The New York herald., 1879-11-24
"UNITED WE STAND"

PROBABLE CONS oLIDATIoN OF THE BRooKLYI
GAS coMPANIEs-A MANUFACTURE IN WHICH
THERE Is LIVELY COMPETITION.
Tho proposed consolidation of the gas companies
of Brooklyn and the monopoly which would be the
result such action the part Of the half o
companies existence in that city has awakened
a lively interest among the larger gas consumers Of
this city and the ruor is already aoat that the
ample Of tho Brooklyn companies will be speedily
initiated by the companies here. Inquiry
among company officials tails to confirm the
rumor, but the timo the admission
is general among them that something must be
done to put an end to the competition which has
sultel in the reduction of prices to the present
standard. Tho relations of the companies to each
other in the fight will be better understood by the
reader after the folio wing expanation:-The older
companies existed in the peaceful enjoyment Of
large dividends without any conflict of interest
because they divided the city into districts and con-
fined their business within certain limits. The
New York Gas Light Company. for instance.
claimed for its own all the territory below
Grand street. from river to river. and
tho Manhattan Company held undisputed sway
from Grand street to seventy-ninth street. When
tho Metropolitan Company was organized some ar
raugement made by which 1t obtained from the
Manhattan an undisturbed control over the district
bounded by Thirty-fourth street. Seventy-ninth
street and tho river fronts. Above Seventy ninth
street tho Harlem Company was for long time
in the field. 1t did not tako tho public long to
become dissatisfied with the high prices they were
compelled to pay for what had become an indis
pensabe article. and tho outcry against tho comps.
MES was long and loud.
COMPANIES.
Tnen followed the formation Of the rival com.
panies-the New York Mutual, the Municipal and
tha Knie ekQP q a
companies rs retained them gave them no exclusive
right to any particular territory so when the new
companies were formed the main obstacle they had
to contend with WAS the Common Council. in
which the power to grant the privilege
This s..s was easily Obtained % and the war '' wa.
fairly commenced. Not conhned to any locality.
where there was the greatest demand for gas. and
running their mains through them, avoiding tene.
this advantage. and . desire to draw from their
rivals share OF tho business. reduction In prices
followed. until now. it is claimed. there is no
rates. How great the reduction thus brought
about has been viii be seen in a com
OF the rival companies. With the exception of few
instances the charges OF the old companies were
81 so per 1000 cubic feet. while sliding scale
Of prices ABOUT as follows exists:-Ten Thousand
cubic feet or less per month 81 90 per l0Oo lO.OO0
to 2oo: , ~ 2oi xoooO to iooo. @ A T.. , ana over
The companies. through their officers all unite in
saying that the present prices are entirely due
reduction the OF manufacturing and OF serv.
ing the gas. The clerical labor is necessary.
and respects the cost OF service has been in
creased. Whereas formerly the work OF tho COM
panies with the Introduction OF service pipe
| and q metre. now, great il the rivalry. the
work OF making the connections is done by tho COM
peting companies to the chagrin OF the gastter to
whom that portion OF the WORK was tormesiy G,I
whom the reporter conversed. stated that the
rumorod consolida.ion I very probably probably had ita
be done to remedy the present Improbable condi-
tion OF the business. Large consumers, he said.
tinue. had offered to make time contracts tor .
supply OF gas ut higher rates than they now pay;
propositions. He did not believe that the bitter
composition now going on would result in oonsoi.
aha aocv Of soms of Ss m
panies. The publc would gain temporarily
by the conflict, but the present prices
The rival companies-that is. the last in the
field. give credit to themselves for bringing down
patronage. As iuctance OF this reduction they
point to the street lamps which lighted 81
muoS sso OF Mr. vice
president OF the Harlem Gas Light Company
but wss confident that the COMPANIES could not con-
tinue business prohtably at present prices. Tho
proposed combination in Brooklyn he did not think
would afford any protection to the companies
| because the city open held and as long a.
there room for now company such company
could step into existence and say to the Others Nov
take US Ia or buy us OUT The same rule could ap-
| ply to this city.
HARD LUCK IN HARLEM
As instance OF the extent OF the present compc.
| tition Mr.. Rodman stated that on Third avenue,
from Forty-second street to Seventy-nnth street,
| four companies-the Municipal. the Metropolitan,
the Mutual aud the Observation-Disclosures pipes laid
| on both sdos of the street. "When the Harlem
Company was organized" he continued "Harlem
| was outlying district and the company was COM
| PEELED by the Common Council to lay mains tor
street lamps where there were no other for
great along the Against this heavy
expense the income from tho street lamps for
time the only offset, and now that had becn
duced that 1t hardly paid the cost Of lighting the
| lamps and turning them of again."
What the end Of the present warfare will be IL
would be difficult to conjecture but II tho officials OF
the several companies whose interests antago.
nstic sincere In their uterances there s very lite
tie TO be feared from consolidation As gentlo-
man said, at looked like to the knife. aud he
could tell the result better when tho battle Was
over"