New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-06
THE GAS MONOPOLY.
| CONTINUATION or THE INvEsTIdATIoE-THE
COMPANIES DIVIDENDS.


COMPANIES DIVIDENDS.
The Assembly Committee appointed to inves-
tgaie the complaints OF citizens to the Gas Companies
OF this city aud Brooklyn continued their session at the
ST. Nicholas Hotel yesterday
THE HARLEM COMPANY.
Henry p MCGOWAN. Treasurer and Director OF the Har
Gas Light Company testified that the market value
OF the stock was 95. The annual dividend amounted TO
about II per cent In February 1885, extra dividend
Of 80 per cent declared The capital stock OF tho
Company has been increased to sOOOOo having origin
ally been $4,000.
Vim. IT, Davidson, State Inspector OF Gas Meters, ap
reared before the Committee to errata In
his statement previously made lie had said that eight
SEEN but consulting the records OF his Office he found
where the variations were high as sixteen per
eight per cent in favor OF the Companlos
Mr. Henry Chauncey. OF No. "a Washngtonsquare, was
next examined file testified that he was 5tockhoder
in the New-York and Metropolitan Companies, and
Director Of the former. IIe had been absent absent
by his attorney. lie did not know when dividends we're
issued and declined to how many shares OF STOCK he
Mr.. la Bau-we wish to ascertain exactly the amount
OF the immense profits realized by the mOnOpOiss
After more discussion among the Committee the wilt
ness was allowed 10 depart.
DR. Elmer who has been for many years expert
menting in the manufacture OF gas, said am
familiar with tho manufacture OF gas I have
found that nearly double the quantity OF gas may
be made by adopting system at the same pense.
and with better results rs regards Illuminating power
wasted in the formation OF other compounds. The gas
made in this way would be more pure and would not be
Of OdOrs arising from the manufacture OF gas
chief matter for complaint The lime process Is the
beat so far ms publication OF the concerned but
the conjunction OF lime with iron would be the best pro
cess and would produce disagrceabie odors nave
tan gas the average ia about Candles has sometimes
fallen candles. It is much oftener below IL
Joseph Wood of No 20 Fourthave complained that his
bills from May l. 1863 20 Oct 81 1868. increased 10 suc
Ar AZ %
order on the latter date bill was presented from INC
Manhattan Company for 900 feet lie burned 10 lights
about two hours nightly. Tho previous bills had not
amounted tn more than quarter of that amount; lie
complained to the Company, and his bill was reduced
from slO2 $50 but subsequently raised again to S42.
The Companys Inspector OF Meters inspected his meter,
and his application for meter was d1sregarded.
Upon his refusal pay the bill his cut off, and he
was now threatened with prosecution.
Dir. C. l.. LOvett, VicePresident and Director OF the
NcwYOrk Gas Company. stated that the value OF their
stock In the market $3.50 this large increase Delng
due To the increase in the value of real estate
Mr.. Joseph Sampson testified that stoclloder OF
the New.Iork Gas Company ihe had received dividends
OF 80 per cent for several years he had paid 300 per
cent premium for tbs stock and considered 1t good in
for improvements; they had surplus fund Of about
testified that the gas furnished it of good quality
and was supplied In sufficient quantity; Mr. Booth was
making gements 10 Introduce the oxygen gas which
represented TO be much superior to other descrip
lions.
and Western Railroad Company, depOsed that he was
stockholder IN the Metropolitan, Monhattan and New
dividend Of l2h per cent from the Metropolitan He re-
there two per cent dividends aud the aggregate
amounted TO so per cent
Thos T. Morris, actor and manager OF the waverey
Theate said he has two complaints make against
Manhattan Gas Company. one applying to his own pri-
waite houke aud the other to the theater Some time
since during his absence from home the collector called
at his residence with the usual bill, and leaving 1t said he
would call on the following Thursday for payment On
Thursday he made his appearance. and was Informed
that the eOmpainant was from home, hut that u ne
would call or Monday he would have returned and
would pay the bill On the cOuplninanrs return home
Saturday evening he was surprised TO find that the
gas Oft. notice whatever having been pre-
Viously given. Seven eight montht ago hs treatment
was with respect To tho heaer the cause OF
complaint follows Mr. q. T. Meadcr. the present
lessee Inc WavcTey Theaer took the theator from Mr.
Leon vl.se deposit ~ e0o remained with the Gas Com
pany nrr hi. resignation. After consuming for two
or t6rcc days the Company sent word that deposit
were not made the supply would be cut of lie made M
qurios Of Mr. Leous uncle, who informed him that the
original deposit OF tlOO had not been removed. On
the following morning however he found the gas cut on
and all tho men standing IDLE lie lmmediately sent
tO0 note the Company with request mat they re-
store The eas Th however. they refused to do until
Mr. Mcadcr had been 10 the Office and complied win the
formula they eXaoted The result WAS that they ala not
sct tie gns restored TIL tho next day No notice what
ever had been given IN this ease
r. D. BonRhton editor Of The Journal Of Commerce tes-
tined that their Office was supplied by the DIX Gas
Co For the last i've or six months the quality OIL 'e gas
had bad. and the light 50 Insufficient as To me-
cesstatc the use OF candles. .,,. ~,
Garrett y Cuse, restaurant keeper, residing AZ NO
efg preferred complaint against the New-fork
Gas Co. the substance OF which was that man came
foa thoCompany 70 view the iudeX on his meter which
shoved fcOt rs the weeks consumption. believing
this estimate oorIcct he began using Kerosene OIL o
tbe following week tie register Indicated consumption
Of 300 feet Shortly afterward bull was presented Tor
81 d. which be- refused 10 pay He went To the book
eeper to why he charged for 1900 or lO Zee
of gas instead u TO and told that the bill was made
out according the direction Of the VicePresdent OF
the Company . ,-,. :,
Mr. r. a. Pike also brought similar complaint be.
fore inc notice OF Board Ho stated that ut presen
when the length OF ta .as .sse VIZ
OF hn iUtucIiy, tue MotaJ v'A'o
h.ni cSiisidefaDiy Increased. 49,
EJohn Creation OF No. 29 Unoust. Brooklyn stated 70
The RDarl that ago. he rented house In Brook
Iyn In which there gas lie applied 10 the Brook
lyn Gasght Company for meter, when they told him
tlev had bill against the house which they should com
pei him 20 pay before they supplied HIM with gas lie
paid the bill. when he was still refused supply TIL he
nad a de pOslt His bils,i which commenced NJ ehnnt
S 90 per week soon up to about d. new company
formed after, promised to give better gas
chenper rate without the e1acton OF deposit ana ne
used their gas At first his bills averaged aoout w. Dut
now they had reached 81 and t2 ANA nus consumption
was only about "a quarter IN much as before.
The Committee then adjourned ul ~ O'CLOCK oh Nun
day morning