Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-18
TheGas-WOrye.

Afford 10 stop WORK on luo NttN nun 'i"i
20 sell the gas-works. 1t Is impossible
to over-estimate the value of these works
to our people A company could afford
10 pay two millions of dollars for the ex-
elusive privilege of furnishing this city
and her people for twenty years with gas
nj 81. 80 or even 81 per thousand cubic
feet for the cost of making gas will in
all probability fall to 80 cents per
thousand within n few years. The cost
long ago fell below % cents III Leeds,
England
This city is free for the sake Of pos
terity let her continue to be free. II
the people here only knew how other
cities have repented allowing corpora
tions or private companies TO supply gas
for those cities, there would be not n
voice raised here in favor Of turning the
pas-users over to the tender mercies Of a
gas company. We have hold upon
our public servants in the gas-works, but
We should, if we sold our gGs-works, put
ourselves in q condition to be laughed at
and defed by the servants of private
company. We haven't n word TO say
against the capitalists who propose to
take the gas-works Off the citys hands.
They are looking to their own interests.
This is 10 new subject. 1t has been
discussed the world over. 50 to speak.
As long ago as January, 1886, The Ma
ton said of it Z:
1.-THE relation OF orr modern munici-
pality to the gas supply is one of the
most interesting questions Of local
government and local finance now before
the public. II is what may be called
burning question in this country III
every large city and III many small ones.
= English experience IS
The longest and most varied and cannot
but be Of great value 70 US. The Ing
ish Parliament and English localities
hare tried nearly all possible cJPfrt-
S,ents in this field, and the conclusion to
which they are very rapidly drifting Is
that the only solution Of the prOGicm
ties IN the ownership and management
OF UOS-UOIhc ~ tfAt IttfttN ffl'tttNNpF
Chat is, the cities.)
And Richmond, that has been compli-
mented for her good sense IN keeping
her gas works in her own hands, is going
10 pick up the policy abandoned by all
the rest of the world and suffer under it
until the people rise in their might and
compel their public servants to repur-
chase the gas-works at any price.
The Nation continues
CONSUMERS in London are still pay
ing dividends on capital invested in the
useless mains of that period. This com
bination and the consequent increase of
price created such a great excitement
that a parliamentary investigation was
ordered" &c.
1.-THE private companies succeeded IN
getting an act of Parliament in 1872 pro
hibiting municipalities from erecting
works where private companies were
already established. This handed over
the communities JOUnd hama and foot
to the tender mercieS Of Heg0S cOmpd-
mics, since they could only get hold OF
their works on terms agreed, which
meant on the terms demanded of the com
panies. These terms have been IN most
cases extravagantly high. The compa-
MES have put in al manner of claims
for maximum dividends or capital from
the beginning of their organization, for
the hopes of future profits based on the
experience Of the most successful com
psnies in England, &c. IN spite Of all
This the cells Of pirate management
are considered so URbedr0bie that city
after city is purchasing the eristing
uorke, and IL is stated on good an
fhoritg that one of the first steps o. the
reorganized citv OfLOndon WUprOba-
bly, be the acquisition Of the 90S-poTkS
Of he present companies.
OF course at their own price. The
cities are helpless once they sell their
birthright for mess of pottage.
Once more:
According TO the report of gas I'M
dertakings in the United Kingdom, made
10 Parliament in 1884, there were at that
time on the islands more than lGG towns
And cities which owned and managed
their own works, and the number is in
cressing every day
A good authority says:
"The event has proved that nothing
could be more felicitous than the way IN
which the municipal authorities have
managed even the largest gas under
takings confded 10 their care, and l fear
lessly assert that these unpaid bodies
have achieved far superior results to
those obtained under the directorate of
private companies"
The Nation adds:
"In spite Of the high price paid for
the gas-works OF private companies, va
sying from 100 TO 400 per cent, and
averaging about 250 per cent of face
value OF stock and from four to ten
times tho value Of the plant, they have
pearly uniformly succeeded % in pay
ing interest on debt contracted 10 pur-
chase the work, (2) In lowering the price
OF gas 10 consumers, and 90 in handing
over handsome surplus 10 the city trea-
sury. There are several reasons why
this should be perfectly possible, and
the statistics leave no doubt Of its being
actual"
"The city OF Birmingham, under the
lead Of the irrepressible Mr.. Chamber
lain, purchased its works in 1875, which
were earning at the time OF purchase
only $50, 200 per year. BY lowering the
prios, thus largely increasing the con-
sumption, and Introducing improved
machinery and processes, the city in
creased the earnings by 1879, within
four years, TO el65, 5000. e., it earned
90 per cent. dividend instead Of II per
cent"
"The city OF Nottingham acquired the
gss.works Ia 1875, when the price was at
g. Al. and reduced the price within ten
years 10 Is. 3D." land yet cleared over
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
In 1891
"1'he city Of Leeds has still more
striking record. The authorities have
managed the undertaking 80 well that