Montana oil journal. (Great Falls, Mont.) 192?-1931, 1931-03-14

ducing oil and gas and serv-
ing the public, and might add
that ] have been in some
measure responsible for the
success Of these organizations.
/ know that / can serve gas
70 the people Of Great Falls
with a maximum rate Of 45e
and q minimum rate OF l5c
and can make a fair return on
the investment fer my ass0
ciates IN this proposition.
There is no reason why the
Great Falls Gas company
should sit here like a dog in
the manger, not able 70 serve
80 per cent Of the people with
fair rate, and keeping out
other legitimate enterprises,
who are not promoting and
selling stock 70 the public,
from coming IN here and doing
business. The Great Falls Gas
company has brought this SIT
nation upon themselves. They
have been opposing the rail
road commission with refer
ence to the lowering Of rates
in Great Fails, and this same
company has also been oppos-
ing the railroad commission IN
the city Of Shelby to keep the
commission from raising the
rates because there they are
IN competition with the Cit
liens Gas company, trying 70
force them out Of business.
The people Of Great Falls
who are living within a short
distance Of many gas fields
should not be denied the priv
ilege Of using natural gas at
fair rate and in competition
with other fuels. If I had not
applied for a franchise some
one else would, and think
that / am best qualified 70 do
this IN that have an ade-
quate gas reserve and can de-
velop more and make avail
able to Great Falls and cen
trail and western Montana al
ditional supply from an en-
tirely new source.
My effort to supply Great
Falls with cheaper gas was an
honest one and l have proposed
a rate which ] am now using
in the north country without
competition. Therefore, there
Is no reason to suspect that /
would raise this rate. / know
that the price must be right
ia order to make satisfied Gus
toners, and / appreciate the
fact that q man cannot stay
in the gas business unless he
has satisfied customers. / can
not guarantee this rate only
insofar as I am able, which is
only q personal guarantee and
one from the Public Service
Gas company. We have certain
laws in this state governing
the duties Of our railroad com
mission, and, Of course, / do
not know what changes may
be made in the future. Laws
may be changed from time to
time and therefore a franchise
mnst be obtained in order to
insure compliance with the
laws Of the state Of Montana
in this respect. However, in
sOfar as lies within the power
Of the franchise holder, sub
jeet to the laws and the pow
ers OF the commission, / plan
to institute and maintain the
promised rates. It is an abso-
lutte certainty that my inten-
ton is real and that is to de-
liver gas to Great Falls at q
maximum price Of 45c because
IL / were to break faith with
the people / could not operate
successfully as a public service
gas utility.
have stood alone ia this
application and intended 70
choose my associates after 1
received the franchise. I aan
willing to take full response
bility for making this applica
fion and wish to advise the
public that / win continue 70
work 70 deliver cheaper gas 70
Great Falls and shall not be
satisfied until our people have
d maximum rate Of 45c and a
minimum Of 15e.