The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-25
The New York Gas Companies-Their Posi-
tion and Prospects-A Comparison with
Phlladelphia.

The New York Gas Comprehensive Posi-
tion and Prospects-A Comparison with
Philadelphia.
From time to time there have been various dis
cussions in the newspapers on gas, and the subject
would seem almost exhausted, yet much remains to
be said. We have made Investigations into the
operations of the two companies which at present
enjoy monopoly Of lighting the city, and we have
published the results for the information of our
readers In doing So we had no private object to
serye-we had no feeling against the gas companies,
our only motive was the public good. Last
week, the engineers Of the two companies, Mr..
Mowton, of the old company, and Mr. Roome, of
tho Manhattan company, called together at our
office, and made the following statement on behalf
of their respective companies =
STATEMENT OF THE ENGINEERS OF THE GAS COM
PANIEs.
l. Wewant to satisfy MIR. Bennett of sincerity, and
want him to satisfy the public in order that abe pub
lie may put faith in us-that may gain their good
will and that the uukind feeling existing may be
done away
All we ask is that may be able to pay stock
holders ten per cent for capitalists will not invest their
money in business Of such risk at smaller Interest
Having satisfied them that pay them that
get any amount Of capt. al we want.
We will reduce the price Of on the first Of Janu
airy next to So per 1000 cubic feet and the quality will
be such produced by twothirds of camel coal and
one-third of Newcastle; the Corporation will agree
consumer, will reduce the price tomorrow to So
and will b. better of than now to the extent Of
several thousand dollars.
There coal gas in the United States so good rs
that which is in New York and brooklyn
Both companies filling up their districts and en-
iargng their works; ard thus expanding capital in
anticipation OF business and manufacturing
gas at n reduced price.
g. The old company are com planned of for lighting
the streets which the mains laid But the Common
Council do not order these streets to be lighted with
though gas lnurv is as cheap as an oil lamp while it
IF LIGHT gtrpet
is FOR instance Of the streets not yet ordered to be
lighted with gas
23c8 hours annuatly (being an average of ca hours
each night in the year, at three feet hour for each
lamp while the sc.al consumption is from four to hve
feet.
Siace the foregoing statement made, we perceive
that ts Manhattan Company have issued advertise
mene reducing the price fifty cents from the first Of
January next. Whf don't the New York Gas Company,
who far richer have less expense and more profs
BILE part Of the city 70 Light make similar reduction,
rather, greater for they receive, on an average
eighteen per thousand feet for their gas than
the othsr company 1t is true, have very bad pro-
mise Of reduction the part OF tho New York Gas
COMPANY.
We apprchend, however, that 1t will prove to be ~
little satisfactory to the public is to promise
Of reduction Of fifty cents per 1000 cubic feet is
cesson to public opinion, far it goes but then it Is
snail, and the putting it of till the first of January
next. L. very like the sdage-" Live horse and you will
get cats" But then ~ told this patry reduction
viii se Tomorrow the Corporation will only
sen. to pay much for gas private consumers The
prize paid by the Corporation is matter between that
body and the Company with which the private
have nothing to do except that they have to pay
that tax well every other The gas companies have
made the contract with their eyes open and there be
my hardship in it, have only themselves to blame
Whey in favor Of equality Of price we; but
The gas companies cannot compel the Corporation to
make advance, would not the uniformity be satisac
tory attained by bringing down tho price charged 60
the private customer to the rate charged the Com
mon Council This certainly would come much
to the demands ot than the proposition of the gas
companies. 1t Is not that the Corporation pay too
little, but that the citizens pay too much. The New
York Gas Company receive SIS for each public lamp
and the Manhattan Gas Company SIS,
The companies say they burn from four to five feet per
hour instead Of three We cannot give them any credit
for this first because do not believe it, and second
iy If true, IL would be for making tho
private pay for it, Let the companies be just
before they and instead Of giving away
for nothing to the corporation reduce the price to the
people large We therefore calculate the price
according to the contract.
Al three Zee. per hour then for 100 hours there
Geee feet consumed annually, in each lamp The price,
therefore, charged by the Now York Gas Company Is
81 IS per 900 cubic feet and by the Manhattan 81 II
The averaged 81 05 This IL than the private
sumers Of Philadelphia will have TO pay from Janusry
pcxt aud at this moment the Manhattan Gas Company
receiving three cents for the supplied 10 the
public lamps than Is charged to the private consumer in
that city. Yet told by the New York companies
that il the extreme low price paid by the Corporation
that compels them 10 charge high price to the ct
at srge while The high price charged for the pub
lie lights in Philadelphia enables tho private
there TO obtain gas at low price Tho following figures
viii show how far this allegation l. borne out by facts
Gas FURNISHED ~ PnIAprtrns ~ 1850.
Cubic Essf Prize. To'a,
Public lights. 1891. 2s4o2Oo0 at NJ Is $50 0J2 80
Private lights. l3l 2sS40O at - IL % So 81
Spring Garden ii,GJJ6p01
Southwark ........ 343TSOO at 81 - $500 q
MoyGmcLsing... az 5OOD