacture OF
gas was discontinued. The gas
makers, however, are kept upon the
company's pay roll, being retained
as helpers in the various branches of
the gas distribution department.
With everything prearranged, as IL
is, in case of trouble with the city's
supply of natural gas, the manu-
facture of water gas would begin
within one hour. BY utilizing all OF
the holders of the old companies
about one winters day supply is
stored in the city.
Growth in the electric department
of the Louisville Gas and Electric
Company is noteworthy. Electricity
Is still manufactured from coal, but
great changes have been made since
July Q. 1918. The four old electric
companies had been operating seven
generating stations and two SUBJ
stations. Most of these we're
antiquated and inefficient. A care
full investigation showed that by
making certain additions to one OF
the plants all of the others might
be shut down, thereby effecting a
great saving in the manufacturing
cost. The station selected for de-
velopment was we'll located on the
Ohio river where condensing water
was abundant. and where two rail-
roads as well as the river provided
an unfailing coal supply. This plant
had been designed along modern
high-capacity, high-efficiency lines
and was laid out and sufficient real
estate provided for four or five times
the load the consolidated company
had connected at the time. With
all haste compatible with thorough
study of conditions and plans. addi-
tons to the. company's waterside
station were begun.
The city had been paying for arc
lighting at the rate of $67 per lamp
per year. After the merger $56
per year was charged for lamps in
the overhead district and $50 per
lamp in the underground district.
From street lighting alone there has
been saved to the city since the
merger approximately $4,000.
II has been through the use OF
natural gas, however, that the great
est benefit has accrued to the
citizens, and strange to relate, it was
the promise of natural gas which
seemed to excite most of their sus-
picions. Prior to the merger the
rates for gas we're 81 per thousand
cubic feet for lighting and sixty-five
and seventy-five cents for fuel. The
contracted to bring natural
gas from West Virginia by July 1,
1914, and sell it for thirty-five cents.
The company at once equalized all
rates for heating gas at sixty-five
cents and on March /, 1914, started
billing all gas at the new thirty-fiye
cents rate. Natural gas was first
admitted to the mains on March 10,
1914. II took some weeks to get
burners adjusted and the people
accustomed TO the new gas with its
much greater heat value. Com
plants we're numerous enough at
first. but they gradually disap-
peared.
Recently under the encourage
ment of the management fortnightly
of the employees have been
held These meetings are open to
all permanent employees Of the COM
pany. Papers. reports and discus
sions have been largely along prac-
tioal and educational lines. Aside
rom their apparent functions, these
are developing a sense
,f community of interest between all
he employees, between the employees
and the company and between en-