The New York herald., 1869-03-09
THE GAS MogoPoLIEs.

Tho InycsttgntiOn Yestcrdny-Omcers OF tne
Brooklyn Companies ON the Stand-DnmaG-
ing Testimony Against tho M0nOpolists by
Judge DAILY and Others.
The Legislative committee having charge OF In
vestIgating the workings OF the gas companies re-
sumed its session yesterday morning at the st.
Nicholas Hotel. with the chairman, Mr.. r Mitchell,
presiding, when the following testimony was
giyen:--
Valentine 7. Hall, Secretary OF the Brooklyn Cas-
light Company, being sworn and examined by the
chairman, testined-We are acting under
special charter, dated 1926: 1t has been
amended several times; it contains no regulations
as to the price OF gas or quality we must furnish;
we may charge anything we please It is to our inte
rest to furnish good gas; dividends viii average
about seventeen per cent, We made . report to the
Legislature Last year; we are continually laying
mains ana making improvements; our capital stock
IL $2o0U,000; 1t was originally s25000o; we gave
extra stock to our stockholders when an opposition
company was started; the par value OF the stock Is
twenty-five dollars per share; the last sale was 240
per cent; the price of coal delivered on our dock Is
about So 50, and we have some as high as sixteen
dollars; am not stockholder; suppose we
could not replace our capital for less than
$4,0o0ooO; our price is So 25; we have been
charging that for some six years; we require de-
the State; we pay seven per cent interest on the
deposits; we give two notices before cutting or the
gas; we make tests Of the quality of gas daily;
it Ia about fifteen candles; it has run down low
thirteen, and 1t Ia often much higher directors
are Il. D. P0lhcmus, >. L. Huested. Cyrus p. Smith,
A. w. Benson, II. K. Sheldon, James Howe G. E.
Bill, William Hunter, Jr, p c. Cornell; we have no
surplus fund; there was company called the
"Cittzens'," started In Brooklyn some few years
ago, but we never made any arrangement
with them whatever; our district is from Attain
and up through Williamsburg to the limit Of Brook.
lyn; we have about IA. 900 consumers
claring dividends.
by Mr.. Bergen-I am not practically acquainted
with the manufacture OF gas, but understand the
routine; nave been with the company about nine.
teen years; the photometrical examinations are
made at the works; presume the value OF the gas
deterOrates the further the goes from the works.
we have the usual number OF complaints that all gas
companies have; when we receive complaint we
treat the complainant as civly as possible and ex-
plain all we can to him; we proceed according to
law generally; those complaints are not warranted
by any fault OF the company; burner continued In
burn more gas; Mr.. Creators statement before the
committee Is incorrect; his bill commenced In sum.
mer ana did not suddenly increase from 81 SO TO $o
gradual furthermore. Mr. Mr. Graon agreed to pay pay
the bin that was due on the house at the time he
took possession; that he did not pay for some tlme
and he left owing bill which he has not paid.
BY the Chairman-We have the state Inspectors
seal on every meter; we have not found any OF the
meters incorrect we charge the city OF Brooklyn SO
mHSe pe we put lou tSar n doos burner RI r on each
lamps shall be lighted; we include the United States
tax in the So rs.
VIM. r. Libby. President Of the Citizens Gaslight
Company, being sworn and examined by Mr.. Ber.
gen, he testified as folows:-Our company was char
tered in 1859; we commenced to furnish gas IN 1851;
V g aMS U al sems @
including taxes, the cost OF our gas was
g. q per LOCO; we do not deduct the
So IS; tests at the works will average sixteen
or seventeen candles; when We use the same quality
when we Change coal we MAKE the es
oftener; the amount OF gas sold last year was
13l,oooooo feet; the capital of our company is
81, 200 900; IN 1862 we commenced on o three per
cent, semi-annually for two years; then two years
four per cent scnlannualy. and since i've per cent;
usual number OF complaints aud OF fhe usual style;
they few in the relation OF percentage; we have
scale at the room and we run the pressure
from two and half inches to one lncli accord
ing to the hour aud the amount OF consumption;
/ am a stockholder in the company; the inspection
and making cut Of the bulls are IN the usual manner;
we make an average only when the meter ceases to
register; when the meter appears 10 be running
slowly remove 1t and test II our works; thlnx
we lind that ninety per cent OF meters vii, be
found 10 register slowly or In favor OF the burner
am STRENGTHENED in THIS beiief by Knowing how mucn
more greater quantity we run Out tIan we get paid
By the Chairman We are working under the gene
raj law; our original capital was $I,O0J, 600; the
par value Of stick twenty dollars per share;
we have never declared any extra dividend; we In
clude the expenses OF repairing, &C. In the cost gas
buildings. &c we pay for out or q construction
fund In our capital; we nave surplus or $IOl 900:
it would be impossible for me 10 ten the value Of our
property; we generally require deposi. from every
consumer except when we known the party 70 be
responsible we waive IL; we always give notice OF
Hustled, ". II. Nichols j. IL Curtis and s !. Powell
are directors; we charge the city oil Brooklyn be-
tween forty.hvc and forts-six dollars per year for
Iupr In
1s6S than IN 1867 gas companies are always CON-
planned OF and never complain.
Witness then went on TO explain why gas compa.
nes are complained OF the world over. lie stated
that he believed II the Committee would sum-
would hear the complaint; II Is because oil the
belief that the consumers are at the mercy OF tho
companies; u Is not t.e price or the quality Of the
the companies, tho monopolics, are their masters,
and they do not like .hat gas making Is monopoly.
and 1t must remain So at Glasgow, where tnev have
the very finest coal ana furnish gas OF thirty candle
power at price OF about Tour shilling sterling per
thousand, there are the same complaints and In on
don ! learned from one OF the companies, witch
furnishes gas ct less than one dollar In gold per
thousand, tnat everI year there are committees
fr6ui Parliament to examine iDto the alleged exlor.
tons and that there Is good library OF reports on
the subject: witness gave lengthy statement OF tae
difference between banks, &c., and gas eouipanes;
would be satisfied &c have our gas inspected by a
good. scientific man aud furnish fourteen candle
power To q ayc foot Dirner.
Charles Il. Catltn sr., secretary or the Cltixcus'
Gaslight Company, being sworn, was examined by
Mr. La Bau, and testified as follows:--lIaye been
acting a. secretary sfce 1865; have 23j consumers
we charge three doihrs and twenty-five cents:
think our stock sells 100 per cent; district IA
all that par OF the cry south OF Atlantic and Flat
bush avenues.
No new points OF interest were elected from this
witness.
Charles F. Blodgett, secretary OF the Williamsburg
Gaslight Company and OF the Greenpoint company
now merged IN the Williamsburg, sworn and cxaii-
ined by the chalrlnan-Udr company organized In
$50 with $4,000 capital; our capital has been IN
creased by law the pr value s $50 per shares am
not stockholder tH last sale was $3.50; the illu-
mnatino power ~ iron fourteen to sixteen candles;
can hardly tell the vllue Of the property we bought
the property for $4,000 and l think Dt would now
sell for $4,000; sine 1850 our dividend would
average ten per cent before that we paid
nothing; 10 the ,redit OF profit and loss
we have surplus OF $4,000; We charge four dol
lars per thousand, sihlcct to discount; we have
some 1000 OF few more consumers and smaller
number OF street LAMPS we do not require deposit
from any person we how 10 be reliable; we never
cut WitnOU notice: re.mhtf~ The