New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-12-23
COST OF GAS IN BROOKLYN.
HE PRICE HIGHER THAN IN THIS CITY.


PROSPECT OF REDUCTION,
The consolidation Of the gas companies OF
this city and the reduction in the price Of have
aroused considerable interest in Brooklyn where the
residents have to pay considerable than the price
here. Brooklyn has seven gas companies The original
six divided the city among them, no encroachment Oh
each other sterriory being allowed When the Fulton
Municipal Company started about five years ago,
its ayowed purpose was to introduce naphtha or water
gas and to rival the other companies, and make gas
cheaper. But when its rivalry became dangerous
an agreement was made, aud no conflicting interests
allowed to interfere with getting from the consum-
ers all they could be made TO pay Now harmony regns
between the companies, gas war having ragged for
year. The general price of gas in Brooklyn
is 81 thousand except the district south Of Atlantic
ave. and west of Fatbushave where the price 81 so
d thousand.
Some inquiries in regard the question of price
made by a TRIBUNE reporter day or two ago The
Brooklyn Company the oldest and strongest OF the orig
nal ones and having the largest business, still makes
coal gas. Its secretary SAID that tue uniform
price Of the company had been 81 a thou sand
for several years, except when rivalry prevailed,
and then gas given at Al thousand. Gas OF
twenty candlepow furnished, and there was no
prospect Of any reduction in price One company In THIS
city sold more gas than sold in all Brooklyn, and
there was Just as much profit in gas here at 81 70
thousand as in Brooklyn at 81. The company paid ts
stockholders 10 per cent dividends.
Charles H. stoddard, secretary and treasurer OF the
Metropolitan Company, said: We supply gas to the
spasey settled part OF the city along Prospect PARK
and our price Is - 50 thousand Il il owing to the
many vacant lots that the price has to be kept higher
than 1t i, in other parts of the city.
oa- ais.rivs -yutn or Atlantic and
Fabush aves aud between the Park and Nevinsst aud
the Gowanus Canal down to Bay Ridge. and we supply
residents Of that town. We have over fifty miles OF
mains but many blocks have single house. When
Il IN 4hap hna In
real estate but the panic came IN the following year.
aud much has been done until lately. We started
with cnarging 80 - "A thousand and have gradually
lowered the price the interests of the stockholders
admitted fit. We only pay per cent On cur stock
Ifbnsiuesa warrants further reduction it will he made
We furnish ight from twentyelght ~ thirty candle
mower uis the water gas Of the Fulton Municipal Con-
many which we have furnished for over q year our
tshat ~ so thousand isas cheap coal ga " 'iN
teen ~ twenty raplle power ~ ~ thoNshd HeW
business keeps up Tor the noNt thfuu rt fr mouths tr
,iuytinn Ia prioo maN ho mNlrG 49,.
Tho only other rumrinY Ia ntookNh charging ~ 80 .
,hnuaand foot n tho tltrna Nhnardlaitot rs south at
Atahtivs,e end hrtWecn tho ,'"Wahha tanhi anu the
Ia, anI hnttrtmk thanHel Il ra4s ta 'teysA9det'
tould not ar gas ta thrhN a. ANY company Ia tho CIV
ssld Ro u n "m nr m''' tnr s.s 9han we do
lat the gas We sell a. ,. 90 Is Just as cheap a. GOA
gas At -. IL Is the water nnd csea twenty eight
candle power while the coal gas Il only sixteen candles
And Il stands 10 reason mat company Win uuoO CON
s,iner- can sell gas Tor less than with 5000 No
there Is no Immediate prospect VI ot our making reduc
tinn 80 far A. know We have not discussed the mat
ter Ofoourse people talking about the price OF
gas In NeWNork and making unGayOra6le
romnarlson- But the case Is far
different here. One company there sells more gas than
m the seven in BrOOky aud they aiOrt TO sell
AT II 10 and make handsome proht, while II would
ruin Brooklyn company To do the same. There are TOO
MANY companies here, and they tried 70 consolidate
few years ago, but without success. The companies
which held have reason 70 regret II, think
We have large district where there Is no gas sold
think there are least 5000 dead services III II, WlIcn
are never used and won't be- II Is curious
lie way people economic IN their gas
hills a. soon as there il any depres-
sion I'm business There % BE- sort OF cOntaglOn.
and those who would not feel the expense IN any way
nroceed TO cut down one OF the wealthiest men III our
bills at all had lamps put IN all the lower part OF his
house for the of the servants We don't see now we
can Justly the price Tor our gas, though would
like 10 see t cheaper You see II cut down the price
One-tftl IL takes Just that amount OF proat Ana me
consumption does not increase according to the reauc-
ton We tried that few years ago when there
t Te' price rice at y for upwards of n
wear but there apprecabe increase III the guam
y consumed and II was dead loss to the company Ot
have much less expense, but We nave our plant ana
the interest It's cost can't be lessened As 10 the
rafer os IL is the coming Coal must 20 1--we
t district where have To burn coal but II IL not
Tho pree sion business AFFECT prices Out not
for solae tine al least do not anticipate any changes
The Fulton Municipal Gas Company which introduced
wafer PAS in BrOOklyn, sells 20 rs consumers al y -
thousand feet but Il is IN direct competition with the
coal gas OF the Brooklyn Company It's chet consumers
heng In the districts OF that company IL l. on ricndy
relations with the other companies ana supplies gas 70
mi exeept two them No war has ragged III BtOok
iyi for some time and no immediate expectation OI one
ufFfaI