• •• '"M ^ ,-^t -W^- f^.; ' V VA«J -.1 «• Jf &ma®^;-03Fr** -• • -w ** 1 "1 -l- J- "••: - - •* -> *«•?* ' " ,V A • ** ^ SfcftfWT* * •**«•¥* iF:'t*a?f* <H'.'-., If - --T'^W ^ r . ^ ' "*!#> . ..__ ._ *t*V-- - v "*;/!..... „/, v&\;*^ 4 ' • * pe&fo*» ,Taiis»* .* *«•; ' ^ •f•iJr*. •. • .-^t «s,-v -;•»••*• •••* HiS>; '*' itSf"-"'%'-• V••"-"'i"'• '"-i""^:' 4*. {*2- ' -' t£f 7« WU"/ ' ~ w, i--/ " *"**' taw*<.r >^fc..-. «*, .; ** n . £- ^'V' ••> *e* >? -tv££. S^* "g&i"%" "&' -"-"'*-*:*3 t '*?&* £„*.!.• ' ., . *"£>3-. •VJN»P - ^,. 'fir ^'" ' '•'t^T-'3 ';:'ff.<rv' • *•;.',tl #t >4 ' .• j 5'f. ^';; fv ?c\ r•>>><£ '. i Xi: * " '^, .„r "rrJi.-. . j .'. .*. .> .-*** ^ -> ie *."',- : -<t "" :7" ]•V••.% THE Commerce Commission of the State of fMinoTs was establishecf by law for the express purpose of giving a squarf deal to everybodj| who buys or sells the products of tfu Utility companies of this state. , \ , r >» , , ; ' >-v> This Commission first came into existence iq Illinois January I, 1914. ^ similar law had been J Vs in effect in several othei states fo. manykyears in some instances for mort than 30 years.: T^At the present time there is only ont Mate in the Onion without some similar Commissior|^f The Commerce Commission of the State of Illinois has a right by law to fix rates of all utility products, to establish standards of service, and even the capital invested. i, ^ V-; *• ^ '** x A Since 1914 the rates, the service and the capi sion and direction of the Illinois Commerce Commission. ' > In the readjustment period during and after the world war this Company was the last in t state to ask for a raise in its gas rates. The raise asked for and allowed by the Commissijn was lower than that granted to any other gas company in Illinois. - Many years agb^he^presemrstandard trf the-quality-of gas \vas adopted by the Coaiqipi^p, It was the one generally in use in the United States at that time. ' • > yg#-r~"ri. VZ.-'./pi For more than 30 years however been worked out by their scientific methods as being most^economical aod efficienf for both the consumer and the company selling the gas. Ten years ago the English authorities began to recognize the same principle, name^imait there is a point ai which gas, when consumed by the average user, is most efficient and at the same time most economical to produce, the combination of these two insuring the greatest benefit to both consume* and producing Company.. ; Two and one-half years ago the Commerce Commission of the State of Illinois ^sked for evidence oh this subject, and made a most ex-» haustive investigation, many of the highest grade engineers in the country, who are connected with any gas producing companies, testifying before the Commission. -• 1 : - In June, 1924, a similar Commission in the State of Washington handed down a ruling that the present standards were uneconomical, and ordered a change. This was done only after an extensive period of the use of different standards by different companies designated by the Commission. » In October, 1924, the Commission in the State of Alabama followed suit. Canada had previously done the same thing. In order to test the theory advanced by all gas experts that a change in gas standards would be advantageous to all concernedf the Illinois Commerce Commission called for a practical demonstration and chose the Western United Gas and Electric Company to carry out the experiment, for the reason that in this one company they can find more varying conditions for a tryout than anywhere else in the State of //iinoisg. The result of this test will undoubtedly furnish information upon which both standards and prices for gas will be readjusted in the State for all gas users. This test will necessarily entail considerable expense upon our company, but we will gladly do our share to help along the; general good. ^ 1 We believe that this will result in your benefit. : j ^ 1 The change in standard may require some adfastmefit in the burners. Therefore we want you to bring your experiences to our officea. We will readjust your burners, when necessary. It is only by your heartiest co-operation that this test can be of any value. ^oud to have been selected. Won't you help us? •si*-' Li' v * "w "i'V. **•. . il.t