Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-14

III A most significant and decisive meeting
M of the members of the BOARD of Trade was
"a held Friday evening, when very emphatic
action was taken upon the resolution read
on Friday, May I'd, consideration of which
was postponed for Friday nights special
meeting.
very representative gathering of citi-
zens was present including the following:
Charles w. Pusey, William T. Porter
Joseph L.. Carpenter, Jr., George G; Lob
dell, Dr. G. Elton Buck, Dr. J; p; Wales,
A. d. Poole, George W. Bush Washington
Jones' y. T, Warner, Daniel w. Taylor,
Mark M. Cleaver, Dennis J. Mention, Job
II. Jackson, William NJ Field, Judge Ball,
General J: Parke Postles, II. a. Miller,
Chief of Police William Y. Swiggett, Dr.
Draper. George w Stone, Samuel Ban
croft, Jr., George $. Capelle, Charles y.
Dubell, William Davidson, George W.
Todd, William p. Taylor, William Belts,
Harlan Cause andiothers.
President d. W. Taylor called the meet
ing 10 order and then stated the purpurt of
the special meeting.
Secretary Van Trump then read the reso-
luton referred to which is as follows:
WHEREAS Considerable objection has been
madr by the Street and Sewer Department Of
the city of Wilmington, Delaware, as welt as by
n number Of citizens Of said city, to he laying
Of pipes In The beds Of the streets by the OXy-
Hydrogen Company, a corporation Of the State
OF Delaware for the purpose of diairbut nR
gas manufactured by Tho said company; be It
n soip Il, by The Board Of Trade Of the city of
Wilmington that II IL the sense of this orgaui-
zntiou that snid company should be allowed
nni permitted TO use the streets In shid city
for laying pi 81 for the purpose provided by
Its ch rter: provided however, that the streets
of said city are left by said company in the
enlne good ord'rend condition in which they
Re oiesd fur her, That the Street and Sewer
Department should grant the required permis-
sion to said company without any further legal
H. T. Warner-"ls business of this
character within the province of the Board
oe Trade2'
The chairman-''That is for you to de-
! eide. We have hitherto had the courage
to tackle anything which came within
reasonable range of consideration for such
a body as this
w. B. Clerk then moved and William T.
Porter seconded the adoption of the reso-
luton in order that it may come before
the meeting for discussion.
George w. Bush-"Mr. Chairman, ! de
sire to offer, as substitute or amendment,
the following resolutions"
WHEREAS, IL has come to the knowledge Of
this boar that 1t is the intention Of certain
droe Company Of the State OF Delaware TO
open and cxcavGte the streets Of tho city OF
WILMINGTON for tho purpose of laying gas
constituted authorities OF said city; therefore,
lie oiuet, BY the Board of rade OF The city
OF hllinlnRL IN tnnt, IN inc on mon OF thtB
board, the opening and excayalinR Of the
streets OF said city by said Hssoriaion or COM
puny for the purpose aforesaid would be in
furious to the health of the people and a
serious interruption to the ordinary and proper
use OF su streets and would not be attended
with any public beneilt whatever.
Second That the experience of other cities
1nsiles the opinion that the establishment in
tho city Of Wilmington of an association or
company OF the character OF the Shid Oxy-
hydrogen Company uld result in lts consoli-
datlon with the older company II fictitious in
Grouse OF capital stock and bonded indebted
ness and corresponding Increase in the price
Third. That the action Of the Board Of Dircc-
tors Of the Street and Sewer Departm mt in
opposition to the said unlawful and irlllrious
u4s OF the stie' Is of SAID city by SAID assocla-
tion or company il hereby cordially approved.
The resolution was seconded by Dr. Buck.
MIR. BuSh-"ln regard to the first section
referring to sanitary questions and the dig
gng up OF the streets, would wish to re-
call to you the results that came about
some years ago, when similarly extensive
operations were undertaken, and the
streets were opened in every direction for
water pipes. An epidemic followed. A
great many people got sick and many died.
Probably DR. Buck, and also Dir. Draper,
who was connected with the Board of
Health at the time, could tell you of the
sanitary condition. of the. city following
the extensive opening of the streets
"Touching upon section 2, those are the
universal results when new gas mpahies
operate in this manner No new gas COM
pany could go into operation without be-
coming ultimately consolidated with the
old one. They combine their interests
Gas goes up, always at the cost of the com
munity. This has been the result every
where. In Rochester, N. VI, three COM
panies recently competed. The Citizens
Company announced on January 22d, 1881, |
they would sell gas at a. cents per 1000 |
until further notice. the Municipal Com
pany quoted on February 18th, '9l, at 60 !
cents. Only 10 days later these companies
consolidated. The gas war was declared |
over and the cost per l,u00 was declared |
80 and 81 60 if paid within certain dates. |
Now Rochester produces 230,01O,O00 cubic /
feet. Our company here in this city pro-
duces over l00,0OO0O0. They charge Si.6O. |
We pay Sis
"Did competition lower the cost of gas
to the citizens of Rochester?
IN Reading, a city of about similar con-
suming capacity to ours there is one gas
company. The Standard Oil Company I
came i'll and knocked gas down under ST.
The local company was Obliged to sue
cumh and the price of gas is now 81. 10 to q
lower figure on certain quick payments.
The consumption of gas has diminished
TO 5O,OUO,OOO feet whereas before it was
100,000,000.
I'm Jersey City there were three com
panies. One was owned by Mr.. Addicks.
The three companies were consolidated and
the price went up Immediately to $l.75.
Jersey City consumes 290UOO,0OO feet.
These facts show the result of competition
in gas. Competing companies always con-
solidate and the price OF gas always goes
up. These are my reasons, in brief, for
offering these resolutions
George w. Stone-'l am in favor of Mr..
Bush's resolutions, but for different
reasons. From published facts. from
what we see and hear all around us, we
learn largely Of what Mr.. Bush has said.
RIlt I think tbig IL nDf n Df ~, t,ptt-
ton. don't fear the streets being dag up.
To put it plain, this (Mr. Addicks move
ment)lssimply corporation-wrcckin ing pro-
lect.Andatth head ofitstands Mr.. .Addicks.
You an read in the local papers about IA
months ago, pronuncamento from Mr..
AddlGKs IN the circular which he pub
Isheu,, IL was signed by him aud nd
dressed 70 the stockholders of the vii
mington Coal Gas Company. Mr.. Addicks
reterred TO himself as the controlling di-
rector Of the Oxy-Hydrogen Company.
lie made remarkable promises We were
To- have cheap gas early in the fall Qs90).
lie stated he was stakeholder
IN the old company to the extent
OF hve shares. But lie warned the
people, you must not rate the value
of your shares according to the Chem
earning capacity of your stock, as the
competing company (he Oxy-Hydrogen)
reduces it, &c. Competing prices will not
allowyou your old rate of dividends. Your
property is worth about S000000. [It is
ti2S,0 200, interjected someone In the audi
ence'l BY an expenditure of Sl00,0O0 l