The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-13
MONDAY. NOV. 10. 1888.
CHEAP GAS
"a sCRIPPs-HowARD NEWSPAPER


INDIANAPOLIS has genius for making
Il difficult the operation Of its industries.
Years ago the automobile industry moved to
Detroit in disgust. Now group of outstand-
ing manufacturers is asking that their fuel
costs be cut by the introduction Of natural
gas. This is reasonable request. Every
resident Of the city who is able to read and
write knows that the gas rate is outrageously
high
1t is priced at 10 2-3 cents a therm.
Compare this figure with the cost Of gas in
Cincinnati at $40 cents therm; Cleveland
at 5 cents; Dayton at 7 cents; Columbus BIO
cents, or Toledo at 4-1O cents. Each Of these
figures is based either on natural gas or upon
artificial gas mixed with natural.
Small wonder that local gas using indus
tries find it difficult to compete. Small Won
der that the housewife shoulders at her
monthly gas bill.
Our good neighbor the Indianapolis News,
refers to those who would bring natural gas
to indianapolis as outsiders" Here are the
"outsiders"i E. c. Atkins 81 Co., j. D. Adams
Manufacturing Company, The Link Belt
Company, Kingan 81 Co. Advance Paint
Company, Lilly Varnish Company, and thirty
more local corporations. If these are out
siders" so is the News. Actually their pay
rolls are a major part of the bloodstream
of Indianapolis.
These firms have announced intentions Of
opposing granting of a 100000 loan to the
city for the purchase of the Citizens Gas
Company unless they have assurances that
cheap natural gas will be promptly forth
coming. Their attitude is eminently sound.
If industry is forced out of the city the Circle
will just be so much grazing ground for
cattle.
These same industries already have re-
ceived major rebuff when the petition of
the Indiana Gas Service Corporation, which
sought to give them natural gas, was rejected
by the public service commission because of
supposed inadequate financing. Instead the
politicians now offer some vague hope in the
distant future that cheap gas will be avail
able.
There is more in all this than meets the
eye Why is it that Columbia Gas and Elec-
trio, powerful national utility, never has per-
mitted natural gas in indianapolis, although
its main gas pipeline runs nine miles north
of the city2
Can it be because its introduction in In
dianapolis would affect Columbia's rate cases
farther east along the same pipeline in Ohio?
We fatty ask the Citizens Gas Company
one questions How much of your stock does
Columbia Gas and Electric control? Note, we
did not say own. but control either by
proxy voting trust, holding company or any
other legal subterfuge.
If the gas company fails to answer this
simple inquiry the public is justified in arriv-
ing at its own conclusions. People also may
draw some nasty differences about the poll
ticians who are opposing natural gas.
The plan of the local manufacturers is
simple and straightforward. They would tap
Indiana's natural gas resources, thus putting
money in the pockets of thousands Of farm
ers in the southern portion of the state.
They also would cut in on the panhandle
pipe line at Terre Haute so that failure of
local gas fields would not mean suspension
of service. They would sell this gas at the
city limits for about IS cents thousand.
columbia Gas and Electric is getting APP
proximately 10 cents more in Ohio and its
rates are under fire there0
What is wrong with this proposition? Why
did Mayor Reginald Sullivan for weeks sup
press the fact that he had received an offer
from this local corporation to supply gas to
the industries and housewives of indianapolis
at far less than the rate they are now paying?
Why did the city vigorously oppose this plan
before the public service commission?
Gas consumers are paying entirely too
much for their service. They are not inter-
ested in the schemes of any far-fung gas
corporation. Nor do they care one whit
about the devious scheming of politicians.
They want cheap gas and they want it
now.