Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-09


in the temporary closing down of a mum
Der of public utilities.
After the unsatisfactory experiences
of last winter, which resulted from the
coal strike in November ana December,
it was generally expected that the spring
transportation of coal, and accumulation
Of usual reserves. The public conference
last week revealed that mining and
transportation conditions had not re-
turned to normal during the spring and
summer; that the Citizens Gas Company
has been able to obtain only about 10000
tons of coal a month on contracts call
Ing for $4,000 tons a month; that the
company entered last fail and winter
with 10000 tons of coal on hand on
Sept. /; that though it has been buying
coal on the open market at as high as
$1O.25 ton, on Sept. 1 this year 1t had
on hand only $4,000 tons Of coal.
THE serious apprehension is that the
conditions which have operated against
public utilities Accommodating coal re-
serves, have also deprived householders
Of getting their usual supplies fol
winter, and that the first cold snap will
reveal that a very small percentage OF
people have coal, and that they will
draw on the gas company for house
heating; also, that the very high. cost
cnal viii result In some people decid-
ing to use gas for heating of houses. 1t
is asserted that artificial gas companies
are not constructed TO meet sucn alb
normal house heating demands
The program that is before the city
is one of the conservation of gas for
cooking purposes--not one of providing
more revenues for the company. Expert
ences of last spring when, result Of
the coal strike last November and De-
cember, the supply of coal was reduced
to the vanishing point, led to the con-
clusion that appeals to tn. consumers not
effective. 1t was then, as now, pointed
out IN appeals for conservation Of gas,
that II the supply Of gas In the mains
were exhausted many days would be re-
the city would be practically brought to
the starvation point The response was
the greatest demand for gas in the his
tory of the company. Rationing had to
be adopted by the unsatisfactory method
of reducing pressure except during cook
ing hours.
"At the conference last week there was
general agreement that conservation
could only be effectively made by adopt
Ing economic measures. The tentative
suggestions took the form of placing
superchange on gas In excess of an
amount sufficient to meet legitimate
cooking requirements. and that such
supereharge should be sufficient, now
ever, to discourage the use of gas for
heating. II this plan should he adopted
amount of gas 10 be allowed the Coo rate,
and the steps of the superchsrge.
The adoption Of such a fuel conser-
Walton method is. however. attended by
difficulties. 1t would undoubtedly in
crease revenues. IL has been proposed.
however. that II there should be any in
crease in revenues from what~would be
derived from q G0-cent rate such excuses
should be held separate and uncapital-
lied by the company; that II permitted 10
% to- ha ant tor fnr4 uV,d
ments OF service. such additions to plant
should at no time be carried to the
company's asset or rate making account
ANY plan that may be adopted TO
meet the situation would be limited TO
period not extending beyond May /. 1921.
THE commission would appreciate
your participation in the hearing on Fri
day