Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-04-19

Majestic building. on which the company
has q lease TO run ten years from 1923.
win cost from $4,000 to 10000. Much
Of the hearing was devoted 10 questions
OF whether this expense was justifiable in
view of the emergency alleged TO exist in
the company's affairs.
The space was absolutely necessary in
the opinion % Forrest, who said the In
dianapOlis Gas Company was using the
same facilities ten years ago when ac-
commodatiOns for handling 5000 meters
were made Since that time the number
has doubled
"Have you ever heard n patron kick on
anything except the amount Of gas bill:"
S1r0nInger inquired
MANY times" replied Forrest.
Commissioner Van Auken took q hand
In the proceedings at that point. saying
that improvements seemed inconsistent
in view Of the emergency in the COM
pany's financial condition.
GRONINGER WAVES
VERY PERTINENT.
when did the board decide on these
improvements - Groninger asked.
"Some time in 1920. The arrangements
were subject to the extension Of the
lease.% Forrest said
when did you actually decide to go
ahead with the plansF"
Early last fall"
And you knew there was an emer-
gency in the gas cOmpany's affairs i'm
pending?"
Yes. We were compelled to lay $780,
900 worth OF mains. too. and we knew
the financial condition" Forrest replied
''You had to do It II you were going
70 continue in business" Van Auken
said.
The original idea Of the expense to
be involved was said to have been
S25.OOO-
You knew that the 90-cent rate would
stint the company when the improve
ments were decided upon, did you not -
Groninger asked.
at seems incOnceivable to me that you
should go ahead. The quarters served
You in 1920 WHOM the company did its
biggest business" Van Auken said.
eve were made desperate by censure,"
Forrest replied.
SALES AGENCY
SELLS COKE.
The Gas Company employees a sales
agency to dispose OF its coke, testimony
Of Forrest showed. No price is set in
the contract with the sales company, &C
cOrding to Forrest.
What effort has been made TO sell
coke in the last year," Groninger asked.
Did you employ a demonstrator? Was
It not fact that you dismissed q man
who demonstrated? :"
we have the personal selling effort Of
a selling agency. We have circularized
our customers"
Forrest was asked why the company
had not tried to get other dealers to sell
the coke, and he told the commission
that other dealers were unable to sell
It. 1t was suggested that the coke could
have been sold at the yards II price
Of seven dollars a ton. which Groninger
said was less than POcahOntas coal was
selling for last year, had been put on
It. Forrest declared that it was his
conviction that 10000 tons could not have
been sold.
Stress was laid by the city's counsel on
what was inferred to be injudicious pur-
chases Of coal In 1920 just at the peak
Of prices, evidence was introduced to
that the company had purchased much
coal and during the fuctuation had pur-
chased most coal when prices were I'D.
" hen sales decreased the company con-
tinued to buy, Groninger charged. This
was not the case, according TO Forrest,
who said the company continued TO re-
eeive coal on contracts, but was not buy
ing excessively
testimony OF witnesses yesterday cen
tered on the supply OF coke held by the
company. Mr.. Forrest spent several hours
on the stand and brought out facts to
show liquidation through disposal Of the
coke supply is not only bad business but
is not possible under less than two years
time
Mr.. Groninger, in his opening state
ment, had previously declared that the
gas company should have sold its coke,
disposed Of other assets and by taking q
loss such as many other businesses had
done, made no demand for an increased
rate based on an emergency.
There have been constant efforts made
to dispose Of our surplus coke stock -
Mr.. Forrest said. 1T has always been
the practice 10 sell II on the competitive
basis except at Indianapolis, where 1t is
sold below the competitive scale. Here.
our effort has been made to move the
largest possible tonnage, and our prices
have always been too low locally to per
NIT &c outside competition"
ST. LOUIS MAN
GIVES TESTIMONY
Relative to the disposal of coke, Parker
II. Woods Of st. Louis, representative Of
coal and coke firm there, said that by
extensive advertising campaign his COM
pany had been able TO dispose of $1,000
tons Of coke in a population Of 500,
Mr.. Forrest was asked by Glenn Van