Show NATURAL GAS FOR SALT LAKE four weeks ago the following editorial item appeared in the salt lake mining review the proposition of piping natural gas from the big gas producing fields of wyoming into salt lake provo ogden and even logan is not even slumbering within a few days the news has leaked out in salt lake that the consumers oil gas company one of the big concerns in the country has begun a systematic survey of the situation even to digging into the systems through which this city and other places are now supplied with manufactured gas present and prospective demands for gas in the tributary portions of this state are reported as being investigated in a most thorough and businesslike business like manner big news along these lines may be expected in the near future since the of the month two applications for the privilege of supplying salt lake and ogden with natural gas have been made to the city commissioners of these cities nothing concerning the activities of the producers and refiners refinery Re finers corporation the corporate title of which was imperfectly given in the item quoted above has so far cropped to the surface but it is fair to presume that because of its activities the other interests a are e pressing for recognition the consummation of any one or all of these tentative deals and the granting of equitable and just franchises by the cities affected means the rapid expansion of manufacturing fac turing and commercial lines of business not only in and around salt lake city but also in the cities and towns to the north and south and it can mean the making of salt lake city the cleanest healthiest and most beautiful city in the west all that will be necessary to accomplish these things will be to demand of those who seek to do business with us that they supply gas at a cost that will make its use attractive the use of manufactured gas in this city now costs the consumer we are advised about per thousand feet that price should at least be cut in half and if there is danger that a franchise permitting the introduction and distribution of byomin Wyo s natural gas in this city would disrupt and make unprofitable the business of the local gas manufacturing company why not make it a condition that new operators should bu buy y or absorb the old b gas as company on a basis that would be fair and equitable such a scheme we believe already is in contemplation anyhow but what the public should and must demand is that there shall be no juggling of the cards or sharp practice andul indulged 6 ed in when it comes to the Z granting of franchises involving the weal or woe of the community we believe the concerns which are seeking entry into this business field are perfectly capable of carrying through any undertaking they sign up for and we also adso believe that none of them contemplate doing otherwise however they are all human and if they sho should uld find later that certain provisions of their charters or franchises were susceptible of change evasion or abrogation 6 to their advantage and gain b we should expect that they would take advantage of the opportunities port unities we have public utilities you know operating in this city under franchises and charters that we thought when made would be binding but we know better now so if the salt lake city corporation ever gives another franchise to a public service con combination of any kind or magnitude let us hope that it will invoke the cooperation and approval of our public utilities commission so that its terms will be permanently binding and effective it is said that the combinations now seeking 2 the privilege of bringing in natural t gas from wyoming will come prepared to deliver for service at least OW feet a day or three or four times as much as the manufactured 11 1 gas 1 company serves in in a year under prevailing b conditions if it should cost a new concern even to lay its pipe lines and establish its business here and it was able to sell its feet per day at even per thousand it would recover its ori original inal outlay in three because it would collect a day after that its expenses would be nominal and its earnings on the investment enormous but presumably its distribution of gas would have to be worked up gradually to the maximum so it would probably be fair and just to arrange a sliding scale say for the first year and a thousand thereafter to the home consumer only the price should be fixed so that a raise to consumers would not b be e subject to an ail appeal to the utilities commission for ll e 1 e p 11 the public here has had a surfeit of that if a deal is made let us have the cards all laid out flat on the table tabie face up |