Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-19

THE QUESTION OF CHEAP GAS.
MI. DOdge's Statement Before the Sem
ate Sub. Committee.

Mr.. w. G. Dodge in his statement yesterday
before Senators SpOoner and Blackburn, the
sub District committee of the Senate to investi-
gate as to the price Of gas in Washington and
the prospect of reducing 1T to 81 per 200 cubic
feet briefly reviewed the efforts to procure re-
fair yield or profit on gas He thought the better
plan would be for Congress to condemn the gas
works and supply gas as it does water. Mr..
Dodge sketched the proceedings Of committees
in Congress in the past in connection with gas
to show the futiity of all efforts to get definite
and detailed information as to the
internal workings of the company, the cost
OF making gas and the profit derived from its
SALE He quoted from the various reports to
Congress and the documents among it's files in
relation to this gas company, the material facts
the inception OF this inquiry. He said there
was a great distinction to be made between gas
aod psg Er n d
in Washington of 16-candle power. In New
York the gas furnished by the seven companies
$3.50 per 1000 cubic feet that would be equal,
In New York, to five cents per candle, while it
would be nearly nine cents per candle here.
GAS STOCK AT 100 PER CENT PREMIUM.
He said the gas stock here sells at 100 per
cent premium, and that itself shows the profits,
as the value Of stock is controlled by the divi-
dends paid. From the date OF organization of the
company in 1S4S to 1881 the company paid an
average dividend on all its stock Of 16 $40 per
cent profit for all these 31la years, in addition
to which the company had paid for its works,
including duplicate set Of works not used, and
also had on hand in surplus cash nearly three
quarters OF a million dollars. Mr.. Dodge main
tanned that nowhere in the country has there
been railroad company which paid any such
profit, and yet the Senate had recently felt
called upon TO pass bill to regulate railroad
charges.
PRICES OF GAS IN OTHER CITIES.
Mr.. Dodge produced figures showing that the
Baltimore gas is furnished at 81 per thousand
cubic feet; in Chicago, at 81 and $1.25; in
Wheeling and Wilkesbarre, ninety cents. Mr.
Dodge said there was no reason why gas should
not be furnished as cheap in Washington as
Mr.. McIiheny said the Baltimore company
was not paying any dividends.
Continuing his statement Mr.. Dodge said
that 46 companies Of Great Britain supply gas
of 10 6-1O candle power at 80 cents per 600,
and IL companies OF that country make gas OF
16 Clio candle power at "a cents, and they
paw 10 per cent In dividends, There the man,i-
1acture is regulated by law, and that accounts
tor the cheapness of gas. He presented mass
OF statistics showing the price of gas elsewhere
dollar. II this company would not agree to
sell 1t at that price, and If Congress would make
It get out Of the way, he would bind himself to
ind company that would make gas for one
dollar. He condemned the system Of requiring
deposits from gas consumers.
ROBBERIES REPoRTED-J. W. OFT 40 AL,
street. reports that his shoe shop was broker
open last night, and robbed OF shoes and other
articles valued at $12.75. Frank Goldsmith
reports the larceny OF three revOlvers and q
watch, worth $3.50.
SUIT AGAINST THE b. AND o. FOR $40, 900.
John j. BrOsnan and his wife Catherine have.
by Messrs Christy q Brady, filed q suit against
the Columbia Railroad company for $50 600
damages, claimed to have been caused ON the
21st OF July last, she being at that time a pas
senger In one OF the cars which was struck on H
and LIST streets northwest by an engine of the
baltimore and Ohio railroad, and she was
thrown from her seat and badly injured.
GRAND LODGE I. o. G. THE quarterly SEES.
sion OF the grand lodge, l. y. g. T., of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, representing some twenty
su60rdinate lodges, met last night at o'clock
at washington hall, on Capitol HUI. In the alb
sence OF =. N. Whitney, Grand Worthy Chief
3IemPlar, the lodge was opened by Col. Switz-
Ter, Grand Counselor, who assumed the chair
until the arrival OF the u. w. G. p. The order is
In prosperous condition. John b. Finch Right
worthy Grand Templar; Uriah Oopp, grand
treasurer; w. II. Lambley, OF Quebec, and Sam.
uel Wright, OF Leeds, England, are ut the Eb-
Dit House, en- route for Richmond, Va, where
the Right Worthy Grand Lodge Of the world
meets on Tuesday.
The application Of Messrs. A. T. Tracy, w. F.
warmer, Ballard Morris, Martin B. Bailey and
I. Henry Keller, students, for admission. to the
par were referred to the examining committees
Detective RaH to-day arrested w. w. Gould
on charge Of violating the lottery laws by
selling Louisiana lottery ticket, and he lett
500 collateral