The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-12-09
Reported Demand Will Be
Made In Mt. Vernon Short
II ly After January !
SHOULD BE, OPPOSED,
BY CITY COUNCIL
City Too Near Productive
Field To Warrant Increase
In Present Gas Rate

On reliable --authorlty-from an Of.
ticlaI Of the Ohio Fuel supply Co., not
a resident Of Mt. vernon--The Daily
Banner Is informed that the gas COM
pany Is to demand an increase In the
present gas rate In Mt. Vernon from
40 to As cents per thousand cubic feet,
effective shortly after Jan. I, 1922.
Coincident with the information OBJ.
tanned by The Banner, comes the pub.
lie announcement by the Ohio Fuel
Supply Co., by its president, j. M. Gar
ard, of increased rates affecting a
number OF Knox county villages, ef.
fective Jan. 3, 1922.
Asking 80 Cents
The Ohio Fuel Supply Co. is asking
an increased rate of from 40 to SO
cents per thousand cubic feet in the
following Knox county villages: Lock,
Academia, Gambler, Howard, Mill.
wood, Bangs, Brandon and Martins.
burg
This action in the determination to
increase the rate in the small villages
of Kpox county is no doubt a part of
the Ohio Fuel Supply Company's plan
to pave way for a demand for Ascent
gas in the city of Mt. Vernon.
According to authoritative informa.
tion furnished The Banner, the Ohio
Fuel Supply Co. contends that the rate
of 40 cents per thousand cubic feet
was fixed by the city council for per-
iod of one year and that the year has
expired Consequently the company
will commence campaign in Mt. Ver-
non shortly after the first of next Jan
uary, demanding that the rate be es-
tablished at As cents in the city.
Should Be Opposed
A vigorous protest will &C up is Mt.
Vernon, and justly so, if the Ohio Fuel
Supply Co. demands an increased rate
in this city. Mt. Vernon is almost in
the, center of gas field. According tc
gas experts, the Knox county field is
coming back strong. Many new wells
have been drilled in during the past
summer and fall, showing gas in pay
ing quantities. The Ohio Fuel Supply
Co. has been fortunate in drilling in Q
number OF these producing wells, 1t is
pointed out. In fact, experts point
\ out there is more gas in Knox county
than there was two or three years ago
The pipes are under the ground. The
gas company has no additional ex
pense. If the gas is there, and We
are told it is, why the increased rate
for gas? This is the chief reason why
an increased rate should not be al
lowed the Ohio Fuel Supply Co.
Then there is another. The ga'
company will grant no fixed pressure
and consequently when the weathe
is cold Mt. Vernon has but little gas
II the company is willing to grant I
fixed pressure, then there might b.
some grounds for talking increased
rate.
Still the third reason. There ar,
many persons out of employment II
Mt. Vernon at the present time. Man,
are scarcely able to pay the 4O-cen
rate now in effect. To increase 1t t
AZ cents would be- perpetrating hard
ship upon hundreds of persons in MI
Vernon.
Council Should Fight It
ut will be up to the city counc
to sanction the proposed increase i
rate. The Banner believes that mos
of the members of the city council wi
oppose the demand Of the company t
increase the rate to As cents.
It is pointed out that in CLEVELAND
Columbus, GAINESVILLE, and elsewhere
where the municipalities have battle
the distributing companies, the II
creased rate has not been operative
and that the municipalities are sti
receiving gas. despite the bluff of tn
gas companies to shut off the supply
The Banner believes that the cit
council should not be bluffed by d.
mand for a ascent gas rate In the cit
Of Mt. Vernon.