Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-07-04
Is 1t THE STANDARD OIL co?
sTOORHOLDERS IN THE LOCAL
COMPANY UNEASY
Latest Isumors and SpecuIations
About the New Gas Company
Which IN Now Thought 20 be au
Ensured Fact

Which IN Now Thought 20 be au
Ensured Fact
-
The stockholders of the Wilmington
Coal Gas Company are more agitated
than appears on the surface, over the an
nounced advent of rival concern in this
city, the more so because they believe
that the new works will be an assured
fact before many more months. Besides,
any one who knows what the Standard
Oil Company is and what competition
with its practically unlimited capital
means, knows that this big corporation
could wipe the Wilmington Coal Gas
Company ont OF existence in short time
IL it were so minded. The method by
which 1t operates is called financiering
but some men characterize il by more
forcible, if less elegant name. In Read.
ing, for instance, the Standard Oil Com
pany, under o thin disguise, started
rival gas works to the local concern,
which was agood-paying investment. The
Standards works began to underbid the
local concern in supplying gas until the
latter not only became crippled tinan.
oially, but its stock became almost
worthless. Then the Standard people
bought up the stock OF low figures and
obtaining sols control of the supply of
gas, they advanced the price to So 50p per
/ 1000 feet. Here in Wilmington, gas costs
Sl.25. Wherever the Standard OIL Com
pany once becomes established, there all
competition ceases sfterward in that
branch Of industry in which it is en-
gagged.
The talk on the street today confirms
the statement that Addicks means bust
ness and will certainly establish ga.
plant here. Sites are already being
otfsred to the new concern and Addicks
says he is looking for suitable property
on Market street on which the new copl-
pRny will erect large, handsome and
ornamental office building. Probably 1t
was Addicks agents who offered George
d. Oleland $4,000 for his property at
No. 424 Market street yesterday, but
Mr.. Clelsnd refused to sell for less than
$25 GOO.
The Standard Oil Company, it is said,
uses method Of manufacturing gas
which is much cheaper than the methods
in use in this city and that, in this man
ner they can afford TO underbid competi.
tors in bona fife manner.
Mr.. George s Capelie of the Whining
ton Goal Gas Company says that be
knows Of no new method which the
Standard people employ except the man
utacture Of water gas and that cannot be
made more cheaply than the gas used in
this city. "We also enrich cur own gas
by the use Of water gas and We think that
We make our gas rs chehply as any Of
them. We are constantly reducing our
prices es soon as improvements warrant
and it LET alone we would soon be able to
furnish gas to our customers at 81 per
1000 feet"
Those who are watching the drift of
events, feel positive that the Standard
OIL Company is back OF AddicBs' scheme
and that Stephen and William l.. Eik.na,
father and son, and both large stock
holders ia the big monopoly, are con.
nactei with it in some way. When the
determined effort o: some locel men to
gst charter for the Standard Oil Com
pnny was attempted before the Legsiature
preceding the last, it is stated that they
were promised $50 coo il successful and
that success was only prevented by the
indiscretion of one Of tho party who let
the "cat out Of the bag" by saying that
if they were successful in securing the
charter he would be enabled to lift q
900 mortgage from his house,
The trouble with the charter which Ad-
dicks obtained from the Legislature last
winter was that it confined his principal
operationsto TO Delaware, and did not allow
him to tear the streets up at will. The
latter ia most important point. The
Wilmington Coal Gas Company has that
privilege, but il got its charter 35 years
ego when the value of such privileges
was not fully appreciated, because Will
min9ton was then small borough. Such
privileges are no longer granted except
the consent of the city authorities be first
obtained, and that right would not be
very speedily granted now under
present conditions. Tearing up the
streets in midsummer by 1000 men,
as Addicks claims he will do,
would endanger the public health and
practically paralyze vehicular traffic. It
is claimed that they could not lay the
pipes necessary to begin business in less
than year unless they tore large num-
bers OF streets up OF one time.
The Oxy-Hydro9en charter under
which Addicks proposes to work, how
ever, grants the privilege of tearing 1R
the streets without asking anybody's psFs
mission. II ia still question whether
the new city charter passed since tha
passage OF tnls chArler Woulu not place
an obstacle in the way of their indis-
criminate use or abuse of the streets.
The new gas works is the chief topic..ot
conversation in financial circles and fur
ther developments are awaited. When
some step is taken that will show that
new gas works will be started here, then
seeing will be believing. One gentleman
who already sees the local company
-, l..
that the Standard could easily utiliz,
both plants by making illuminating gat
in one and fuel gas with the other.