South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-14

Gas rates are TO be decreased
here about 10 per cent subject
to the approval of the public
service commission. The pres
ent rate is 81 per LOCO cubic
feet. The Northern Indiana Gas
and Electric Co. operates here.
Following a conference between
/ Mayor Fred w. Keller and Mayor
Ralph Gaylor of Mishawaka with
representatives Of the Northern In
diana Gas and Electric Co.. at the
city hall this morning Mayor Keller
announced that the fight for lower
gas rates will be continued before
the Indiana public utilities commits
sion.
After explaining that for economic
reasons II was impossible TO lower
rates in South Bend at this time,
the gas concerns representatives left
the matter in the hands Of Mayor
Keller and Mayor Gaylor. The lat
ter two men declared after the con-
ference that the petition for lower
| rates NOulu NC NcNhth up bCACAC N-A~
utilities commission next week.
Clarence II. Geist Of Philadelphia,
president OF the Northern Indiana
Gas and Electric Co. and head OF
/ 40 other like companies I'm Indiana
and Ohio, G.. w. Curran, secretary
Of the concern, and c. y. Chubb.
manager of the South Bend plant
represented the gas company at the
/ conference. Mayor Keller. Mayor
Gaylor and City Atty. Eli f. Seebirt
, represented the city. The confer
ence was held in the office of the
mayor at the city hall aL4 continued
/ from 10 o'clock until 12:45 when
the session adjourned with no COM
promise having been reached.
Geist Gives Company Side.
Following the conference Mr.. Geist
! gave out a statement, presenting the
gas company's side Of the question.
and explaining the reasons why a re-
duction could not be made at the
present time.
All Of the products used by this
company have increased greatly
during the past year" he declared.
The South Bend plant is operated
by an oil system and the price Of
this product has doubled since a
year ago. Ii will cost between $50
600 and $4,000 more TO operate
here in 1916 than il did in 1916. The
I cost of oil will exceed that Of
year ago by between $4,000 and
$4,000. while the price of gas fit
tings and other materials have in
creased TO the extent that they will
cost between $4,000 and $4,000
more this year than last.
Can't Get OIL from Mexico.
We have been expecting ship
ments Of oil from Mexico, but you
will readily see that we cannot Sc
cure this oil under present cOndi-
tons. Therefore we have plans un-
derway for the erection Of a coal
gas plant in South Bend which will
enable US TO operate cheaper than
with the oil system. The plans for
this plant are we'll advanced and We
expect 10 lower the rates here in the
future. whether the matter is taken
before the utility commission or not.
Cost OF production is 10 cents
more on the tho uSdQQ IeeI LIllS y ear
than last Now the city wants Us 10
reduce another 10 cents. This means
20 cents less on the thousand feet.
Why should the gas company be
compelled 10 reduce its prices while
the prices OF every other product
are rapidly ascending? II can easily
be seen that this is not sensible.
Mr.. Chubb explained 10 the rep
resentatives OF South Bend and
Mishawaka that even the labOrers
employed by the gas company are
asking for increased pay. Prices
are going up in every direction and
II does not seem reasonable that gas
rates should be reduced under the
present conditions.
If We had a coal gas plant in
South Bend the rate would be re
duced on July l." continued Mr..
Geist. We expect 10 make reduc-
ton whenever We can get this nes
plant in. The rate will probably be
reduced then 10 cents per 1000 feet