South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-07-14
MLSHAWAKA NEWS
NOsThmes Office 12O Lincoln WAY West Home Phone 1s; Beu1c
GAYLOR PROTESTS TO
LOWER GAS STANDARD
Writes Public Service Com
mission on Proposed Re-
duCtion of Grade.

Mayor Gaylor has protested by
letter 10 the public service commits
sion OF Indiana on the proposed
decrease Of so British thermal units
In the present standard Of 500 units
OF artificial gas as proposed by the
Indiana Gas association, which as
ISOLATION is bur a com bination OF the
verious companies throughout the
state The mayors contention IS that
by lowering the standard the con-
sumer will have 70 pay a proportion
ate Increase for the gas consumed.
Following Is the communication:
Public Service Commission OF In
diana. indianapolis. Indiana.
Gentlemen.
As mayor OF the city OF Misha-
waka. Ind. and in behalf Of our
citizens. who are patrons OF the
Northern Indiana Gas & Electric
Co. / want to most emphatically
protest against your honorable body
permitting the Indiana Gas associa-
ton 10 lower the present standard
Of 500 British thermal units. In
case Of artificial gas, TO a standard
Of $50 British thermal units
During the year 1914 the cities Of
Mishawaka and South Berd filed pc
titions with the public service com
mission asking for a reduction in
the rates charged for gas by the
Northern Indiana Gas & Electric
Co. After many conferences between
officials Of these cities and represen-
tatives OF the Northern Indiana Gas
& Electric Co. a compromise was
agreed upon reducing the rates
charged for gas by said company,
said rates to become effective May
fst. 1917.
Under date OF Sept. s. 1915. the
public service commission approx
ed the rates agreed upon in this
compromise and ordered that same
become effective May LIST. 1917.
Tou will see that these new rates
we're approved by the public service
commission less than a year ago and
have been in force less than 90 days.
Il would seem 70 me. therefore, 10
be very unfair TO the city OF Misha-
waka and the patrons OF the North
ern Indiana Gas & Electric Co. II at
this time your honorable body were
TO permit a reduction in the stand
ard of thermal units for artificial
gas. as the effect Of such reduction
would be that a larger volume OF
gas would have 10 be used 70 per
form the same service, which would
be in effect a raise in the rates
charged the consumer for gas.
am not unmindful Of the fact
that Just at this time the cost Of
labor. fuel and material is somewhat
higher than in normal times. In my
opinion, however, this condition is
only temporary. and when we con
slider the fact that for many years
when the cost OF labor. fuel and ma
terials was very much less than at
the present time, the Northern In
diana Gas & Electric Co. were
charging a much higher rate for gas
than the rates now In effect. IL
would seem unfair 20 permit, at this
time. a lowering Of the present
standard OF thermal units for arti-
fetal gas.
Therefore. IN behalf OF the city
OF Mishawaka and the users of gas
in this city, 1 most respectfully and
emphaticaIly protest against the
granting OF the petition OF the In
diana Gas association 20 lower said
standard.
Very respectfully yours.
RALPH w. GAYLOR,
MayOr