Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-25
PREDICTS GAS WILL BE
 ALMOST UNIVERSAL FUEL


 Gas as almost the universal fuel in the United States. with the possibi -, of greatly reduced prices in few years, was the prediction made at the convention this month in Chicago of the American Gas Association which was attended by Superintendent c. W. Tag gart of the Norwich gas and electrical department.
 Charles A. Monroe of Chicago, presi- dent of the association, presented an ex- haustive study of the gas situation in this country in the course of which he said he believes that the use of fuel in solid form in the cities will not long continue, in view of the steady advance toward perfection of the process of dis tilling coal.
 It is his opinion that gas may be sold in 8 few years at greatly reduced urices and he declares that not only has there been effected a great economy in the fuel costs of the nation. but that mi'- lions of dollars of property are also be- ing saved from destruction by smoke and grine and the health of the nation conserved.
 MT. Monroe pointed out that the per- centage of increase in the price of gas 1 today over 1914 is much less than the ln- | crease in prices of coal, coke and of over the similar period He told of the start of gas in this country, selling at the outset, at s10 1000 cubic feet, used and intended only as an ilurni- nant. At.that time wood was senin. at s1 per cord.
 1 Little Used for Lighting. 1 Today the use of gas has been so revolutionized that not less than 70 per | oil place of solid fuels being used to far greater extent for cooking, household uses and industrial purposes than for lighting.
 There is opportunity for improve ment in the methods of production" he said. "Aso for the development of the 1 use of our product and to assist in the 1 conservation of the natural resources 1 of tho country through the discontin- uance of the use of coal in its raw state and in addition to all of these, there i. the inspiration which cones from con. tributing towards the health and well fare of mankind through the elimination of that great public smoke We see on every hand convincing evi dence that the gas industry Is destined to greater prosperity and to perform a more useful service to the communt, and the nation than 1t has ever done II the past''
 Fundamental change in the merchan dising situation. ot the nation Is unde way, with the old-time buyers-poo 1 customers during the war-back as tn, big group to be catered to- This wal | the statement of Charles Coolidge Par lin,- head of the division of commercial research of the Curtis Pub 1shing Com pany. before the delegates at the cen vention
 'sDislikes are founded on ignorance. says Mir. Parlin. People hate Una sI which they do not understand The ga industry has heretofore concealed the romance of it's accomplishment and a a result has had opposition. The indus try and the methods of producing ca have, to the layman. seemed shroudet in mystery.
 ''The gas industry Is the product o engineering. Its accomplishments have been an achievement which ranks witl the greatest accomplishments of Amer lean genus. Processes of manufactur, have been improved, production p.ant. erected and countless miles of piDo .ait that supply homes in every part of tn, nation. Yet in spite of it's great accom- p'ishments, the industry finds it difficult to get a sufficient price for It's service to attract the capital needed for the ex pansion of the business. The expira tion seems to be that while the gas in dustry has succeeded in production, I has failed in selling.
 Dependable Service Need. 'The interests of the consumer an, your interests are in the last analyst fundamentally alike. The custome wants frst of all, dependable servic. at as low a rate as it can be furnished , But there is no economy from the puo s ic's viewpoint in rates too low to main tain quality service. The public is pric conscious. They are seeking to ge their prices back to the pre-war concep of values. BUt above all else they wan qualty-not something extravagant. bu r the quality which rightfully apeals to g person of sound judgment as the bts . thing to buy.
 e How can the per cent of cost be re s stored to normal? Obviously, eithe ] costs must be reduced or volume 1T e creased. The merchant finds 1t very d:- f ficult to reduce costs. Rent, and othe - overhead charges stand firm. It is e. e pecia-ly difficult for retail merchar
 to cut wages or reduce store services