The New York herald., 1876-03-16
THE MErnopoL1rAN oAs11oHr COMPANY.

plain either oil the price or quality OF the gas con-
sumed
THE METROPOLITAN GAsLIGHr COMPANY.
Mr.. Oscar f. ZoikoGer, president OF the Metropoli-
tan Gaslght Company, found in the company's
o1nco at the corner of Broadway and Forty sixth
street, about noon. He very glad, he said, to
have given him opportunity of expressing his
views "thc gas question" particularly as he was
heavily interested in the manufacture OF the article
bitterly complained of nowadays "wc are" said
be- "making gas as cheap as il was ever made
before the war Prior the breaking out Of The re-
pelion gas made here in New York at 81 30 per
1000 cubic feet Then labor could be had (and was
had) at five shllngs a day, while
VIC have TO pay 81 per day. We havc about $500, 600
Invested in this business. and cannot pay moro
han ten per cent dividend, although did pay one
twelve per cent. This, however, more than
'dsct by the that could not pay dividend
all for three years next In succession. We began
'uildng works in 1859 and made gas first in July,
s03. We have always been considered
OPPOSITION COMPANY,
having TO fight against tho New York. the Manhattan
mi tue Harlem, each of which was in existence long
pelore started Our territory extends from Thirty
ourih Seventy ninth street and from the East
10 the North River For the purpose OF laying gas
mans this is the worst territory IN the whole CITY,
being very rocky in many places and either too low
too high IN others. Whenever gas main
runs through hollow or depressed section water
water stops pipe a sewer trap Where the pipes
are depressed we have 10 pump them out cvery forty
eight hours, and this you see is not only great
noyance, but great expense as we'll taken on the
whole II costs at least five times much to 10y pipes
IN districts II does TO lay them In other local
ties. We have constantly our pay rolls IRON $50 10
400 men, and we pay ana annual tax on our
REAL ESTATE AND OTHER PROPERTY OF $4,000
There Is no use talking about II, can't make gas
cheaper than 81 80 per 1000 cubic feet and live
by it, We have yety few complaints from consum-
ers-not in hunGred-but when a complaint
Is made investigate II at once, and II found be
Just complaint IL remedcd without delay Our gas
certainly than by any other company.
AS an evidence Of this will show you our cnginccrs
daily report and will that our gas OF nineteen
Candle Illuminating powcr.n
Mr.. Xoikoer exhibited the engineers report. and IL
showed that the not quite nineteen candle power
but was very rear H. being on an average Of Is o0l0o
ZokOfer, 'to the eirc; that the gas is weak has
but poor head tor iorccl we investigate and nva
rnbly lind 1t coming from chokcd up pipes, caused by
water getting IA them. From this source we have
vast deal trouble and compelled TO expcnd large
Fum OF money yearly to keep our maius FREQ from
ter. You sec, money invested in gas works is very
MONEY PUT rSro A POWDER MILL:
either may blow up without moments warning.
We arc compelled TO keep constantly hand from
1000 900 TO COO OOO cubic feet OF gas, and assure
you t IS no irifing affair to handle and manage this
amount II Is subject expansion aud contraction,
aud 10 this way gives vast deal OF trouble. When
ever tho weather is warm the gas expands and cold
weather serves contract It's volume We have
great deal OF money invested in this business, and
subject at any and all times to serious accidents that
Under these and many other considerations, cannot
think that ten per cent dividend on the money in
vestel Us anything eAOrbltanL
'ln Philadelphia gas Is madc and furnished to con-
sumcrs at 81 l5 per 600 cubic feet Now, you may
here as it can lie made IN Philadelphia Tho
reason why cannot Is papabic. In the
nrst place, the gas works at Philadelphia arc
owned by the city, and therefore tax has 20 be
paid the real estate occupied by them In the
ond place labor Is cheaper there than here they pay
81 so per day TO fremcu while have pay So 25;
Philadelphia
atty cents ton cheaper than we can possibly get II
hcrc But while The cas- Is iurn, led IN Philadelphia
81 Is per 900 cubic feet u not te quality OF
Eas that is made here In New York. In Philadelphia
lie gas Is OF but 10 Of 100 candle power, while
make II always above eighteen candles
"n Boston gas furnishcd-an inferior quality 10 be
mrc--a 81 25 per 900 cubic feet but there tue gas
companies have monopoly, and have a contract TO
urnsh the city with gas Tor the next hve years The
the price was put down TO So % wa simply TO
yet the Corporation patronage and TO keep out AL op
oosItion.r
"Bul what can you say in reference to the charges
made by consumers TO the effect that they often
swIndei By the companies - asked the reporter.
''Consumers are said he ''ycry rnrely swindcd by
any company, and certainly not at all By tins II
may happen and then that the mdcxer uhc
who goes from house to house and notes the
the each month";, sometimes ncglccs TO go to
ousc and runs the risk OF guessing H. This has been
douc hut The moment we catch man at anything Of
that KIND we discharge hun. Each indcxer must
the dias OF from 10 10 l25 meters each day,
and sometimes when they get lazy they may skip
house or two; tins rarely occurs, and, as SAID be-
lore, when il docs we make short work OF that
man. We nave, oil Necessity, 70 Dlhcc great Gun
hdrnce m these men, at the time
keep strict watch upon Them. Indeed " has ever
been the ann OF this cOmpany--and think the
may be said Of the other companlcs-to deal openly
and lairy with their patrons
EXCUSES POk ExORBTANT BILLS
'Oiicn when meter Is placed TOO near furnace tho
leather valves become shrunkcn, and thereby let more
Pas pass through.lhan should Again, u the meter s
lett very damp posiuOn the valves VIII become
swollen and impcde tue How OF gas Thcn too, some
people constantly changing tncir gas burners, and
when they think ,hcy have n four foot burner they
not unrcqucnly using SIX or an eight foot one.
We have made arrangements 10 lay 65.VOO iect oi new
mains the coming summer; but Il The people are gong
70 use OIL instead ol gas Will not lay loot OF ppc
THE NEW YORK oAsLIGHT COMPANY.
The President Of the New York Gasgliht Company was
found at the company's olncc No l59 Hester street.