New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-14

Previous to 1874 there were only four companies IN
the city, having district In which the others
had no pipes There then no competition and the
companies made their prices. The New-York Com
paDy controlled all Of the city below Grand-st, the
Manhattan from Grand to Thrtyfourth, the Metropol
itan from Thrtyfourth 10 seyeDtynnth, and the ar-
lem all above Seventyninth. In 1873 they received
from the city $3.50 per lamp So 80 per 1000 feot In
1874 the Mutual Gas Company began operations and had
mains laid through several Of the streets in the NewYork
Manhattan, and Metropolitan districts Thiscompany had
into existence account Of the exorOns Of the
old companies and put in bid for 1874 at $35 per lamp
The other companies with which It competed at
lowered their bids TO $685. but the Harlem still kept up
its demands. In 1875 and 1876 the Mutual continued
lower its demands, and the old companies found IL
profitable TO underDid it each year. with the exception OF
the Metropolitan in whose district the Mutual had made
only slight inroads, and the Harlem, in which it had
made This year the number OF lamps lighted
by the several companies New-York 4142;
Manhattan, 4,116; Metropolitan, 3,719; Harlem,
4,061; Mutual 1886. The Mutual seems to have
come into amicabe relations with the MEN,
bcrs Of the Old monopoly 1t was created
to destroy, for the bids this year have ;cIy up to
the old figures Of four ago. and each company has
bid for-not all the lamps in the streets in which its
mains are s:, but only for those which IT now lights
Ts tnere is 10 competition and the reduction by the
aegregate presents singular contrast with the rise of
SIS per lamp by the Older companies The proposed
TO make every effort against IT, The appropriation for
lighting the streets next year $7OOOOO out OF which
1t was proposed to erect few new lamps Under the
prices demanded 1t will lequire IN excess OF the
appropriation TO pay gas bills alone.
Assertions freely made that the law VIII be ap-
peed to protect the people The Legislature OF 1874
passed law for the special purpose OF providing against
extOFouate charges against the CITY, IL euacs that no
Gas company shall discriminate against the city, the
penalty violation being $50 for every 1000 feet OF
gas SO oveIcharged. The price charged by the
New-York Company to private consumers lie
50 so per 1000 feet, and that OF the
other companies does not differ materially. This would
charge the city 500 70 per lamp, even If tue guam
THY gas consumed by the street lamps were equal to
the demands OF the contract-concerning which there
It was reported about the City Hall yesterday the
charter OF OF the companies had expired III this Is
correct, will be at once taken 10 prevent Its
which was lawful only under charter authority audit
will find the combination with which 1t TO have
entered bad preliminary step toward obtaining a re-
ncwal OF its charter by tue Legislature TINS winter
TRIBUNE reporter called the President OF the New
York Gas Company, but he declined to say any hing
about the increasing the charges for next
year. except that they had lighted the streets for nothing
this year and intended to be paid for next year Ques
lions as amount dividends paid and the market
value OF their stock, met with no response.
There are two young gas companies, the managers OF
which were active Yesterday hoping that they might
gain some advantage from the present complications
The Anthracite Gas Company was chartered few years
ago. aud built small works at FOrty-1fstst. and North
River, but advanced much futthSf Ine knckef
booker Gas Company organized Its SUCCESSOR and
bought its franchsethe right To lay mains, DC. The
Municipal Gas Company was organized year ago, and
chse One is laying pipes, aud has three four miles
already in Madison and EIfthaves, and Broadway
above Madisonsquare. IL, however, has works. aid
the Municipal has no pipes. by combining they could
larger part OF the city at present tney would
not be able 70 lgnt more than about 100 lamps.