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Show r mi 0 4)(gJ9AIUA iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiimiiiiiiiiiJiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiL $ The revenue of the Utah Gas & Coke Company is barely to meet operating expenses. ' put in the gas mains. What chance has it therefore of tracting new capital to construct new gas mains ? It The present conditions have developed in spite of the relief already granted by the Public Utilities Commission. The increases in rates were avowedly only measures of temporary relief, and were not deemed large enough either by the Commission or by the company to put the concern on a sound financial basis unless the end of the war brought a decided reduction in cost of operation. No such reduction has taken place; on the contrary, expenses have even increased. far from enough to make possible any extensions of service, no matter how badly they may be needed, or to make anything like an adequate provision for the future growth of the city. is So difficult has it become even to maintain the present service that the company has filed with the Public Utilities Commission a petition for a revision in rates. a frank presentation of the actual situation. The Utah Gas & Coke Company is making this statement because it ftels that the citizens of Salt Lake, who are de- This at-suffici- ent i5 pending upon gas service have a right to know how secure they are in the possession and enjoyment of that service. You have a right to know whether this company is financially strong enough not only to continue its present service, but to meet your future requirements. The Facts In The Case To Determine Fair Charge Forced by the precarious condition of its present finances and by the urge of future requirements certain to be made upon it, the Utah Gas & Coke Company is now asking the Public Utilities Commission to fix a fair It costs money to dig a trench, buy and lay a gas main. so to speak, And the money which is buried in that trench, must have a reasonable return assured, or no one will put it there. The companys officials will fully with the Commission in making the inquiry as thorough as possible, and hold themselves in readiness to furnish any and all infor- Utrfu ate mation as to the companys financial condition and requirements that either the Commission or the Public may desire. This effort to strengthen the financial condition of the gas company is a measure of protection to you, the gas users of Salt Lake. It is to your interest in an important degree that the Utah Gas The Utah Gas & Coke Company isnt earning anything like an adequate return on the money already invested already reasonable charge for gas service, the basis of estimate being the actual money now represented in the companys property. co-oper- The Utah Gas & Coke Company is barely making enough to pay for materials, maintenance, labor and taxes. You readily perceive, therefore, that, under present conditions, any extension of the distributing system, or any increase in manufacturing capacity, is completely out of the question. and & Coke Company shall be assured of suf- ficient revenue to maintain for you an adequate service, and be able to meet the needs of our growing city. Cok Co, SALT LAKE CITY ( llllllllllllllrlllllllllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIlii 4 |