Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-04-08

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WASHINGTON CITY:
TCESDAY....... 9. 1873.



The threatened strike OF the New York gas
men was entered upon on Saturday By the en-
ployes Of one company-fhe New York Gas
Company" The demand was for the adoption
OF the eight-hour system i'm the works Ii an
pears that the eight-hour system had been in
use for come eight months, but the gas com
panies finding the expenses heavy and labor
becoming more abundant, determined to fall
BACK 10 the former rates, namely: twelve hours
Fer day, at 1925 for fremen and $3.50 for help
ers- The strikers allege that the labor is very
oppressive and unhealthy, in consequence Of
the close confinement for twelve hours in the
intense heat of the gas-works; hence their de-
mand that the number OF hours shall be short
ened That the work is very exhausting would
seem to be demonstrated by the fact that two
OF the Italians taken from Wards Island to
supply the place of the strikers jumped into the
river and were drowned in the attempt to es-
cape from their new labor. The others also
elamored loudly to be returned to the Island to
await less exhaustive labor. The new, mex
Ierieneed men were unable to get up a suf-
heient amount of gas for consumption at first
ana on Sunday night considerable portion of
New York was in comparative darkness. Last
night, however, there was a full supply; and
the strikers do not seem thus far to have sue
ceeded in inducing the gaSmen in the other
works to strike.
The New York TriJaas, in explaining the
''situation," says that the gas of New York is
furnished by five companies New York,
which covers the part of the city lying below
Grand street; the Manhattan, from Grand to
Thirty-fourth street; the Metropolitan, from
Thirty-fourth street to Eighty-sixih street; the
Harlem, above Eighty-sixth street; and the
Mutual, which has a rowing commission, and
takes the main streets and avenues in all parts
OF the city. Ii Is cause of complaint against
this latter company that, while the others are
compelled to lay mains through all the streets
small as well as great, the Mutual takes only
the main thoroughfares, and thus avoids ez-
pense which does not bring immediate returns.
From this competition, the failure of the COM
Ianies to recover their claims against the city,
and perhaps other causes, the gas compa-
MES do not find, they claim, their bust
ness as profitable it was formerly.
The New York Company, which is the oldest of
the quartet, pays - per cent dividend, but this
is drawn largely from real estate in which some
Of the surplus funds of the company were in
vested many years ago. The Manhattan stock
which was bought two years ago at sos, has
fallen to 300, and has paid only one dividend of
per cent on par value. IL Is said, however,
that within that period a million and half
dollars of debt has been paid OF by the COM
pany. The Metropolitan stock has fallen in
the same time from over 200 to 80, and has paid
only one small dividend. The Harlem company
has paid 9per cent regular dividend, and on
receiving money from the city a short time ago
declared a special dividend of 5 per cent.
Stockholders who bought at the high figures
OF a few years ago do not feel jubilant, and
there are many pers 0ns out OF business and
living on their income who suffer great incon-
venienee from the withdrawal or diminution of
their accustomed dividends. The investigation
Of their affairs by Controller Green ana the
competition of the Mutual Company have
caused reduction in rates, from $3.50 and IS
Per Loco feet to 80 and S25e. The companies
do not feel that this is a time to increase their
expenses, and declare their determination not
to yield to the demands of the men for either
higher wages or less hnnrs