Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-03
UTILITIES SHOW
NO WORRY OVER
OUTLOOK
Local Managers Say Supply
in Hand Will Last Sixty
Days.
CITY CAN STAND STRIKE

Indianapolis can stand a coal strike
fairly well, so far as heat, light, power
and water services are concerned, accord
ing to a survey of opinion among opera
tors Of public utility companies. Most
Of the companies are in position to con
tinue running, under conditions Of nor
NAL consumption, for about sixty days,
using supplies Of coal stored and held for
Tt. tlyeS.
The men in charge Of the two light and
power companies are not worried over
the prospect. Charles c. Perry, Of the
Indianapolis Light and Heat Company,
said in answer to questions that his COM
bnny has enough coal on hand and IN
transit to continue operations for prob
ably two months
"of course, there might be some ex-
tremely cold weather and the railroads
might confscate some of our COAL but
on the other hand, II the general strike
ties up industry as 1t threatens to DO
we viii not use so much COAL he sald.
"Wben the factories are running slack,
we do not manufacture al much power for
them. We shonld be able TO continue
sixty days, barring emergencies. But at
the same time wish we had more coal
on hand"
MURPHY NOT
WORRIED NOW.
ger Of the Merchants Feat and Light
Company. said his company has enough
coal to run about ninety days under
present conditions. But it is difficult
to predict how long we could GO" he
added Unforeseen conditions might
arise that would demand more rapid
conserving in the face Of necessity
we might be able to run longer on pres
ent supplies"
The Citizens Gas Company has only a
moderate supply of coal on hand, ac-
cording to J. d. Forrest, general mana
gerr. but is rather less concerned over
the prospect than other utility COM
panies.
"If a general strike comes" Mr.. Forrest
explained coal would be cut off for
many consumers and a vastly increased
use of gas for heating purposes would
result In that case our storage supply
might not last a month. But II coal
is cut of, we should be able TO substi-
tute oil, provided we can get 1t. In
any case. we are perhaps somewhat less
concerned over the situation than com.
panies using Indiana and Kentucky coal,
because we obtain our coal from West
Virginia and we have heard nothing as
yet to make us believe the strike will
affect the West Virginia field"
TRACTION SUPPLY
PRETTY GOOD.
Robert l. Todd, president Of the In
dianapolis Street Railway Company,
says the cars can be kept running at
regular schedules for fifty to sixty days
with coal now on hand. He characterized
the company's situation as pretty fair"
and added that the Terre Haute, In
dlanapois & Eastern Traction Company is
comfortably supplied everywhere except
at Terre Haute. There. because Of some
new construction work, the company
has had little storage space for coal.
The indianapolis Water Company.
comparatively small consumer of coal,
will be able to continue under present
conditions for perhaps sixty days, burn
ing an average Of thirty tons daily to
pump the city's water supply, according
to Charles G. Cray, purchasing agent for
the company. The Indiana Bell
Telephone Company does not burn much
coal, as 1t obtains power from electric
companies instead Of manufacturing its
own current. Traction companies are
understood to be fairly well supplied
Utilities companies generally" said
Charles L. Henry president Of the Indi-
ana Public Utility Association, and head
Continued on Page Seven.)