Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-15
THE COST OF MAKING GAS.
Experts Examined by the Sub.COmmit.
tee Of the Senate.

Senators Spooner and Blackburn, the sub
District committee of the Senate Investigating
the gas question, had q private meeting this
morning to get some information as to the cost
OF making gas, price of materials entering into
its composition, ETC., from Mr.. Mccarthy, of
Mckeesport, Pa, and Mr.. South, Of Pittsburg.
These gentlemen had come here at the request
of the subcommittee, and it was decided to
have private conference with them before en-
terlng upon public examination.
PROFIT AT ONE DOLLAR PER THOUSAND
The committee room was cleared and Mr.. Nc
Carthy presented figures and statements as to
the cost of making gas. He said that the
Youghiogheny coal, which is used by the
poanas and she freisRs aS pfs
here $3.50 for a little less than a ton. Naptha,
planned that many gas companies have an ar
rangement by which they get q rebate on the
materials they use.
Mr. Mccarthy said that much better gas than
is supplied here could be furnished probably at
one dollar per thousand cubic feet, and he
would not hesitate to contract to make it at
that figure. He also said that the mixture of
water and coal gas here prevents a good quail
lily; that the two do not mix, and that either
coal gas or water gas should be supplied. He
went on to explain the bad effects of the
attempted mixture, one of them being that the
Substance, which is not only dirty, but obstructs
the flow OF gas, and after a short time makes 1t
dtfncult to turn the keys cocks in turning the
obstruction of pipes and the cumming of Keys
by this exudatiOn were mentioned as proof OF
Mr.. Mccarthy was compelled to go to New
York this afternoon, but will return in day or
two, when the subcommittee will pursue their
the manufacture of gas in order that they may
reach an intelligent and equitable conclusion
as to what should be done here in the District.
The Georgetown Gas Company.
yEsTIGATIoN REFERRED TO THE DISTRICT
COMMITTEE.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Van Wyck's resolu.
| ton directing an inquiry into the purchase OF
Georgetown gas stock by Mr.. Bartol, of Phila-
delphia and also an investigation as to the cost
| of making gas in Georgetown and the propriety
of reducing the price, came up. Mr.. ingalls,
| suggested that as Mr.. Spooner, chairman of the
subcommittee on gas, was not in the chamber
| the subject should be passed over until he could
be present.
Mr.. Van Wyck had only a few words of ex.
| PLANTATION to make. He said that while an in
vestigatiOn is proceeding into the price of gas
| in Washington. representatives OF the George
any inquiry on the ground that it was strug.
CLING for an existence; that it was making
NO With and and 9%gh not to
representation of its poverty was not
| true; but the citizens, consumers of the gas
of poverty is not true Just at this juncture, in
| the face of the claim that the Georgetown stock
| is not profitable, Mr.. Bartol, the Individual
with whom the citizens of Washington had had
bitter experience, who literally took 81, OOO,-
900 out OF their pockets, steps in and purchases
q controlling interest in this poor company.
This purchase may mean some wrong to the
citizens dependent upon that company for gas,
and something should be done, not to cripple
| the company-for he did not want to do that
| but to protect the people OF Georgetown from
wrong at the hands OF q man who had inflicted
SO much wrong upon the people of Washington.
Just at this juncture, when an investigation
| is pending and committee is endeavoring
to determine whether it is better to re-
duce the price OF gas or to condemn
| the works and have the govern
ment supply gas to consumers, this former
president of the Washington company, who is
well informed as to the companies here, their
condition and possibilities, makes a large pur-
chase of the Georgetown stock. 1t might be
that he contemplated consolidating the COM
panies and running the Georgetown stock I'D
TO that of the Washington company. He must
have discovered that it was fine investment
Mr.. Van Wyck did not want, in the event OF the
condemnation OF the gas property, to have Mr.
BartOl put in the claim that he, as an innocent
purchaser, would be injured, that he, by
reason OF his purchase, had some extraordinary
claim. He did not propose that Mr.. BartOl
should play the roll OF innocent purchaser.
The resolution was referred to the District
committaa