The New York herald., 1876-03-07
THE GAS DIFFICULTY.

COMPLAINTS OF HIGH PRICE AND INFERIoRITY
OF THE ARTIcLE-THE METRR QUESTION
GENERAL INTRODUCTION oP OIL FOR IILU-
MINATING PURPosEs-vIEws OF GAS con-
sUMERs.
The New York city gas companies hnd themselves
nj the present moment position which, II II re-
mans unchanged is certain to seriously Affect their
financial interests. For very long time consumers
have felt keeny that they were not well treated ana
that most OF their just complaints in reference 10 tue
quality OF the article supplied and the correctness OF the
weekly or monthly bills presented for payment were
treated with contumey. The principal companies
have within few days reduced the price OF
Gas from 81 rs 10 s2 so per 1000 cubic
feet and the given for taking
this step are that the hard, trade dull and
that the price of coal low In short, that gas
cturers have TO conform to tho general stagnaon of
business and come down in their charges. But
sumers furnish other for this reduction They
that the charge for gas is preposterousy high,
that the article poor and that the meters which
supposed should register correctly fail fulfil that
object These sentiments general in the com
munity. and in consequence very large number OF
tradesmen and storekeepers have discontinued the
OF gas and returned to kerosene which they are of
opinion is better illuminating agent than the gas
Gently furnished and is much cheaper Besides there
Is chance for deception in measurement and people,
II Is said, not subjected 10 the unmannery in
truslon and nsolencc Of the companies agents.
USRELIABLE METKRs
There is much compliant as to the secrecy with
which the gas companies carry on their business.
Every Is persuaded that immense profits are
realized while treated with arrogance
and neglect ''The people but little disposed to
submit longer 10 extortionae charges, said Sixth
avenue restaurant keeper, 'and than do
fhavt stral or
that is said in reference TO the danger attending the
consumption of kerosene really amounts to little for
ordinary care will render accidents almost impossible
This citizen seemed to have special cause OF COM
plant and though he admitted that he would prefer
Gas tor lighting purposes he was willing only TO pay
fair price Tor II and 10 pay than what he
burned The manager OF a large dry goods house IN
the same vicinity when spoken To on the subject, said
that he thought the quality of the gas supplied to
be quite INFERIOR, and that the u
most unreliable contrvance, with this remarkable
arnaritv-hat lis errors were invariably in favor of
Inc companies and against the consumers. The Inter
circumstance really the chief cause of discomfort
Whether II was through ignorance or knavery, the
meter made, when bihs were presented TO show a
most heavy amount burned when five jets were
IN use a short time when double the number
lighted and kept four or I'VE hours together The
manager observed that IL unfortunate that this
difficulty should nave attained such large proportions
II plain that the OF oil supcseding that OF
gas Some thought tho illuminating properties OF
kerosene better and OF course when the article
could be purchased for sixteen or eighteen ga
Ion people r business disposed to economy would pre-
Ter IL The gas companies were the parties he consid
cred likely to suffer, ana that severely II
present movement continued
NEW BowERY.
The general substitution OF OIL Tor gas is specially
noticeable along the entire length of the Bowery.
Jewery stores, clothing establishments and saloons
a greater or less extent supplied with kerosene
or some other description OF OH; and 1t is only by a
close examination that the change can be discovered
during the evening hours. Speaking 10 matchmaker
dealer in precious metals, IN the neghborhood OF
Spring street. HERALD reporter informed that tho
reduction OF which into operation the lst
inst would satisfy consumers. In London the
Of
ieet but here, where the cost OF labor and of
living much greater than in the large English
rit!ss we taxed 81 so In Scotch and Irish
Il was about the same. If not less, than IN
Bristol Liverpool or Manchester where the
price was even lower than in London. on the
Continent OF Europe gas was furnished still cheaper
alt Is really surprising - remarked the genIlemanly
Matchmaker show the laws permit what IL is not going
TOO tar TO saw IS extortion. Two thousand pounds
one toni of good camel will yield 900 cubic feet
purified Illuminating gas-not the inferior stun sup
piled to tradesmen-and then The companies have
coke, tar and ammonacal waters which produce, "a
you know, heavy returns. The profits must be enora
moas. These corporations have had monopoly of
the business, and the overbearing conduct oil their
agents in addition TO improper charges has thoroughly
disgusted the public. The stockholders may think
they maintain the upper hand, but | am very
much mistaken II they do not, before very long, dis
cover their error. Shares you Will md gong down
and dividends assuming rather small proportions.
This is always what comes OF overgraspng corpo-
Fations. !"
There seems TO be good grounds ior the statements
that the city gas companies not open they
should be the transaction OF their affairs 1t dl
cult purchase their stock at any price, or even TO
learn with any degree OF certainty the dividends they
declare The general impression Is that they deal un
fairly with the public, lar establishing tariff Tor
gas that is entncy inconsistent with the most lib
erl profits THIS matter found expression the other
day IN the Assembly when MIR. Peabody offered reso
luton, which adopted, requiring each OF the
porations present report showing true statement
OF their business, embracing their incomes dividends
and investments. The following shows the capital of
the companies with quotations for shares up TO latest