St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-18

tract, is all that can be afforded. There Is
no city in the Union where gas is cheaper
| than In st. Paul, taking into the account the
cost of coal and other material. None but the
best Youioghenny coal is used, and the gas
evolved is equal in quality to that OF any OF
the eastern cities. The cost OF the coal Is from
a dollar and half to two dollars and a half
more ton than in Chicago or Milwaukee In
consequence of the distance from lake navi-
cation, and yet the price of gas, according
to the table published lately in the Pioneer
Press, is but shade above that charged in
the former city, where the consumption is
vastly greater.
The proposition to light the streets every
night in the year, irrespective of moonlight,
would obviate much of the popular dissatis-
faction. incident to the present mode. 1t is
impossible to procure lamplighters with suffi-
cient Judgment, and diligence, properly to
carry out instructions of the complicated
character required by the time table.
The price for every night lighting, of So per
month per lamp, is relatively less than $3.50
paid under the late contract.
In conclusion, beg leave to present GER
tain data, which will tend to disabuse the
minds of many, who harbor the impression
that the st. Paul Gas Light company has
been source of wealth to its stockholders.
The present officers assumed the manage
ment of the company in 1867. when its affairs
were in anything but prosperous condition.
With all the industry and economy that
could be exercised, six years elapsed before
a semi-annual dividend of three per cent
could be paid its stockholders. The whole
amount received by them to January l, 1888,
(since which no dividend has been declared,
ali the resources of the company having been
devoted to the enlargement of the works and
the extention of main pipes), would average
a fraction less than four per cent. per annum
for the full period of fifteen years on the
capital stock of the company. In no other
branch Of business would so meager and un-
satisfactory a return be shown for the money
invested.
The Gas Light company is essentially st.
Paul institution, the large majority OF the
stock being held by our own citizens, who
may justly claim to have manifested as much
devotion to the interests of the city as any
other class. Respectfully submitted,
HENRY H. SHELLEY,
President st. Paul Gas Light Co.
PROCEEDING WITH BUSINESS.
The plain statements contained in the
above, more especially in the introduction,
evidently took the conference by surprise.
The address appeared to say in kind of dig
nihed and formal u way that in
the opinion of the officers of the gas COM
pany that organization had some rights that
should be respected, the principal one being
the right to be treated with justice and to
have some attention paid to the truth when
assertions are being made in regard to the
gas company. The consultation was wholly
conversational. Questions were asked and
answered, and in this way the two hours of
conference were passed. Gen. Sibey and
Mr.. Goodrich gave full explanations in re-
gard to the working of the meters, and ex-
planned all about the difficulty of lighting the
lamps and keeping them lighted.
There was considerable talk also about
lighting the city all night every night in the
year Tor 50 per lamp per month. Mr..
| Moves and others figured this
proposition and readily came to the conclu-
sion that it was a reasonable one, as the gas
company proposed, as Mr.. Noyes said, to
furnish one-third more gas for one-fifth more
money.
The gas company complained a good deal
that the lamps were broken by unruly boys
and drunken men and that the city did not
protect the company as it had agreed to do.
| 1t therefore proposed that the city should
take upon itself the responsibility of doing
the repairs. This was objected to on the
| part of the city and the chamber of COM
merce.
| The proposition to have the gas lamps
around in the vicinity of the electric lights
extinguished till midnight when the electric
lights were put out, and then have the gas
lamps lighted, was also discussed but though
Mr.. Noyes urged 1t 1t met with no favor
whatever. Still everybody admitted the use
iaea If hau no lam in no vi
einty Of the electric lights burning while the
electric lights were burning. All but Mr..
Noyes thought 1t would be impracticable to
have a man 90 out at midnight to light the
gas lamps, besides, II IL could be done it
would be too expensive.
In this connection Mr.. Goodrich remarked
that lighting with electric light at fifty cents
for each light was loss to the company.
Gen. Sibley admitted that possibly the com.
pany might do IL for seventy cents per light,
but when the question was put TO him as to
what 1t would cost TO supply the electric light
all night, the general admitted that he was
not prepared to make proposition to light
with electric light, as 1t would require good
deal OF calculation, before u conclusion could
be reached.
In relation TO the complaint about meters
Gen. Sbley admitted that occasionally there
might be a defective one put in. Whenever
such was the case II was taken out immedi-
ately aud another one put in. The general
| also expressed perfect willingness to have
all meters tested about which there was any
complaint, the testing TO be done by any
CON petent person that might be mutually
agreed upon. This surprised some Of those
present, as it was stated in the chamber of
commerce rooms, last Monday morning,
a. h.. n ,bf cd 70
meters tested by any person other than the
one employed by the company.
In recurring to the matter of keeping the
gas lamps lighted all night Mr.. Moves made
calculation for lighting them twelve hours
per day, thirty DAYS In the month, and made
the cost something over SO. He very readily
came to the conclusion that the price fixed
upon by the gas company was after all
reasonable proposition, and favored closing
the contract at those figures.
A great many other matters were referred
TO, but the above is the gist Of the important
points talked over iu the discussion. II was
evident that there was a very different feel
ing in the conference from that which pre-
vailed in the chamber Of commerce
laE Monday morning. This was owing
10 the fact that good many errors we're cor
rrcted and a much more just idea Of the
facts obtained. the conclusions re ached
may be summed up as follows:
TIE company will furnish gas all night for
SO per lamp, per month. For all used iu
public buildings g.. 25 If paid for within 30
days. 10 not $3.50.
Electric light all night was left subject 70
future consultation with the understanding
that the company shall DO 1t as cheap as any
one.
The company is 10 pay for its own repairs,
the same "a heretofore.
The examination Of the meters when any
com plaiut is made IL IN be made by the par-