National Republican., 1883-08-04
Rnd Gas nnd Big DIvitIcnds.

Strange as it may seem gas bills have been
larger, as a rule, since the company put down
the price of gas than for corresponding periods
for several years. If the company keeps on
reducing the price, consumers will be obliged
to go into bankruptcy to escape the payment
of the accounts. Under the operation of the
new system consumers pay moro for gas of
poorer quality than they did when it was two
dollars thousand feet, and up to the present
writing they have not discovered any means
of redress. An appeal to congress to cut the
claws of the company appears to be the only
recourse.
At present prices the company realizes a
profit of not less than 70 per cent. on gas
burned in Washington. Consumers would
not mind being robbed to pay exorbitant divi-
dends on the thrice watered stock of grab
bing monopoly if they were given good gas,
but 1t grnds them to bo compelled to pay two
prices for villainous counterfeit Of a very
bad Illuminating agent The gas that is sup
piled the people of the district is q wretched
combination of carbonic acid, ammonia and
sulphurous compounds, oily and tarry vapors
mixed with east wind all of which is pumped
tempt to make up in quantity what is shame
fully lacking in quality. Naphtha enters
very largely into the manufacture of district
gas. In consequence the mains are half
filled with tarry deposit in winter, and in
summer this mass softens and is absorbed and
taken up by the gas, producing tho
yellow, smoky flame so much complained
Of. The gas inspector is not obliged to
report impurities in gas SO long as
it approaches the requisite contract candle
power. In making tests he employs the best
burners, which are kept free from coal tar
and ammonia, which clogs up the burners in
constant use, and gas which shows sixteen
candle power in the inspectors office pro-
duces ten or twelve candle flame on gen.
eral average.
1t is in tho power of the district commits
sioners, under the gas companys charter, to
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manufacture of good gas, and they should
compel the company TO furnish better gas.
There are processes known to every practical
gas man by which gas may be purified and
given fixed standard, and tho Washington
company should be forced to employ them
Prayers and petitions have no effect. The
iron hand of authority can enforce respoot
for the demands of an outraged public senti-
ment, and the district commissioners should
not hesitate to exercise it,
1t has been demonstrated that good quail
ity of illuminating gas can be manufactured
at profit of 81 per thousand feet in cities OF
smaller size than this, not counting the profit
realized from the sale of by-products, such as
coke, tar, ammonia, &C., which is in itself a
handsome thing. In London gas is made at a
cost of twenty cents per thousand feet
sale of by-products actually pays the
entire cost of gas. The miserable
stuff that is burned IN this district does not
cost more than 70 or so cents per Thousand
feet, allowing for interest on money repre-
sented in the "plant and for big dividends
on painfully diluted stock. For 80 cents the
company could give us n splendid article o
gas. When peaceful measures fail let the clul
be produced-and used