Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-31
The Gas Question.

10 fuitof IhE EVENING
i noticed In Your edition oi last evening n
communication from the Commissioners on the
subject OF the District gas supply. I hope that
You will permit me the use OF your columns to
traverse some OF the statements made in that
report Without laying undue stress upon the
relations enjoyed by at least two members of
the present board with the Washington 1;as.
iight company, IL IN not too much To- say that
the report Itself affords strong internal evidences
oI craftsmanship and prejudice. With the ink
furnished by the Washington tiaslirht com.
pany, In answer 10 Senator Van Wveks reSolu-
uon, IL would seem 10 require either consider
aoie hardlhood or exceptional ignorance of the
subject 10 say 10 this community:
Mheiher by reason of the easing demand for "a.
ia the price of gas should now be made the S"mmis
son'rs are not sufficiently VIII advised speak with
say 10 81 IS per thousand-s psesbis in Tie neSr
future, anu would not be unreasonable"
L need only say that there Is little margin f,,r
uScusslon on this point. The published re-
ports OF the Washington tiaslight companv
ADMIT That their dividends range from ten TO
slNty-nNe per cent per annum, and this not
upon their bona fide original capital of half "A
million dollars, but upon a CAPITAL of two mill
ionLniteen hundred Thousand OF which il
dividends ~ - 'Do
with regard TO the quality Of gas in Wash.
ington city," the report proceeds
The Commissioner believe. judging from such
that eompar, saxo,shS y nave been able TO mae
but now at would compare measuring 10y candle
power Is dncnit 70 because The same expr,sion
~ inherent cities Implies different degrees u quality
BY the method used Ina Washington. being Thai prs.
scrlbed b. statute vol. Is a. - Statute 40 49, irhe
gas Is maintained at an average of about IL randla
power, ana Yet by the precise process used Ina New
YORK Would probably average, ~ the commissioner
ers are advised some =. - candle power 80 far
AS the commissioners advised the rocuatiou are.
posed 10y section IL In bill No. Ss2 thai gas be man
ufactured exclusively from coal Is incumUntlle Viii.
securing either the highest candle power qualify OF
the lowest prices" -
That the Commissioners are advised" az
tney say, Is apparent, nor Is III difncnt To iden-
THY their adviser. The fact Is as The STAR
has repeatedly stated, that the gas furnished by
the washington Gaslight Co. IL exceptionally
poor, ana IL Is matter of such general kpowI-
edge That a contrary assertion reflects suspicion
on the motives which prompt n. Ii IL not true
that the measurement OF the candle power OF
gas diners materially In different localities
" hen honestly done, the results by ali known
processes are the same, and the intimation that
the washington gas at "about" seventeen can-
die power, would in New York toe rated az
twenty-seven 10 twenty-eight candle power is
an affront 10 the intelligence OF this commu.
nifty. believe that a report upon a matter sn
important 70 this city should have received
more consideration than was possible AT tha
hanos OF the outgoing Commissioners on the
very eve or their retirement L say the ..out-
going Commissioners" as the remaining mem.
Der OF the board, holding the position Of direc.
tor In the washington Gas TO- would not OF
course, exercise Judicial functions In a matter
In which he has SD lively pecuniary Interest.
believe, further, that Congress, who, after all
are the nnal judges, Will place the proper
weight upon this so-calied report"
Very respectfully, w. L. PAINE,
1119 street.