Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-18
THE PRICE OF GAS.



Sub-Conmittee.
Senators Spooner and Blackburn, as the sub
District committee OF the Senate. this morning
formally began the Investigation into the price
Of gas In Washington and the prospect OF re-
ducing 1t to 81 per 900 cubic feet President
Mc1lheny and Secretary Bailey, Of the Wash.
tngton Gas company. and Mr.. John Leetch.
president OF the Georgetown company; Mr..
Dodge, and Mr.. Crutchett were present
QUESTIONING oyFIcnRs OF THE GAS COMPANY.
The inquiry began by questioning Messrs.
MaIlheny and Bailey upon the written state
msnt Of their company furnished the commit
tee. That statement set forth that for two years
OF all gas sold OF the best coal 70 be procured,
retorts. TIE other ss per cent is made from
steam and oil, and is known as water gas made
oy the Lowe patent process. The water gas Is
made quite rich, in order TO bring the ill9mi.
mating power OF the coal gas up TO the standard
required, and Is then mixed with the coal gas.
the cost OF the Two kinds OF gas IL about the
The cost OF coal Gas depends largely upon the
recsipts nom the sale % the residuals, coke,
demand for coke is cutie limited. The prices
obtained for tar and ammoniacal LIQUOR are
Also small. The statement gives the items en-
footing up VAT ,o06.So. Amount OF gas sold
In 1es! was 47S.7s1 ,51S cubic feet, which
ss Ct ips 81 0P O
1850 the total outlay for making gas was
stae,4.9.4s. and the amount Of gas sold was
o23,oSb,Sle cubic iest NJ . cost of 0ll2 cents
gross, or "a 45-10o cents net per ,ood cubic
feet. The statement continues that the price
charged tor Sas used Ia street lamps is y1.oo
per 900, and 10 all other consumers y 90 per
1000 net, making the average price $1.44
The receipts from sales vi residuals Of all kinds
ceipts .or 1855 amounted TO S37,2Ioo8. The
capital stock OF tue company Is S2.ooo,ooo, OF
which 81 500, 900 has been paid In cash. The
II n N in4r - s..aE--
holders IN 1865, share Tor share more than that
amount having been taken from the earnings
ana ana invested In extending the plant, No
AL the available earnings being expended IN
enlarSipg tie works 10 keep pace with the
growth OF the city. The works have cost UP 10
the first OF last january 81, io3, PAS .o5. MIR.
Mcllheny said the fund for the extension OF the
works had been exhausted. He maintained
that congress ought not 10 fix an arbitrary
price for gas now that everything ~ SO unset
tied In the country.
Mr.. Blackburn wanted to know what checks
there were on the meter system. He said re-
putable citizens had com plained to him of
their bills and begged him 10 use his influence
10 nave the price OF gas restored 10 ~ LOCO,
saying their bills were less then than now.
Mr.. Mcllhsny said the,e were isolated cases.
Mr.. Blackburn had seen number OF such
Mr.. McIlheny said gas could not he sold at 81
q thousand and pay fair profit on the capital
NO." said Mr.. Blackburn, .'but is would pay
ten per cent on The cost OF manufacture, and
that Is enough certainly"
A DETAILED STATEMENT WANTED.
MessrS. Blackburn and Spooner asked for a
detailed statement OF all dividends paid 10y the
company since its organization, and also To
how the money, the capital stock, ETC., lad
Mr.; bailey said the 81, $780, 900 was paid out
OF the pockets OF the stock holders aud
Mr.. Blackburn Impressed the gas company
o1ncials that lac wanted "a statement explicitly
and in detail He wanted to see the difference
between profits and dividends. He wanted to
Know what had been paid In ia excess OF
dividends and profits.
METER INSPECTION 40 PROTECTION.
Referring to the gas inspector, Mr.. Black burn
said he did not consider the inspection OF me-
ters by him any check At all; it was no protec-
tlon to consumers.
THE WEST WASHINGTON COMPANY.
President Leetch, ofthe Georgetown company,
said he was ready TO submit all bis books and
papers; that the people OF Georgetown generally
are entirely satisfied; the company had re-
duced the price OF gas twice voluntarily.
Mr.. Spooner said the subcommittee were I'm
pressed with the struggling condition OF that
now.
MIR. DODGE ARRAIGNs THE GAS COMPANY.
Mr.. W. c. Dodge submitted some written
statements of complaints OF excessive charges
He read statement in which he referred to the
Va the peopiS upon Congress,
and that as the case stands the people are held
while the gas company RODS them.
Mr. NcIlheny protested against such
language, saying 1t was false. Mr.. Bailey Joined
In the protest.
MI. Dodge said that the aggregate dividends
palo out In the last I'VE years by the company
hao aIaountsd 10 nearly S2,ooo,Ooo. nearly
1oo per cent; 10 DC more accurate, about 90 per
cent OF It's capital stock. In addition the com
pany mao bought valuable real estate m ade AZ
tensions OF permanent and valuable char
acter. BESIDES, II has cash fund on hand OF
several hundred thousand dollars. All this
had come out OF the profits derived from the
sale of gas. He furnished . list Of the prices Of
gas In other cities.
The committee adjourned until next Satur-
day, when Msssrs. Bailey and McIlheny Will
submit the statements called tor, and Mr.
Crutchett will be heard.