New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-03

Ii will thus be seen that of the twenty-five gas
companies above named, comprising most Of those
10 the United States using American as well as
foreign COAL that there but three that furnish
their gas 10 private consumers at less price than
the two companies in our city. The companies
are located, too, at or in the near vicinity of coal
mines, or where the transportation is cheap and
easy from them. The gas, however, which they
furnish is inferior to that of the New York compa
mics, having specific gravity of about $50, oil be-
ing 1000, while that of the Manhattan and New
York companies is from $50 to 600.
These companies, as well as all others charge
however, q much higher price for the public lamps
than those in this city. For instance in Philadel-
phia the price Of gas to the private consumer is
twenty-five and n half cents per 100 feet, and the
charge for the public lamps is twenty two dollars
and Fifty cent each. This IS for the gas only, as
the watchmel of the city light and extinguish the
lamps. The same company or works in Philadel-
phia, charge thirty five cents per 100 feet to the
consumers in the direction OF SOuthwark,-the
same price as paid here. In addition to this, the
ground and works Of the Philadelphia Company
Belong to the city, and consequently there is no
tax paid upon them; and the Corporation, your
Committee are informed is obliged to make fire.
quent appropriations for deficiencies, aud for ex-
tending the works
In Pittsburgh, where coal is cheap, the best
costing but 81 A per ton, the charge to the pr
vate consumer is twenty-five and halt cents, as
IN Philadelphia, but public lamps pay each TWEEN
sy-three dollars.
In Cincinn att, the next highest to private con-
gamers. the charge is 80 cents, and SCI for the
public lamps Coal here, however being lower
than in New.York.
In no other places than the abOvenamed is gas
furnished TO the private consumer cheaper than
here, while the public lamps are in all much
higher, and in some nearly double what is paid
here
IL the companies located here were to use the
soft Goals used by the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati, and other companies, the cost of gas,
although decreased. would from its inferior quail
ity, the same quantity being consumed in less
time, be about the same price as now charged by
them
The Manhattan Company receives SIS each per
snnum for the public lamps, which burn cubic
feet Of gas per hour, and $500 hours year. The
New.York Company receives the same as the oil
lamps ere lighted at per year In addition to
shis, each company clean, light and extinguish
the lamps, leaving about 50 80 as the actual sum
received by the Manhattan, and 81 81 by the
New.York Company, for each lamp supplied with
gas.
This is below the cost Of the article, even If
procured from the most interior coal, either in the
Dnited States or England, being at from Is TO p
cents per 100 cubic feet including the cost OF
cleaning, lighting and extinguishing the lamps.
Should the Common Council, therefore desire
90 establish department of their own for the
manufacture OF gas, they could not produce it at
the price which they now pay TO these COM
panies.
Beside, the experience in England has shown
that private companies can furnish gas cheaper
br the public lamps than the works established
by the corporations of several cities or boroughs.
Out Of over 600 gas establishments in that coun.
try but eleven belong to corporations, or commits.
sioners acting under special acts OF parliament
Even in the city OF London, where gas is fur.
nished as cheap as anywhere the public lamps
pay near the same price they do here.
Your Committee have visited each Of the gas
establishments In this city and paid attention 70
the manufacturing OF gas, the capital invested in
this business, and the expense necessary, 70 carry
On the same
The capital invested and expense of manuiac.
tsre form important addition to the cost Of the
gas, and are often lost sight Of when calculations
arc made by some in their estimated cost of the
article
No doubt If the price of the raw material were
only considered, the cost would be generally de-
creased. But il must be borne in mind. that
considerable area Of ground, valuable buildings
costly apparatus, miles Of mains aud Mines. labor
and services Of superintendents and clerks leak
age and bad debts, wear and tear Of rOsoyts de
probation OF apparatus and extension 0f the
works, necessarily bear at least, If not tbs
one half Of the cost Of manufacture.
In England. where labor is cheap, retorts arc
furnished at less than one half tho price they are
here, and capital more abundant the labor, wear
and tear Of retorts, general wear and tear Of the
works lime interest on cost OF plant, and interest
on Coating capital for stock OF coal, are estimated
at fraction over OnehAf OF the cost OF mana.
hcture.
This does not include The repair TO the gss-hold-