The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-15 00:00:00

THE SUPPLY OF GAS TO THE CITY.

A very lengthy report from the special committee on gas,
appointed in June last, was to-day laid before the court for
consideration. The committee set forth the several references
made to them from time to time ; but before entering into the
snbject they drew attention to the former conditions of the gas
supply to the City, so far as they related to the formation of
the Great Central Gas Consumers' Company, and the cir-
cumstances which subsequently led to the passing of the Me-
tropolis Gas Act of 1860. Adverting to the charges for public
lamp lighting they stated that the present price per lamp
per annum was about 4-1- per cent. dearer than it was in 1823,
when gas was at 15s. per 1,000 cubic feet, and 84 per cent.
above the lowest price charged in 1853, when gas was at
4s. per 1,000 cubic feet. In 1853 the cost of the public light-
ing of the City was about £8,700, whilst in the presentyear
it would be about £15,700 ; after making allowance for the
increase in the number of lamps since 1853, the excess of
cost owing t o increased charges was about X 6,500 per annum,
or equal to the rate of more than ld. in the pound upon the
assessed value of the City property. The officers of the
commission bad reported to them that they estimated the
private consumption of gas inthe City at about 1,000,000,000
cubic feet annually, which at 6d per 1,000 feet gave £25,080
as the excess of that which would have been paid had gas
remained at 45., and to that had to be added the increased
cost of public lighting. It would be seen therefore how
large a sum of money was now paid by the citizens owing
to the abrogation of the compact made by the Great Central
Gas Company with the commission in 1850, while it was
char that the advantages which were intended to be given
by the Metropolis Gas Act had not been realised in return
for the increased price.
The committee then proceeded to deal with the several
references to them, anddivided the subject matters referred
to into the following classes :-
1. Complaints as to defective street-lighting.

2. As to deficiency in the supply of gas to private con-

sumers.

3. As to the inferior illuminating power of the gas.

4. As to impurities in the gas.
5. As to the high price of the gas.
6. Consideration as to the propriety of the commission
seeking powers to take upon itself the manufacture, supply,
and sale of gas in the City.
7. As to the commission purchasing the mains of the
gas companies, and establishing a"manufactory for the sup-
ply of gas, cr laying down their own mains,!and obtaining
the supply of gas in bulk by tender.
8. As to the best means of obtaining a reduction in the
price of gas, an increase in the quantity, and an improve-
ment in its quality.
Upon the question raised relative to the commission
taking into its own hands the gas supply, the committee
stated that, looking at all the circumstances attending the
passing of the Metropolis Gas Act of 1860, and at the short
period which had elapsed since it became law, and also at
certain provisions in the act not yet exercised, there seemed
to them to be little probability of bringing either of the
projects suggested, if undertaken, to a successful termination
at the present time. They wished it, however, to be clearly
understood that that opinion was formed with reference to
existing circumstances only, and they did not say that occa-
sion might not arise at a future day when those subjects
might again be raised with advantage. The question as to
whether such projects generally should be undertaken by
the Corporation of London or by the commissioners acting
on its behalf, was an important one, but need not be further
alluded to in that part of the report. The committee stated
that they now approached the question of applying to Parlia-
ment for an alteration in the Metropolis Gas Act, so far as it
affected the City. In their opinion, whilst the companies had
since 1861 obtained a higher price for gas, and derived a
largely increased revenue thereby, as well as from other
causes which that act brought into operation, neither in the
illuminating power nor in the chemical purity had the citizens
had an equivalent for it ; that upon the whole the citizens
would have been better off at the present time had the con-
ditions of gas supply, as existing up to 1859, been unaltered.
They moreover believed that in many towns where the stand-
ard of illuminating power and chemical purity werehigher,
the price of the gas was lower than it was in the City ; and
yet that the City had all those conditions which should
make it profitable to supply "gas to it at a cheaper rate
than in any part of the metropolis, or perhaps any other
part of England. The city of London was, therefore, sup-
plied with gas less brilliant, loss pure, and at a higher
price than many other places in the United Kingdom, and
they considered that the City, as well as the metropolis
generally, instead of being placed in an inferior position in
those respects, should be the standard for the example of
other towns ; and they believed, if these facts were set be-
fore the Legislature, that an amendment in the Metropolis
Gas Act, 1860, as far as it affected the City,wouldno doubt
be obtained.

The committee submitted the following recommendations
for the approval of the Court :
" 1. That an offer should again be made to the companies
from the commission to undertake the lighting, extinguish-
ing, cleaning, and the entire charge of the public lamps,
affixing meters to every 20 lamps or thereabouts, and
adopting such other precautions as will insure a fair average
consumption.
" 2. That the companies be requested to affix, at their
expense, governors or regulators to the whole of the public
lamps.

" 3. That the further assistance of the police be, if pos-
sible, obtained in the supervision of the public lighting.
" 4. That the application of Mr. Greenfield in respect of
his curbetting process, be not complied with.
" 5. That all legal measures to secure to the citizens gas
equal to the Act of Parliament standard of illuminating
power and chemical purity should b 3 resorted to.

" 6. That an application be made to the Secret;ry of State
for the Home Department to institute an inquiry as to the
capitals of the several companies, and for the purpose of
securing to the consumers all the advantages contemplated
by the Metropolis Gas Act, 1860.
" 7. That after mature consideration of the subjects re-
ferred to us, we are of opinion that it is inexpedient at the pre-
sent time to take measures with the view to the commission,
manufacturing, and selling gas, but that application be made
to Parliament for a modification of the Metropolis Gas Act,
1860, so far at it affects the City of London, and especially
with the view of obtaining for the City gas of a higher
illuminating power, of greater chemical purity, and at a
cheaper price than that now supplied, and such otherpowers
as may be beneficial to the ratepayers and gas consumers in
the City. The committee, in conclusion, stated that if these