National Republican., 1883-06-05

time, and thus save all this trouble2 There
is no more reason why they should not do so
than that tho newspaper carriers should not.
These lattor collect their bills ut the resi-
dences Of their subscribers, aud why should
not the gas company do the same, especially
as their men have to 60 there in any event
1t might necessitate that the company
should employ more responsible class of
men, but what of IL? The public ought not
to be made to suffer simply that the company
may employ cheaper labor. Besides, the en-
poyment of a higher class of talent df that
be necessary might result in more accurate
reading of the meter register, and thus en-
sure moro correct bills; for while, as before
stated the meters will register accurately,
do not believe that their registration is taken
with accuracy.
All these may by some be considered rs
small matters, and l have purposely men
toned them first, because desired to leave
the main objection for the last, like good,
heavy knot on the butt end of o whip stock.
The grand objection to the company, and to
the arrangement made with them by the
commissioners, is the price TO be paid for the
gas.
So far as the commissioners are concerned
/ make no complaint. They have done what
no commissioners ever have before they
have manifested an interest in the matter
and have got the price reduced, probably all
they could do under the circumstances, as
they have no authority by law in the matter,
beautiful commentary on our present sys-
tenn of government, or rather absence OF a
responsible government. But thoy must not
stop here If they expect TO satisfy tho public.
On the contrary, IL Is their plain duty to
unite with the citizens when congress meets
to get the whole matter fixed as it should be.
There is probably no subject on which the
people are less informed than as to the cost OF
Il n1pa
people simply know what it sells for, what it
costs them and not what it costs to make it..
The company, with loud professions of hon
esty, say, "Why, we charge less than others,
therefore the price cannot be reduced any
more" In the first place, this statement is
not true and second, if true, it is no reason
why the price cannot be further reduced and
still pay handsome profit.
Gas is sold in several places in tho United
States now for $1.25 and others where IL is to
be furnished for 81 per 1000 feet as soon as
the works can be put in operation, so that If
the fact that it sells for more in some cities is
an argument for them, the fact that it sells
for less in others is equally good against them.
But the fact is IL is no argument at all, for we
all know that in every instance the compa-
nies will charge all they can get, without
reference to the actual cost. Like the railway
monopolies, they will put on all that the
traffic will bear"
have before me the published statement
of 674 gas companies in Great Britain, and
the average price for which they sell gas is
$1.26 per 1000 feet or was in 1880, and the
price is being constantly reduced. More
over, that is for gas averaging III candle
power. Ours averages about ICY, and at the
same rate it ought TO sell for silly.
But even that is not q fair test, because
those ga companies include many small
towns, where the production is far more
limited than here-where the coal has to be
carted for miles, and where the waste pro-
ducts cannot be utilized to advantage
At the hearing before the house committee
in 1881 the president of our gas company
laid great stress upon the fact that in Eng
land the law permitted the gas COM
panies to make 10 per cent. profit,
and that statement was repeated at
the hearing last winter, and is embodied in
the report of Mr.. Helman, himself director
in gas company, and who, for that reason,
the year before refused to act and thereby
prevented the investigation ordered by the
house. Yet observe that these gentleman
were very careful not to tell tho committee
or the public at what price they sold
gas there and made their 10 per cent
net. In 1876 gas sold in London for
80 cents per thousand, and the coal cost $5. .03
per ton. In 1880 it sold for 10 to "a cents,
there being four companies, each having a
different price, these being the extremes. In
Liverpool it ssld for 81 cents and in Leeds it
sells for AZ cents, and they are talking Of re-
ducing it still lower.
How ridiculous in view Of these facts is the
talk about 10 per cent. profit allowed there
If they can make 10 per cent. and sell gas at
from AZ to 80 cents what must be the profit
here with gas at $1.75 to $3.50? The divi-
dends of from Is to 80 per cent, with tho
surplus of $S00,000 which the company has,
tells the story. Is it not, therefore, clear
that the proposed price of $150 is too much ?
Thus far have simply taken the price at
which it is sold, and the dividends paid, as
means of showing that the price here is too
high. l now propose to quote the gas producers
of this country themselves an authority that
they cannot and will not deny.
At the annual meeting of the American
Gas Light association, held at Philadelphia a
few years since, Mr.. Vanderpool the engi-
neer of the gas works II believe of Newark) },
and of whom the Gas Light Journal said there
was no better authority In the United States
read paper giving in detail the cost of pro-
ducing gus by the two methods-the ordinary
or coal gas, and the so-called water gas. He
took into account the entire cost Of the plant
the material and labor used, in short every
thing entering into its cost, as any competent
business man would; and he showed conclu-
sively that the cost of the water gas, deliv-
cred in the gasometer, was but forty-two
thousand feet.
That is the statement of gas producer, a
gas engineer, a man interested in gas com
pany, talking to a convention of gas presi-
DENTS engineers, and directors. And no one
pretends that he msrepresentcd the facts in
any particular. His paper was approved by
the convention, and was not only published
at length in the Gas Light Journal of that
year, but also in pamphlet form for distribu-
tiOn among the fraternity. Sill mora IL WAS
placed before the committee at its hearing in
February, 1881, but for some reason its then
chairman, Mr.. Hinton, did not appear so anx-
ious to have the facts known, as he is since
he has become tho paid attorney of n rival
company. So, too, these facts were placed
before Mr.. Neal when, two years ago, on the
resolution of Mr.. Murch, it was proposed to
investigate the gas company, but he, too did
not seem to be at all desirous of having the
facts known, and which may account for his
appointing as chairman of the committee to
investigate Mr. Heilman, whom he well knew
to be in effect the proprietor of the gas works
at the place where he lived. In view ofthese
facts your readers will see why it was that in
my former article said the first thing to do
is too look after the formation of the district
committee if it be desired TO accomplish any
thing in the way of reform,
But to return to the price of gas. 1t being
shown that the actual cost Of production is
but thirty-four cents, and assuming that the
cost of distributing 1t is so per cent. as much
(though the commissioners inform me that
the company only claim that it is 25 per
cent?, we then have as the cost of gas de-
livered ffty-one cents. At 81 per 1000, that
would give profit of almost 100 per cent
according to their own showing In the name
of common decency, is not that enough-es-
pecially when it is borne in mind that they
have an absolute monopoly, u -permanont