Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-01-10

count is stated, it would be fair to allow the
cas- works interest on the cost OF lighting the
city, and also interest on the large amount
paid into the city treasury, which would IN
crease the profits of the works some 50 or 49,
um dollars This, however, has not been
done.
The gas consumers are the persons who have
built up the works, have lighted the city. and
made a clear profit to the city OF Sl39,2So.3O.
In 1856 the number of gas consumers was
COO In 1871 the number was only l39, show
an increase of only about niue year III the last
fifteen years
The price of gas is now 81 per thousand feet.
We propose to reduce it to s.. 50 per thousand
feet, and hope by doing so to increase the num-
Der of consumers, and still render the gas
works remuneratiye. Should this reasonable
expectation not be fulfilled. it may become ne
cesSary to increase the price above that named,
which We trust will not be the case.
Mr. Worthington, who had not, he said been
IN favor of the proposed measure, expressed
himself rs satisfied with the statement Of the
committee and favored the plan, but thought
this bad time for the city to, in any way, di-
minish the revenue.
Mr. Underwood said that as member OF
the committee he had gone into the calculations
involved in the statements OF the paper read,
thousand feet-that isif the city was charged
with the cost Of lighting the streets, but that
with that charge deducted the cost would be
about -. 50. He stated as al example of the
injustice of the present charges TOR gas, that
Mr.. Green paid from 81, 500 to $l 800 q year.
lie illustrated his statements as to the prOpnety
of u reduction of the rates, by abiding to the
reduction of governmental charges without
loss of revenue. He did not think it right to
make consumers pay an exorbtant price.
Mr.. Seaton advocated the extension OF gas
into those parts Of the city not now lighted,
the northern aud southern limits, especially II
The reduction proposed should be made.
Mr.. Markell enquired what proportion OF
hills were unsolicited. He had understood
that a good many bills were owing.
Mr.. French said that in the absence of data
it would seem evident that such large sums
paid in annually was proof of absence Of great
loss. Only SIP, $50 of bills were unpaid in fit
teen years and most of those bills. were con-
tracted by irresponsible parties during the war.
MIR. Worhington said be was again in doubt:
Taxes were high and would be made higher II
diminution of revenue was made by loss from
this quarter. He had inquired and found that
persons whose gas had cost $50 per quarter had
substituted coal oil at a cost of Sl3
MIR. French thought that here was an argu-
ment in favor of reduction. To say nothing
of the dangers attending the use of oil it was
eomingin competition with gas and If the lat
ter was kept at the present high rates there
would be a further loss from parties ceasng to
use it. Some were doing this now on account OF
the costliness of gas and more would do SO.
Mr.. Janney was certain that reduction would
result in increased consumption in this case as 1t
did in all others. But thought perhaps 20 per
Ct would be sufficient to start with.
An amendment substituting SO tor $50, as
the price per 1000 feet, was adopted. ;,
Mr., French took stand against the bill in