Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-07-24
OTHER CITIES WILL ACT
ST. Louis, Breckenridge and
Ithaca Expected to Adopt
Ordinances also.

A raise of twenty cents per thou
sand cubic feet Of gas and the rails
ing of the minimum charge for gas
from fifty cents TO one dollar by St
Louis. Alma, Ithaca and Brecksn-
ridge now seems probable, and il is
hardly expected that the Gratiot
County Gas company viii be forced
20 go to the state utilities commits
sion for aid
The members of the city commits
sion, the advisory committee appoint
ed by Mayor Charles r. Murphy and
delegates from st. Louis, Ithaca
and Breckenridge, were all present
at a meeting held here Friday even
ing when Manager r. b. Wagner, in
behalf of the Gratiot County Gas
company, told of the necessity for
higher rates, and the advisory COM
mittee to the commission later made
a favorable report in this regard.
Mayor Murphy called the Friday
evening meeting to order and then
turned the session over TO Mr.. Wag-
ner, who laid before the meeting the
needs Of the company. He told of
the fight that one of his companies
had at Waycross, Ga, and how a
rate of Sl.70 had been secured
through the utilities commission of
that state. after the council there
had refused TO longer continue an
emergency rate of S1.50. He spoke
of the bitter fight at Lansing, where
the city had spent $4,000 in its
fight and how the pas company had
secured a higher rate.
Mr.. Wagner stated that the earn
ings of the company since it was
started had been only one and three
fourths per cent, and that during the
present year the company was los
ing money He stated that the loss
so fa~ this year is Sl,077.55, with the
amount each month growing greater.
In telling of the needs of the company
Mr.. Wagner told Of the expense Of
producing a thousand feet Of Gas to,
day and a thousand feet in 1915
showing a thirty cent increase in cost
at the plant.
When Gr Wagner had brought hi.
remarks TO close z. VI. Smith OF
the advisory committee made a mo
ton that it was the sense of the
meeting that the raise be granted /
was Immediately seconded r. II
Hilcox offered an amendment that Z
certified accountant 90 over the com
pany's books to find out its needs. II
was supported and on vote adopted
as was the motion.
The committee elected Henry II
Soule as chairman and Harry Gerbei
as secretary and the report Of tn,
committee was then written up anc
later signed.
Monday evening the city counci
held meeting at St Louis at which
time a committee Of three was ap
pointed 10 investigate the matter
Those in the committee are Romain
Clark, Mr. Rally, president of th
board of trade, and Alderman Buck
The council there will hold anothe
meeting Friday night and again tax
up the gas matter
Tuesday evening the city commits
sion here met az the city hall. an
accepted the report of the ADVISOR
committee. and an ordinance wa
filed with the clerk, which will rails
the rates of the gas company 2
cents per thousand cubic feet for ga
ard establish a minimum charge q
Sl.00 This will make the rate 81 A
net, per thousand for gas, if the OF
dinance is passed as now seems yer
probable
Last night the village council me
at Ithaca to act in the matter, but
renort of the meeting there has M
yet been made available 1t is e,
pected, however, that the action thei
would be favorable to the compan,