The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-10-30
Gas Companies and the Public.


Some little time ago. read most important
article in your paper on this subject, peculiarly in
terestlng to gas consumers, amongst whom II has
created no little sensation.
As housekeeper, and burning great deal OF
gas, have been frequently alive to the heavy eX.
pense incurred, but | never anticipated | was paying
almost four times as much for 1t as IN reason, II
seems, ought to pay.
1t is no wonder that individuals are now be-
coming ,ely dissatisfied this point, and il
must be matter OF some moment with the Corpora
ton ,f public saving to such an enormous amount
can be legitimately and equably effected.
In the name ofprudence, let third or " Gas Con-
sumer's Company" be formed amongst us without
without delay, as the very difference between what
l and others now pay, and what we might pay,
would willingly be invested in shares, and hundreds
OF tradesmen IN this city similarly situated, would
be very glad to JOIN us on the same terms.
have had frequent conversations on this subject
with individuals who large consumers of gas,
and the information we have conformity obtained
confirms the statements made by Mr. kenish,
Eight shilings sterling per 1000 feet is what is paid
Tor gas IN London. The shareholders receive am
pie dividends their stock is generally much above
par Why then should we pay ffty-six shillings per
1000 feet tor gas in New York; Goals are at least
as cheap here as there.
The gas companies there get Goals from the
north Its cost at the pits mouth is about five shiI-
ngs per ton. The freight is II shillings per ton,
duty paid, to the corporation of London, one shil:
ling and slxpence per ton meterage, Eghterage, and
other expenses, about two Ishillings and sixpence
per ton; cost in London about twenty shings per
ton, or 40 shillings of New York currency
The coal which the Manhattan Company uses
here cannot cost more than this, but II IT does, IL
can easily be obvated, as we shall shortly see Eng.
llsh coal produces, believe, about S per cent OF
gas. If we have no bitumenous coal in this country
that is fit for the purpose, anthracite we learn, Is
better contains least 80 per cent OF carbon
and the hydrogen necessary to comoihe WIN l. 10
form gas, is obtained, am told, by the decomposl-
ton OF water in the same, or IN separate re'orl'
A friend Of mine has had good deai OF CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Kentish on the suoeci' anu 'his Is
If then. from the produce OF the present coal,
GAS can be afforded at Ss. per 600 feet sier
7,nu or for I6s New York currency, and still leave
good dividends, what would these dividends not
amount to if the same price were charged, and
more than double the quantity of gas produced!
Another point OF consequence 10 gas consumers
is the metres. have frequently doubted the cor
rectness OF the one use, and many entertain the
same impression, yet we have no means of ascer-
tanning the fact. My ordinary consumption APP
pear,d to me so large that quarter determined
TO see what the most careful economy would do /
kept the lights low during the whole three months,
and had them exngulshed the moment business
ceased i concluded ! had made a saving of at
Yeast twenty per cent. The Inspector came, took
his usual memorandum from the metre, got my
account, and TO my asonishment, it was some
what more than the amount of the previous quarter.
Oh! oh SAID l. If this be the fruits of economy, In
future will adopt the old course. There Is some
thing wrong with some OF the meres; at all events
do not stand alone in this respect Scores make
a similar complaint, and are ready to confirm 1t,
publicly, If needful
Pray assist us with your powerful aid and In