, 1876-12-17
mir. Billings. Sends in Another
Communication on This
: z Question.
He Apparently Proposes to Fur
nish His Goods at So.
But There Are Number Of Conditions
and Intimations Annexed to It.
The Committee Will Recommend the Ac-
eeptance of His Original So
Proposition.
Leonard SWEET Sends in an Opinion
Summary of the Time -Tabla.r

Leonard SWEET Sends in an Opinion
Summary Of the Time-Table'+
The Gas Committee met yesterday afternoon
to receiYc Dr. Billings proposition a. 10 the
terms On which the West Side Company WILL
supply 9as to the city in the future. Inefe
we're present AID. R2wleigh Chairman,
Aidr1ch, and Thompson. As Mr.'Bilings dio
not mt in IN appearance some time after Inc
hour 6red for the conference, the Committee
began to think they would hare to adjourn
ayain. About half-past 4 O'Clock, however, 8
orot1emsn came in and handed the Chairman
fhe following communication. which was read
aloud by AID. thompson:
cu,eAso. H.. Dec. 1B, 1878.-7o Che Commit
tee On Cos Of The City Of CAteago-GESTLEnES:
m The I'd day OF December, 1876. the Peoples
Gasgt and coke aad CIV
Counel Of the City Of fhfcago. relafive to the az,
iustment Of the differences between the city and
he Gas Company which eomnunisatSn was re-
held on the Bth day Of Decetnber, at which 1a*as
present, some Of your members expressed Wish
that the Gas Company would make spe6,hc a'a, ano
definite proposition upon the subject. The Gas
Company is entirely willing to comply with this re-
quest, upon the understanding that the present
contract between It and the city VIII be recognized
as yalid and sAall continue in force, excepting so
be1Tccp 1he parties, and that the city Council will
reseind any action purportins TO question the
THE Gas Company, in its communication above
mentioned proposed TO furnish TO the city Tor its
future usa, illuminating gus at as low rates as the
same was furnished IN any city OF the United
states, taking into consideration the cost Of manu-
facture, extent OF territory, and the amount con-
sumed. The Gas Company has 132 e. miles of mains,
ii 358 services in use, and q, GOO service-pipe
moi in use. All OF these pipes are required to be
Kept at ali times full OF gus ready for use. The
mains laid as near the centre Of the streets as
was practicable and not interfere with the sewers
and ygater-papess and the service pipes on each
side Of the mains 80 ~ to best accommodate the
city and f. Ihe ,s ,sSreeppes &c MOI mo1
q a!stnFsine ereh the streets from tine to
# such , &c ssss bsfne Rpsa mind at iast II II
Of these mains and aerricepipes for public uee a.
well as those on improved streets, were laid at the
city, and tue I'll nes esoa and dina manner amd
scryicc-pipes have been laid In advance Of the
wants OF the city. do not at present propose to
discuss that question as it IL sufficient for me TO
e.y fhat nj! OF the mains and serv1ce-pipes which
are said to have been laid in advance Of the wants
OF the city, have been laid against my urgent pro-
1cst and upon the Of the city and property
owners In laying such mnins and serrlcc-plpes,
The Gas Company has endeayored to comply with
the vests OF the city and property -owners, not
withs;unding such requests were, inthe opinion OF
COMPANY 10 Incur expenses which it would not
have incurred had 1t not been for such requests:
Under these cfrcumstances We are to consider
the cost OF manufacture and distribution Of gas
throueh the extensive network Of mains and SER
vice pipes in the West Division Of the city. As
part o such expense, we all understand the cost OF
mains and service-p!pes is to BE- considered, and
also the cost OF such pipes and the laying OF the
same. For our present purpose we may consider
tue cost Of the gas-works Of the Company as equal
to the cost Of 1sas-workB Of the same capacity in
other Cities aud the cost Of pipes and laying OF the
same, us elual to the cost OF the same lcngLh Of
pipes and expense Of laying the same, in such
cltiox. The differences in the prices OF iron and
othcz materials used in the construction Of gas
wotkt, and the prices Ut pipes, and the cost in
the dinrrent cities Of the United States to re-
qnire my exact statement OF these differences.
1he principal ditetcncea in the expense OF furnish
ing illuminating gas per cubic feet the Gust OF
coal. supervision OF distribution, condensation,
and leakage.
The Gas Company does not receive compensation
for the cubic feet Of gas furnished from it, holders
actually consumed by its customers. The differ
epce between the number Of cubic feet distributed
from tue aaa
for example,, II 900 eubtc feet are required to fill
the mains and other pipes for q given length OF
time, and only 2, 900 cubic feet ore consumed
within that time tue remaining l. 600 cubic feet is
lost By condensation. and passes into ''drips"
provided for that purpose.
The condensation Of gas depends largely upon
the surface Of tho pipes containing the same, and,
to very considerable extent, upon it's use and the
Fapidity Of its movement The small service pipes
used are powerful condensers, and the condensa-
ton Of gas in the pipes from which little gas is
taken il much more rapid than In those from
which larger quantities are used. The condensa-
ton Of gas distributed from the works OF the Gas
Company for the year preceding Dec. l. lsso, vas
about :1l per cent Or equal to one-hf OF the
whole quantity manufactured.
Another element entering largely into the cost Of
il IL
the quantity consumed. Every one knows that
5000 cubic feet OF gas cau be manufactured
cneaper per euhie foot than one-hfth Of that
quantity. AS, foE example, II we ASCERTAIN the
cost OF the manufacture Of L 600 cubic feet, it
would be evident that the cost would be reduced on
each l,ooo cubic feet manufactured I'm in addition
burners, the quantity Of gas nsed by theHtty was
TUB 38U cubic feet per mile OF main The city
foot burners. Under such new time table and new
burners the quantity consumed will be. as nearly
can be ascertained, 45S s91 cubic feet per mil:.
OF main per year, making difference OF 305, 395
feet would amount to S6l6 - per mile Of main in
single ycar, and an aggregate OF Sill, 84L 0u
Pslb y the
would he less under the new timetable and with
tue 3-foot burner, the Gas Company will be
Obliged to manufacture and distribute the same
From these rymasks it will be seen that in order
to ascertain The faf price Of gas, not only the cost
the expenses OF coal and distribution must be con-
edersd, but the number OF cubic feet per mile Of
main must be ascertained. The contract between
ing th9t foot burners were to be used, and the
price to be paid was agreed upon in reference to
lhat understanding. The size Of the burners was
lated and measured the quantity Of gas Which the
city agreed to purchase. timetable was agreed
upon NOT solely for the purpose Of fixing the ti1e
when tht lamps should be ligntcd and eItinguieh-
Cd, bD4 Also the HurnOSH nj EDDf1JimatiuP the