The Express.
London, England, 1848-12-13 00:00:00

SUPPLY OF GAS TO THE METROPOLIS.

A meeting of the ward of Farringdo Without,
was bold last evening at Andsrtosee !iota, Fisetstreet, to
take the messeary steps Ike securing to the City of London a
supply of gas at 4s. per 1,000 feet.
Mr. BUCILMAITIIK having been called to the chair, ob.
served that the object of the meeting was the breaking down
of a monopoly.
Mr. CAZPINTEII, in moving the first reeolutios, "That
the present sharp for Rai to the cities= of Landis is ew.r-
bitant and unjust," obtereed, that he understood that tney
had met that evening not to enter into the details of the gas
question, but to native to take the necessary steps to get rid
of the evil under which they were suffering. They hoped
to do that through the m. dins of the corporation. But
they all knew how difficult it was to make the corporation
move in the right direction, until all the sham of London
had declared that it was the right direction The corporation
bad determined to apply to parliament for leave to purchase
the pipes of the present gas company, and • committee of
the common meal kid been appointed to watch
the bill. If supported by the chinas at lane.
such • course aahrbt be productive of good; but
that a change from the present system was requisite
could not be denied. He was credibly informed that al-
though the present company had redacted the pries of the gas
from 7s. to 15.,. the consnmers, in point of fact, paidas mu&
as before—(Ces of " More")—owing to the inferiority of
the gas, whielt obliged the oonsmeer to burn a larger
tity, order to produce the sane amount of light. It was
well known that the present quality of the gas was much in•
feriae., perdeularly la the City of London, to what it was two
years age. go that, by the reduction in priori from 7s. to
le. per thousand cubic feet, the citizens had only gained aloes.
In comparing the pries they paid with that paid in other town;
they must not omit from their *maroon the quality of the
gas. For instanes,the prim of gas In Liverpool was 41. ed., and
in London de. ; but, take int" account the superior
quality of the Liverpool gas and it would be worth 141., as
compared with the on
the at Os. Ia all the large towns
gas was tuleed of a better quality, and at a lower rate,
than in Loadon. Ia Manchester it was supplied by the cor-
poration at lis. SI, which yielded a profit of 16 per cent.,
which profit was applied to the general purposes of the cor-
poration. It had ban said that the cost of coal was greater
in London than elsewhere. If so, they ought, no doubt, to
take that fact into their consideration. But was it at ? Coal
in London oat 10e.3J. a ton, and the gas ms and
upwards. Well, coal in Stockport cost 19e. 4d.,
and yet their gas was supplied at 4s. 3d. In Cheltenham
it cost 244" and yet the gas there was only about 4s. The
Imperial Gas Company consumed annually 51,000 tons of
coal, which maimed 31,900 ehaldrons d coke, and that, at
141., gave a podia! of 22,3001. Bet as to the enormous pro-
fits of these gas companies then was no speculation or
doubt. Aoeadte gto their own returns, he found the annual
profits of the Imperial Company were 68,0001., of the
Chartered Om Company 62.0001., of the London Gas Com-
pany 67,0001., of the City Gas Company (which was said to
be reduced almost to a mate of poverty) 62,9001., that being
the amount of surplus pr.fits.
Mr. Las having emeaded the resolution, it pared nasal-
sanely.
Mr. BADMIT Mirilddie next resolution, to the east that
the wanting all span the thrporation to exercise the powers
they peetheed to bring about an immediate redselea in
the pries of gas by the ethaission of competing companies.
The speaker ethiewmat some rem arks to the meeting on the
sehlest able pant Lw verifying gas made from the oil of
beam and ether elthl, sad which he undertook to skew
call be sefflLM at a much cheaper rats than cod gee,
while it moU materially aid the sanitary movement, by
me m* time Mika new went to swell dangheaps and
pima sewers.
Mr. /Lax mended the resolution, which pared nem. cow,
as did the mat, nemiely, " that a competent public officer
eh Mappointed by the corporation of Landon to inspect
meters and see that the gas is of gold quality, and that no
*braes is dome to the othenseer."—This resolution, which
was moved by Mr. Les and @seceded by Mr. Gear, gave rise
to numerous neaselue trom diarist speakers, all undid*
to thew that the meter did not give • sufficient security
to the eseenma, bemuses, as explaised by • nisi-
tibewatismea pitts.si It it were eniy atmospheric
sir it, It would still show a con.
empties ilaid 111741 M-very pointed allusions were also
mthe ts the appro.& of St. Thomas's Day, and to the ne-
= havisreeprosentatives in the comma council who
wishes of the citizens an this subject.
A re= was then passed, determining to present • re.
glisten to the Lord Mayor, to owns* • ward meeting on
the quads.; and thanks having been voted to the chairman
- broke up.