Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1917 — STATE HAPPENINGS RECORDED IN BRIEF [ARTICLE]

STATE HAPPENINGS RECORDED IN BRIEF

News Items From All Over Indiana. AFFECTS MANY USERS OF GAS Petition Filed With Public Service Commission Asking Lower Heat Unit—Cites Scarcity and High Price of Materials. Indianapolis, June 15. —Nearly every community in Indiana in which artificial gas-is consumed is affected by a petition filed with the public service commission by the Indiana Gas association asking that the commission lower the heating requirements from 600 to 550 British thermal units. The petition setfe forth that on account of the scarcity and high price of gas-making inaferials it is practically impossible fop the gas companies of Indiana to produce gas which will come up to the heat unit.standard of 600 British thermal units except by imperfect and wasteful carbonization of coal. It is asserted that many gas companies have made an honest effort to meet the-heat unit standard, but have been unable to do so. It'says that there is a possibility of the government forbidding the use of benzol or other valuable and expensive enriching oils necessary to make the high heat standard. The petition also asks that the minimum period for testing meters on complaints of consumers be extended from six months to twelve months. Twentynine artificial gas companies have petitions on tile for different schedules.