The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-22

1t is maniiestly wrong that ANYBODY
should have the power to use gas without
any check whatever. We recommend that
each department have an appropriation
made for the purchase OF gas, and pay for
| il rs any other consumer does. This, we
believe, will prevent the present inordi-
nate waste Of gas in our public buildings.
WHAT THE WORKS COST.
The Auditors books do not show what
the gas-wOrks cost. An ordinance adopted
July II, 1888. fixed the cost OF the works ut
g, 100000. The Committee on Light eSti-
mate the cost at SSO0,000, but IN the alb
sence of data upon which to form posi-
tiyely accurate estimate, we would suggest
81 ,OOO, 900 as fair basis for all calculations
Of interest upon the cost of the works.
COST OF GAS.
In order to answer your question in re-
card TO the cost OF Gas, the Board sum-
moned MIR. +. r. Glasgow, chairman Com
mittee on Finance; Mr.. John VI. Higgins,
chairman, and Mr.. w. X. Bowie, Of the
Committee on Light, who were with us
for severa, evenings. ard discussed in our
presence their respective statements, which
we submit for your information:
cost of distribution, manufacture and extension
~ mains for eleven months, ending December 81,
1853, .O3 $40 per 1000 cubic feet. 49,,
Cost Of gas In the holder IN November 1855
zoe per 900 cubic feet.
Cos, of gas IN holder in December, 1873,
56 95-l0Oc per 1000 cubic feet: 1000
Cost of gas at the burner In November, 1855
zoe. per 1000 cub feet. ,,oo
Cost Of gas al The burner in December, 1883.
65 94-l00 per 1000 cubic feet.
Cost of gas in the holder for eleven months,
ending December 81, 1883, 66c. per l'OOO cubic
feet. ,..- r.. .,o..,, ..,,.,,,,.
ending December 81, 1883, 93c. per 1000 cubic
feet
But IL seems to us that the radical defect
in all of these statements Is the omission
of the item of interest on the cost OF the
works. AS the Council annually appro-
pirates the sum needed to pay interest on
the bonds issued for the construction OF
these works, that amount is Just as much
part of the cost OF gas as the money eX-
pended fo~ coal. We therefore submit the
following as o simple, and we think cor
rect, statement Of the cost OF gas for the
eleven months ending December 81, 1883:
cost of manufacture, distribution.
and extension as per official paper ooo On
marked A.. ................ :''.'..'t lI'zo7 os
Interest for eleven months on
Si.i6O.OO0, that being cost OF
works as fixed by ordinance July oo
IL, 1888. 3..............'.......'..''' o3,@oO w
$I74,4s2 80
Number Of feet Of gas made us per
naner marked "A," 107.009,S20 cubic feet.
Now divide the amount expended by
the number OF feet OF gas manufactured.
and Won have us o result S1.63 as the cost
ner 600 cubic feet Of making gas for the
eleven months ending December 81, 1888.
Now. instead OF estimating the cost OF
the works at 81, 100000, we assume it to be
81 Ooo. 600. and the interest at 100000 per
snnum. then the cost Of gas would be Sl.55
q thousand cubic ieet'
Or 70 proceed still further. II we take
ssoo o0o as the basis Of our calculation and
mt the interest at $4S, 900 per annum, even
then the cost Of gas would be sl.45 per
thousand cubic feet.
GOOD GAS THE THING.
But after all the price per thousand feet
Is a misleading statement OF the value OF
gas. IL will make very little difference 10
2 citlzen in that section OF the city remote
from the works how low the price Is II,
after turning on all his burners, he caanot
see = 81 20 read, Tor under such circumstances
his gss bill would be O large one II he was
charged only sl per thousand feet; where