The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-08-10
DELL PLAIN
ADDRESSES
ROTARY CLUB


In an address made before the Ham
rnond Rotary Club today by Morse Dell
Plain Vice President or the Northern
Indiana Gas g. Electric Company. spoke
of the gas and electric properties in
this district as follows:
In the Calumet district the Northern
Indiana Gas 8 Electric Company SER
yes a population OF over 100 600. every
one OF which IS dependent directly or
indirectly for his or her daily existence
upon the service which this company
renders.
The Gas Production Department =
at the Gas Works on North Holman
street. From holders located at this
point and al East Chicago the gas IS
distributed through approximately 80
miles OF gas main al both high and
low pressure 10 $4,000 consumers in
the cities of Hammond. Whiting and
East Chicago. and through the West
Hammond Gas = Electric Company IN
West Hammond and Burnham. Ill
During the twelve months ending
june s0th. 1920. over o0,0oo.o00 cubic
feet Of gas was put out through the
mains of this company. TO many II
may be interesting to know that a
large percentage Of this gas was used
in industrial plants for fuel purposes.
such as the treating OF metal. heating
of soda nettles. refining OF steels and
special alloys. melting or brass and
other metals. enameling and for in
Vulnerable other purposes requiring
close temperature regulation
The Electric Production Department
IS conferred in our main electric plant
at East Chicago where there IS an up
to-date generating system, capable OF
producing over 10000 II. P : plant
Of this size was established in 1872
At time when the demand for cleo
trtc power on our system was only =
900 II p. This will give you idea
of the foresight or the owners Of this
utility. who foresaw the wonderful in
dUstial possibilities Of this district.
Th& availability Of an adequate power
o. prospective industrial plants and
the great industrial service which this
district rendered the government dur
ing the World War was largely made
possible through the adequacy OF the
electric power supply IN our East
Chicago Station.
Our main electric distribution sys-
tenn IL the 1000 volt at which voltage
the current Ia distributed throughout
the district TO various sub-stations
where II 10 stepped down to 2,2o0 volts
Tor more general distribution.
Electric service is supplied by this
Company 10 the cities OF Hammond
Whiting and East Chisago. and in the
towns OF Highland, Dyer. Munster and
Griffith, and through the West Ham
nond Gas and Electric Company 70 the
city OF West Hammond in Illinois. To
the as miles Of electric distribution
lines of the Northern Indiana Gas &
Electric Company are connected APP
proximately 1900 consumers. During
the twelve months ending Juno 50th.
1870. $4,000 900 kiiowatt hours were
put out by the Northern Indiana Gas
d. Electric Company for lighting pur-
poees alone. and over 100000 kilo-
watt hours for industrial power pur-
poses Practically all Of the inn
portant Industrial PLANTS in this dis
trict Use electric power supplied by
this company. and we find among our
consumers many novel industrial in
stallattons IN both the gas and cleo
tric field. In this respect we all know
that the Calumet District ranks very
high, and in the opinion Of the speaker
this district is destined 70 become the
leading industrial center Of the coun-
try.
The electrical equipment for supply
ing current to the $500 street lamps
in this district Is located largely in
what Is known as the Hammond Sub
Station On North Holman street. and
the amount Of special apparatus re-
CURED for this service alone is worthy
Of note az it IS not generally appre-
clased that about the only point OF
lighting system and the regular DOM
estic lighting service is that they both
use electricity All the apparatus out
side Of the primary generation Of cleo
tt5c current is entirely separate ana
distinct including the distribution
wires.
Probably. TO most Of you. the Gas
Company is simply a large public SER
vice corporation which is furnishing
light. heat and power 70 the citizens
e this district in a more or less eff
cient manner at a price which should
be lower To a few it possibly ap
pears as a grasping monopoly with no
excuse for its existence, ready al all
times to take all it can get from the
poor and weakest citizens, filling it's
Golfers TO bullying with the gold from
the poor defenseless widows and or
phans. II is unfortunate that such
feeling can exist today even in the
minds Of few individuals. as ii is a
most erroneous idea. however, by vtr-
tue OF its being a natural monopoly
and recognized IS such IN the courts
% the country there are those who
consider themselves justified in speak
ing III OF any public service corpora
ton Little do they realize that how
ever. sincere they may be in their an
tagorism 70 those public service cor
pcrattons who are honestly and es
Gciently endeavoring 70 give the pub
lie good service al reasonable rates.
they are IN the last analysts opposing
the welfare and progress Of the com