Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-17
WINDING UP WAR
EFFOF 5 BEING MADE TO BRING
ABOUT a COMPROMISE.

Meetings OF the Directories Yesterday
and the Rumors to Which They Gave
Rfse-The Old Company Declines the
New COmpany's Proposition to Ad-
vance the Price to 81 so per Thousand
Other Propositions to be Considered
Indications Pointing To an Early Ter
mInatiOn of the Fight.
The gas men were in conference yester-
dav, and although there are no new de-
velOpments on the surface the indications
seem to point 10 a termination of the war
before the end OF the month, either In
consolidation or a compromise of some
sort. 1t has been evident from the
outset that the present price OF gas,
which is far below the cost OF
production could not last long. The d.
rectOrs Of the Mutual Company met IN the
morning. Mr.. w. w. Gibbs, late Pres l.
dent Of the company. and representing
tho interests OF The Philadelphia stock
holders. was present. The compah!s
officers declined 10 give any information
TO the newspapers, but that something Vi
more than ordinary importance was gong
an was evidenced by the movements OF
the directors Of the old company.
RUNroRs OF A COMPROMISE.
lnE nUAEU met a. LUNAts IL A@-N--NAN--
stir attracted attention, and the rumOr
snread that a compromise was being con-
sidered. This was warranted by several
incidents which preceded and attended
tbe meeting. Immediately alter the d.
reetors OF the new company adJourned
President Blum addressed a COM
municatiOu to President Green OF
The Old company. which resulted in
the calling together OF the directors at
once. Among the rumOrs TO which this
.ave rise was one to the effect that the
new cOmpany had submitted plan OF
comarOmise and that il would very likely
be adOpted. The board was IN session
but a short time. 1t was not publicly
known what was done. 1t was reported,
however. that whatever proposition was
before il was rejected. the officers OF the
camDanv were reticent and declined to
state the result of the meeting. Inc
officers OF the new company were equally
as reticent as to what was being done.
President Blum, in speaking to NEWS
reporter, sought TO convey the impression
that he carried the secrets OF tue COM
pauy in his pocket. There Is not the
Slightest gr -und,' he said, ''tor the state
ment that consolidation Is cOhtehl-
plated
DISCUSSING THE SITUATION.
4 few minutes later President Green
time with Directors Gibbs and Thomas
of the new company. at which President
Blum was present. The result of the con-
sultatiOn is not known. Ii is understood
that a meeting of the old cOmpany's direc-
tors will be held this morning, and that
D-0pOsltiOn Of some kind Will be cOnSld-
cred. 1t is rumOred that plan
looking 10 an amalgamatiOn oil the TWO
companies on an equitable basis, elIner
f.raf afos n
is hardly probable, as the stock Of the Old
company Is controlled by gentlemen who
have a personal pride in keeping up their
or.rauizatiou and Fighting the battle to
the last ditch It is probable, how
ever. that the negotiations will ulti-
mateIy result in a compromise
OF some sort, and that the price VIII De
advanced to 81 20 or s. per l,GOO feet. AZ
the present price both companies would
eventually he bankrupted.
WHAT THE GAS MEN SAY.
President Green said last night that he
had nothing TO communicate. There had
been no conference, he said, between the
two companies looking 10 an adjustment
of differences, and he was not aware oil
any move TO consolidate. we are going
right along attending to business" he
added. s.Iud are meeting the wants OF our
patrons without regard to what others
may be doing"
In reply 10 the inquiry whether the old
company would entertain proposlon 70
sell out or to consolidate with the new
company, with the understanding that
the price Of gas should not 20 abnve 81 80
per /. 600 feet. he said that any business
like proposition that might be made
would Of course be cOnsiderei, but de-
cllned to say whether any overture OF this
kind had been made.
Capt. John VI. Guerard, leading stock
holder in the company, said the only mat
ter before the directors ut their noon
meeting was the proposition to advance
the price to 81 50, which was declined.
lie had nothing further to say ana de-
clined 10 be interviewed.
LOOKING FOR THE END.
1t is probable that at the meeting Of the
old company directors this morning a
committee will be appointed and formal
conference will be held with the commit
tee already appointed by the new COM
panv. The result of this conference Will
very likely determine whether the hght
will end at once or whether IL VIII con
tinue another month. 1t is evident that
it cannot last longer than May l at the
furthest. Inc pledge OF the new COM
panv TO furnish gas at not over 81 81 per
thousand. stands in the way OF jump
back to the prices which existed prior to
lis organization. Its officers say they
are bound to protect the company and
its patrons. The public may feel assured
that they will carry out their contract
ID The letter. The o Il company stands
by its pledge To furnish gas as cheap
- any company in the city,
but its officers say they are not to be drly-
en- from the field. The only way in which
the companies can protect themselves is
to advance the price. The differences
which have sprung up between t0em
stand in the way of this move. The gen.
eral impression is that the price
has gone as low as 1t will and that there
l. no probability of another cut. The
outcome OC the present movement is
awaited with a good deal Of interest.