The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-06
THE ROUTE.
The Cost OF Gas.
WHY ~ TT THAT GAS Is so HIGH IL AMERiC
WHILE II IS so CHEAP II ENGLANDI


WHY I9 TT THAT GAS Is 50 HIGH IL AMERICA
WHILE 1T Is so CHEAP IN ENGLAND!
The New York Journal of Commerce
says that among the many subjects pressing
for reform gas has hitherto escaped the at
tention that is its due. From apathy and
force OF habit gas consumers have gone on
from month to month paying bills which
everybody knows to be twice or thrice too
high. There has been great deal OF pri-
vatc growing, and some newspapers have
exposed the eXtOrtions OF the gas cOmpa-
nicS.
For more than fifty years the private gas
companies OF London formed close mo-
nopoly, charging what prices they pleased
and making enormous profits out Of poor
gas. At last a reform association was or
ganlzcd-Smilar to the one Just formed in
New York. \ vigorous agitation against
gas abuses was kept mp until the corpora
ton Of London formally interfered on
behalf OF the citizens by Offering a
bill in Parliament, with the cOrpO-
ration as promoter, authorizing the
city to make and sell its own gas
at a maximum price Of - cents. This bill
was not passed, but served its purpose as
a threat. The gas companies. finding pub
lie opinion strong against them, not only
consented but preferred 10 put themselves
under general law regulating their buSi-
ness. Such law was speedily enacted,
and in the first year Of its operation gas
consumers i'm the city Of London proper
saved not less than 100000 in their bills
Since then English legislation on this SUBJ
iect has improved until il stands about as
follows: The gas supplied by the Lon
don companies must be OF the standard
quality OF sixteen candles, as pcriodi-
caliy tested and proved by experts Of the
Board OF Trade. Two OF the companies
are permitted by law to pay annual divi-
gendS OF 10 per cent, while they furnish
gas at 93 cents per 1000 feet. \ third
company may pay the same dividend on
a price Of 81 cents. The companies
are allowed to increase their dividends
only on condition Of iOreripg the price
of gas. Ii they reduce the price , cents
they may add quarter OF l per cent.
10 their dividends. ON the other hand,
II they raise the price by , cents they
must SpOndingly reduce their diy-
dend>. These admirable rules meet the
public want in the whole metropolitan dis
trict. The companies have found them
selves able 10 reduce the price in order to
enlarge their dividends until, at last. they
are selling standard gas at from 10 to 20
cents, and dividing profits OF from ll3 to
l3{ per cent. on their capital.
We commend these figures to the gas re-
formers Of New York. Ii there is any
reason why gas should be more costly in
New York than in London, no diSinterest-
ed person has yet offered it. In the great
difference between the prices OF London
gas At 20 cents and New York gas at S2.25
there is ample margin for reduction with
out hurting the gas companies: and II they
should be hurt by an enforced regulation
Of prices in the interest OF the consumer
they are not entitled to complain after their
long innings Of high prices and monsuous
profits.
UNITED STATES CoURT.-Judgc Robert
". Hughes presided at this court ye>ter-
day.
The case OF George Harvey, charged
with robbinS the United States mail, was
postponed until the 10Th of this month.
Hon. II. 4. Atkinson and Major W. +. c.
Gregory have been retained by Harvey a>
counsel. They will make the preliminary
plea Of insanity.
The election eases have not as yet come
up. and it i, understood that the consider
alton oi the same Will consume ten or iil-
teen days. The list OF petit jurors sum
moncd 10 attend this court and decide
among other things these eases Is a fol-
| lows:
Il. p. Yanccy. Mccklcnburg county.
James VI. Worihmgt0n, DlnWiddie
county.
W. IL. Benson, Richmond.
Peter Winston, Farmyille.
John Walton, Norfolk.
Joel c. White, Norfolk.
samuel Johnson, Norfolk.
James Peterson, Norfolk.
John Robinson.
Thomas II. Roberts.
james W. McDonough, BerkelY, Norfolk
county.
Il. ". Gilliard. Alexandria.
| George Washington. Alexandria.
John Leatherland, Alexandria.
/ Thomas Perry, Alexandria.
| Theodore iced, Alexandria.
West Ford, Mount Vernon.
James T. Turner. Fauquier county.
William Wright, Fauquier county.
| William llagc, Lincoln, LoudOun county.
/ r.. r. Atkinson. Richmond.
w. l.. Griffin. Richmond.
4. Winston. farmyilie.
! j. W. Woods, Richmond.
OF these Jurors it is said that eight have
] been either reported dead or non-IcsidentS
OF the state.
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