New-York tribune., 1872-08-15

POPULAR OBJECTIONS TO THE REGULATIONS OF
THE OLD COMPANIES - IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF
GAS.
Until recently the gas consumed in this city
has been manufactured by four cOmpanes-the New
York the Manhattan the Metropolitan, and the Harlem
BY mutual agreement these companies have confined
their pipes 10 separate districts, follows NewYork
from the Battery to Grandst. Manhattan Grandst. 10
Thirty -fourh-st; Metropolitan ThirtyfOurth-st. TO
seveuty-nnth-st; Harlem, seventynnth-st TO the
Harlem River. Each was released from competition, and
all were strong enough to absorb the small companies
organized from time TO time. The establishment in
Producing gas obliged TO pay for service pipes
from the main to the building and for meter rents
These requirements are customary, and ought not per
haps to be cited tyrannical but the objection can
Justly be made TO the arbitrary charges. certain
amount OF money, varying with the amount Of gas
likely to be used, also required surety for the
payment OF bills, il beng agreed that the Company
should pay interest this and refund it when the
ceased to deal with the Company II Is claimed
in some quarters that gas companies shOud not be
given greater advantages over their customers than
other companies. II the consumers credit good he
should be trusted if not surety should be required in
the form Of vouchers or bonds butte put all consumers
on a common basis is naturally regarded as unjust
Most consumers dealt with gas companies for a long
term Of years, tnat many Oi these suretes were uu
claimed. The companies, moreover did not pay the in
erest as II was Que, but allowed to accumulate and
ever a settlement came tie interest not
pounded. Furthermore, the companies able 10
this money at far above the LEGAL Of interest In
the Of years the funds accumulated by this eys
ten have amounted to millions. If it happened too.
that new family firm moved ntoa building, the for
occupant Of which had failed 10 pay his bills, the
companies took advantage of the consumers wants
nsg that he should pay mp the arrearages Of the for
mer occupant
The companies il is also said, manufactured very poor
gas aud charged exorbtaut rates. Gas manufacturers
have standard for the quality Of gas of which the unit
is a candle. Sperm candles Of English manufacture
weighing in sperm and wick fixed number of grains
used the test and when il is said that gas l. of
feet of gas burned al certain pressure from ie which
viii Just IL in hour, Will give much light
as Twelve such candles. IWeS5 oaHhss NeI$
eighteen, very good twenty ana twenty-five, remark
ably GOOD The companies furnished until very recently
eleven and tweye-candle gas. The revenue gas
formerly 70 cents per LOCO cuDc 1cc and Tor such
gas tbev have been charging till recently tax included
S 50 per thousand and average $50 per for
cleaning lighting, and supplying street ldnps,-hOueh
they also furnished service pipes ana did the work when
new lamps set up.
Newcastle coal contains from 81 to $50 per cent OF vol
They thus OF nearly equal richness, and Newcastle
coal yields G4S cubic feet per English camel and
eoking Goals are much richer Tie present cost of the
former per tun delivered in New York $3 80 TO Sli;
OF the latter, 81 25 10 81 co. and of PeunsylyGu
GOALS, s. 75 In general prices have not been much
greater for time past and the inference from these
hgures Is that for every thousand feet OF which
the companies have been receiving, till recently s.
tax on s. o. they have paid for the coal from which
was generated about 60 cents OF other material
s also employed IL the Manufacture OF gas, and com
pany must pay Tor labor, and make 1air profit bat
htill these figures are suspicious
On April 80 1865 tie Common Council granted permission
70 The New York Mutual Gaght Company 10 lay pipes in
all public grounds within the city ts period o 80
year,. Among the Directors of che Company are G. X
Garrison, Cornelius Vanderbilt, John l.. Kennedy, the
Engineer George Opdyke, and Daniel Drew. Extensive
works have been erected foot Of Eleventh and
Twefhsts, East River, and naphtha, instead camel
coal, Is employed TO enrich the gas This is not only
much cheaper, but much richer substitute As q con
sequence the Company furnishes 20 and ~ candle gas
has forced the other companies raise their stand
ards The policy OF laying large mains where IL at All
practicable Is adopted and thus pressure is eQualized
The company has already laid about 20 miles OF mains
and will complete 100 before Winter.
The other companies have lowered their rates S.
and since the revenue tax was removed tho NewYorK
ana Manhattan Companies have reduced the price 70
s. 7J The Metropolitan ana Harlem Companies stl
ask s. The MetrOpOlitan Company is sending notices
consumers along the line Of the Mutual mains that
ing 10 their promptness paying the fund deposited
surety viii be paid back with interest. The
ply puts down service pipes and furnishes meters free
asks sureucs only doubtful cases iuInieheh gas
witch claims Is superior at 81 49, ana 0neIs To light
The city at figures Tar below the iAles oi OtAer com