The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-15
BY VINCENT LYONS
Times Financial Editor

49, 49, - 49,
BY VINCENT LYONS
Times Financial Editor
So far in imaginary venture
into the natural gas business, We
have succeeded in getting a well,
withdrawing the product, sending II
through the field to the main gath
ering line Of a large pipe line COM
pany and transmitting II hundreds
of miles to the gates Of a city. At
this juncture We enter into the prob
lem of distribution.
For the purpose Of better under
standing our situation, let Is as
sumo that the city OF indianapolis
is on the verge Of changing from
manufactured to natural gas. We
shall caiole ourselves into the belief
that the many snerls involved IN
the city's acquisition Of the Citizens
Gas Co. have been circumvented
and all the gas troubles have evap-
Grated into thin air.
In our W local situation, how
ever, the city, through the Citizens
Gas Co, would be entrusted with
the problem of distributing the gas
to consumers. Just how would the
city go about making the switch and
what changes would be effected?
Rate Experts Called In
In the FIST place the company,
which transmits the gas from the
fields to the city gate will make a
survey of the city to determine the
immediate and future gas require
ments. These surveys are based on
past experiences of the company
and take into consideration the
number Of families being served by
the electric, water and telephone
companies. the wealth Of the city
and other data.
After gathering up all this infor-
nation the company is able to esti-
mate the load which will result at
the time the switch is made and
also what consumption is likely to
be a few years from now.
Then the rate experts of the COM
pany are called in. They absorb all
the facts which have been uncoV-
cred by the survey, weigh them and
establish a rate at which gas will be
sold to the city by the transmission
company.
Many Items Involved
The city must then take into con-
sideration the cost of the many
items which are involved in its task
of distribution and set a rate for
the consumer which will allow it to
make a fair return on its invest
ment.
This question Of rates is an all
important one, but little al be &C
complished in %unraveling 1t at pres
ent because of the absence of infor-
nation on just how the city of In
dianapolis is going to take over the
Citizens Gas Co.
The distribution system originates
at the precise point where 1t con-
meets with the supply line which is
carrying gas from hundreds of miles
away. At this city gate are located
what are called town border meters
and regulators.
Measure Gas Received
Meters which are installed at the
city gate are calculated to measure
the amount of gas received and also
serve as a check on lost and I'M
accounted for gas. In this connec-
ton either orifce meters or large
capacity displacement meters are
utilized. The regulators serve to re-
duce the supply line pressure before
the gas enters the city.
The pipe line which transports
the gas from the fields to the city
gate range from 20 to "a inches in
diameter and the commodity travels
through them at high pressure.
The distributing SYSTEMS pipes are
much smaller and, as a result, the
regulators cut down the pressure so
that these smaller pipes can dis
tribute the gas to the consumer
efficiently and consistently.
Pressure Gauges Installed
Recording pressure gauges, in
struments which make a graphic
record of variations in pressure. are
installed at various points through
the distribution system.
These records show continuously
the pressure conditions in the mains.
and the performance of district
regulators. thereby indicating the
~desirability and necessity Of n
~creasing the pressures on the low
and medium pressure mains IN &C
cordance with the demands Of the
customer.
The gas then flows through the
mains TO all parts of the city. Each
home has a connection to the main
and it is through this individual
service line that the gas performs
its ordinary domestic functions.
Open the gaS-jet on your stove and
you hear the whirr Of a fuel which
has travelled almost 1000 miles with
E.. 49, N,l -, Sc ncrpCTln1-