New-York tribune., 1869-03-15
THE GAS LYVESTTGATION.

The Assembly Committee on Gas MOnOpOlies
met on Saturday at the ST. Nicholas Hote Quite
long statement was submitted TO the Committee by
Gen L. Yele on the various methods Of publication
and manufacture OF coal gas Tie great question now
among manufacturers and particularly Interesting
TO persons living iu the vicinity Of gas works that OF
puriacation In three different gas works Of this city
there were used as purifying agents, bydrate
OF limo and oxide Of iron. Tie limo used
was usually insufficient in quantity TO absorb
all the impurities and offensive odOrs, and after
beng used spread on the ground, exposed 10 tho
action Of the atmosphere, and the lmpurlues dis
scminatcd to great extent. Tie simple oxide OF iron
was also incomplete purifier ana was therefore Obec
mixed with dust or spent tan bark was found 70
excel any other agent This process had been used with
eminent success in Europe and particularly n the Copcn
hagen Gas Works. The expense OF altering old gas WORKS
for tho introduction OF this uroccss small
Mr. ZOllikOffer President OF the Metropolitan Gas IGht
down the ninutc-book because he thought ne had mo
right TO do The Committee insisted on the prOduc
ton OF the book AS evidence Nj LOkChcr stated That
the Company always paid interest on deposits made by
consumers at the rate Of seven per cent per aHnum IN
1864 they raised Tor lighting street lamps from SIS 10 SIS
Tor each lamp no no contract Was ever Saned the Com
Mr. Brennan the Controller refused to pay the bills the
matter went into court several times decided In
Mr. william Mcthelham, Secretary Of the metropolitan
Gas Company, was sworn ana examined Had been Sec
retary Of the company since May 1901 Refused 10 say
whether ne stOckhOdcr. Had no regular time for
declaring dividends Tie HIGHEST had been T. per cent
working OF the meters. Hia observation led hm
eNe that meters dd not generally register in favor OF
the company lady from Harlem appeared before the
Committee and complained Of Ithoi Inconvenience Of
the Company's Office for consumers living I'm Har-
lem. They had promised 10 build an office on
Third FOurth-aves., but had not done
TheCOmmittee met Saturday evening" In the CITY Hail.
Brooklyn. The complaints there were all against the
Citizens Company. Mr. WIN Jones, ir, OF CaTol[st,
testified that bill OF S33 rendered him for July
August, and September 1855, whereas the bin for the
period the previous year but S2 and the Gas
Company explained the difference by charging the extra
amount on the bills for previous months. Mr.
Armstrong, OF the firm OF Armstrong q BlaCklin,
testified that tho gas is poorer while the
bills larger than ever. Mr. William Fa-
ye Of No 279 UniOns testified that the gas had been
turned of from his because former tenant owed
65 cents for gas and SIS deposit required before the
Company would turn on tho gas no interest was paid on
this money Mr.. Samuel Powell stoclhOldcr OF the
Citizens Gaslight Company, admitted that who the
stock worth but 90 cents tho dollar seven years
ago, II sells readily to-day for 81 co on the dollar. Mr.
John Gelston told the interesting story OF stQckQldcT
Of the Company who received special dividend Of 80 pGf
cent, which IL understood TO be kept private
Mr. j. W. Creation OF No. 2J Unon-St presented an an
dayit showing that tue gas furnished by the Citizens
Company Is OF the poorest kind and that the bills arc
continually increasing The examination Of witnesses at
times gave rise TO considerable excitement.