The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-05
NATURAL GAS
FAVORED BY
CIVIC LEADERS
Club Committee Voices Its
Sentiment as Approving
Use by Industries.

unanimous sentiment favoring in
production Of natural gas to serve
local industries by the city utilities
district was expressed at a meeting
81 the special gas committee of the
Federation of Community Civic
Clubs Tuesday night
While feeling that natural gas
should be brought here only by the
utilities district, committee members
expressed the opinion that should it
De found the utilities district can
not act at this time, then a private
concern should be permitted to lay
natural gas mains, but only under
contract protecting the citys in
terests.
In the latter event, the commit
zee expressed approval of unofficial
proposal of the Manufacturers Nat
ural Gas Company, formed by local
manufacturers, to lay mains to in
oustrles, contracting with the utilG
tues district to sell the mains to it
Wnen 1t has acquired the Citizehs
Gas Company. No formal statement
was made by the committee.
Want Petition Amended
Opposition to petition of the
manufacturers company now pend
ing before the public service COM
mission was expressed, committee
members feeling an amended pc
tltion to provide for sale of natural
gas to all industries, instead of
merely to those using 100000 cubic
feet a month or more should be
substituted.
The present petition is to be
heard by the commission Aug. IL.
Committee members expressed
themselves in favor of doing any,
thing possible to help local manu-
Iacturers meet competition Of
plants in other cities having nat
ural gas, thus beneflting labor, pro-
Vided interests of the city at large
are not jeopardized.
Without natural gas, these in
dustries say they can not meet
competition" declared William
Bosom, committee member. Some
OF them have to send parts as far
as Cleveland, which has natural
gas, to be heat treated and an
nealed. This increases the cost and
sale price.
Coal Still to Be Used
Industry heads say they do not
propose to use natural gas for fir
ing boilers and for other purposes
where coal now is used, but rather
for heating of parts and other pro-
cesses for which natural gas is su-
perior and less expensive"
Bosom said manufacturers form
ing the Manufacturers company
claim that with advantage Of nat
ural gas they will be able to increase
the number of employees in their
twenty-siX plants to $4,000.
In addition to this increased en-
ployment, he pointed out, many
family heads would be given en-
ployment IN laying of natural gas
mains to the industries.
Strong opposition to introduction
Of natural gas by private COM
pany, if the city itself can lay the
mains, was expressed by John F.
White.
Favor Reduction of Bills
Another meeting Of the committee
may be held before the public serv-
ice commission hearing Aug. u. In
the meantime, effort will be made
to obtain opinion of utilities district
attorneys on ability of the district
to bring in natural gas.
The committee commented favor
ably on efforts of Mayor Reginald
H. Sullivan to obtain a large reduc-
ton in the city's annual 100000
light and water bills.
However, the reduction should
not be for the city only, but should
include private residences and in
dustries, as we'll" Bosom said. IT
feel the people of indianapolis are
paying too much for light, gas, wa
ter and telephones.
"Rates now are as high as in
wartime days, although cost of oper-
alton in most instances, is reduced
ey-aa tIxy -