The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-28

IN BALTIMORE, But NOT IN RIcHMoND-HERf
WE HAVE THE PROSPECT OF GOING THROUGH
ANOTHER WINTER PAYING TWO DOLLARS.
There was quite stir in Baltimore OF
Monday when it was known, throrsyh cir.
culars and by other means, that the Con.
solIdated Gas Company had made reduc-
tion in the price OF gas to 81 per 1,00C
feet. It's pronunciamcnto reads rs follows
From and after April /, 1889, and until
further notice, this company except in the
case OF existing special contracis) will fur
nish gas TO It's consumers at discount OF
81 per 1.000 feet for the prompt payment
of their bills. the price one (SI) dollar per
1000 cubic feet, net" This created no
little surprise among most of the dealers ;
but the trading OF some days back would
indicate that at least an inkling of the pro-
posed action had been communicated to a
few favored ones. In response 10 the
above card the Equitable Gaslight Com
pany made public the following:
"The home company will continue to
sell gas to its patrons at one dollar only per
thousand feet, as it has done for the past
fifteen months, to the benefit of the citizens
OF Baltimore. We ask the public to con-
tinue TO help us IN extending our business.
"a
fore. and not to fail us at this time. We
beg to ask for fifty per cent. of the business
OF this year.
''HENRY !. ATTRlLL, President"
There are two gas companies in Balti-
more. One has long been selling at 81 !;
the other, in sections of the city where il
had to compete with its rivals, at 81, and
where it had the monopoly, at S1.90.
atin 70 coll
gas so low in Baltimore, surely tie city OF
Richmond can furnish consumers here at a
price less than 3. Ii is understood on the
streets of this city that at the next meeting
of the Board of Aldermen the $4,000 ap-
preparation to improve our gaS-works will
be passed las il should be), but with the
understanding that the consumers shall not
have The benefit OF the proposed reduction
from g to S1.50 until February |, 1884,
or, in other words, until nearly another
winter is passed. All that the friends OF
cheaper gas asked was that the reduction
should begin with the commencement OF
operations in the new works, when the
city will be making her gls at 493 cents per
thousand feet. In addition TO that prime
cost there are other charges condensation,
leakage, distribution, &c.,) which run
it up to G0t cents. The Finance Committee
are on record as saying that for five years
past the Gas has averaged in cost Sl.35-
showing iii their report and the promises
OF the new plan are correcD the following
results:
PRESENT WORKS. WITH IMPROVEMENTS
Selling price......S9 % selling price... 81 oU
Cost pIice..,....... L ." cost prlce.''''''' oS5s
Proft............. 65l Profit. s0]E
That with the projected improvements
gas can be made and furnished to the con-
sumer's burner at co. cents, the communi-
ty has the pledges OF the Committee on
Light, the Superintendent and foreman OF
the gas-works, and Mr.. Anderson, under
whose plans the new improvements may
be made; though these officials OF ours re-
pudiate the idea that the gas has, as charged,
cost as much as Sl.3j on an average for the
period stated.
ANY improvements made at public cost
in which the public is denied an immediate
share OF benefits will fail to give satisfac-