The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-02-13

L
ruled that the company must make G
showing Of valuation before an in
crease can be granted by the corpo-
ration. The company is now preparing
this valuation report, stated Mr..
Dings, and after it is presented TO The
corporation commission it will be per.
nutted to raise its rates.
The difference in length OF line
which runs gas Crom the field TO the
consumers does not in any manner
permit any noticeable difference ir
the price OF gas. II is not the length
Of the line or distance from the fields
explained Mr.. Dings, but it is the
number Of people who are supplied
from the line which counts. 1t costs
as much TO operate a pipe line whe-
ther the line is running full or hall
full. 1t costs as much to operate q
25-mile line supplying 10000 people
as it does a 25-mile line supplying
100 OOJ people.
Larger Companies Have Advantage
Due TO the .act tina. we are linn
regards consumers, we are at a dis
advantage when compared with the
larger companies.
There is a loss of IS to 20 per cent
OF the gas during its Journey from
the We'll to the meter in the hcme oi
the consumer
In November the consumption was
so, 900 cubic feet; in December il
was S5,7O2, 900; and in January 1921
it was S7,23S 900, The average price
which we received for gas during
January was 80 cents per thousand
feet, due 10 the graduated scale Of
prices"
Mr.. Dings then read some figures OF
the cost Of gas in some or the larger
tromes OF the city during the three
months, and it was evident that the
rates were very reasonable.
Some Reasons for High Bills
MANY consumers are wasting gas.
Last year. when there was an insult
flcient supply, and the people were
forced 10 use coal and wood in I'D
dition TO the gas. they kept the reg'u-
lators fully open in an effort TO get
all the gas they possibly could. This
year, although the volume has been
greatly increased. and a fully open
regulator is absolutely necessary,
nevertheless, many people are still
permitting them 10 remain so while
in use with the result rhat they are
wasting the fuel. There is a wrong
opinion among certain people that the
larger the blaze the more heat. In
many places the blazes are permitted
10 go way over the stove. This IS an
open waste. When the blaze OF burn
ing gas gets red. there is not any
more heat than when the blaze is
bFoe and smaller in size, but more
gus used"
Answers Ringing Rates
Mr. Dings then answered the ques-
tions of several as TO why the bills
Of some consumers at Ringing wert
OF greater amounts that the increase
in rate justified in proportion 10 The
the war, it was difficult TO get met
ers, which were not OF any use 70
the government for war purposes, and
that in many cases It required more
than year to have materials such
as meters. etc, delivered. For that
reason. In many places, among which
was the town o. Ringing, there was
q flat rate charged and the consumers
paid fixed amount regardless OF the
quantity OF gas they used. The charge
was not based on actual consumption
When meters were later Installed
stated Mr.. Dngs, the roopl, wer,
charged for what they consumed anC
so many oi them. who n,3 used q
considerable amount ON The fiat rate
were rather surprised.
III the people viii learn 10 con
serve and economize. they will ge'
their gas bills down.
To Continue Operation
! Mr.. Dings stated that II was th'
intention OF the company 10 deal with
the public in the most fair and co
/ operative manner possible. and tina
1t was at the present time negotiating
Tor the services OF a man whose dut!
a, viii be TO act as head OF the com
plant and service" department. Thi
man. stated MIR. Dings. will be maj
who does not know how 10 get mad
ond who VIII cnJeavor TO straightel
uut IN the best manner possible al
complaints and grievances.
Mr.. Dings desired 10 impress upoI
the assemblagc that his company ha,
rot made the raise IN rates 20 .ncrcas
its dividends, but because such ris
was nccessitatod for the continue
operation Of the organization. wv
want 10 get ra.d only IN pnporiio
for Tho service rendered aud the iu
vesumcnt made he sab.
Citizens Favored Increase
Another representative OF the Con
oumers Company called attention &
the fact that during The summer an
during The period ol uic war whe
prices Of practically everything ros
The price oi the gas remained at 3
cents. lie stated that when the CON
pany later asked FOR the 80 cent rat
all the Cubs In the city o. Art
moro sivnod tho petition which wa
presented 90 the corporation commi,
sion IN which they favorVd the In
crease provided that Tho local con
! Pany PROV icd them with suff
c,cnt amount Of gus. only rvo me
Opposed the application Of the con
J pany at oklahoma city. The corp,
ration commission had informed thei
that u they would invest their mono
, and rot an adequate supply ot ga.
! tho Increase In rate would be granite
, Tio local company then commcnc,
b exploring. and bought acreage an
drilled "a Ms. Dines had explained
his talk before this body. Howeve
stated the speaker. when Dallas pc
. mitted the Lone star Gas company
: raise It's rate to 75 cents. the Lot
! star people ofterei producers ten cen