The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-12
LIGHT ON GAS QUESTION.
.rAN THEY AFFORD TO REDUCE THE
PRICE ON THIS Necessity?

Ga. ia Now Being Made at Slightly Over
Dollar Thousand Fcet-what the City VIII
Lose by the Reduction-Many Facts and
Figures Given.
Considerable discussion has been going on
in Richmond since Monday night as TO
whether OF not the price Of gas shall be re-
duced. Citizens generally. as well as Council
men in particular, have been considering the
subject, and problems mathematical have been
The order Of the day in business houses which
usa a great deal Of gas and which have also the
interests of the city at heart.
The main reason for this discussion is the
r,-olutiou offered last Monday night at the
meeting Of the Board Of Aldermen by Mr. W.
81 Tirpin. II requested the Finance Commit
te to INQUIRE what effect "A reduction
,r the price Of gas from SlJ0 10 Sl2j
nor 900 cubic feet would have upon the citY's
trquces In other words, 70 is the idea OF MI.
Iurpln 20 find ont from the best OF authority
rho Finance Committed whether or not a.
-l..- period of the ciiy's progress her financial
status viii admit of reduction III heI reNe-
SOURCE or REVENUE
n i.a well-known fact. admitted 10y all citi-
..rr who know anything on the subject. that
when the gas works We're hrst built II was not
tll desire nor the purpose Of the city govern
mont 10 derive source Of revenue FROM the
,...s more chan sufficient TO pay the cost Of
f0. manufacture and the keeping mp of the
works. bat Inter the consumption of Gas ut the
rfi.. charged has mude up a handsome rcvc-
iu0 fo the city. and this money IS used by the
ar, for annual appropriations.
lu the report Of Mr.. W. {. Adams; superln-
tard.nt Of the gas works, ending December
Al 1850 several important facts are stated
80 many figures given that throw light on
T.-mn0,eI subject. Last years report Is
,.o, u..l because Mr.. Adams has sent it to
Mayor liv-on. and the latter stated ycster-
d4r that he could give no information from 1t
until DO had been sent % the Council with his
annual message
lu the report of 1892. however. II is stated
flat 1s5. 1852 200 feet of gas We're made m that
r.ar. The amount consumed was l61.l6a,sSf
feet. disposed Of as follows Private conoump-
ton. 1854. 900 feet. public consumption, a.
Ia- So feet The latter item mean, gas con-
umed by city departments, winch was o'li'-
1.O feet and gis used m lighting by street
nr1us which was y821.l 1877 feet The total
number of street lamps lighted 10y the city in
The financial statement for 1889 is as fol-
lows
Received for as..................s 1921 81
Received for coke. &c............. 2l.5Ol %
5 2O6,e52 81
Discussed for pay-rolls 7s,79j -
Disbursed for coal. .... CO4zO OF
DisbuIsedfor expenses, 1886 ~ ..,-., 80
Excess Of receipts over expendi- 800.
lures. ........ .........--.-- 0''osV ol
To which must be added 43,135,677
cubic feet Of gas consumed by
iuos al 20 per thousand feet. G4.7O3 50
Totolin favorof the works. ......s 1904 IA
The above figures show that if the city is
CHARGED at the rate of $50 for the gas used IN
public buildings and street lamps the city has
The revenue of -l23Oll4. Now whether or
not the city can afford 90 do without tins rcf-
cnue IL remains with the Finance Committee
tofind out Another point raised Is whctherthe
city should charge herself el.50a thousand feet
for caSy And the point is answered by the state
ment that the city government should not
have the benefit of cheaper gas than the cill-
zens. and also that If the gas was furnished by
a private company II is very probable that the
civ would have 10 pay just such a tate for city
lighting.
'tlini the eas consumed last year was private
and public buildings A, 539,l0O feet; total,
173. 3i3. 500 feet.
"Ho take last years consumption as basis.
if the price of gas was reduced TO SIPS, the
ci,v's revenues would he decreased e2l ,457;
that is. on the suppositon that there Is no
increase in the consumption"
Mr. Adams is evidently wrong IN ms hgures,
if last wears private consumption Is taken aS
"A basis for calculation. for The TINES, instead
of 81. 457. makes the difference ,32,lsG.
Ii the interest on the plant Is not counted.
gas now costs AT the burner about seventy-six
cents per / 900 cubic feet. With the interest
ON the plant. gas VIII cost about sl.l2 per
600 cubic feet at the burner
The above are the figures in the case, and
with lust such figures the Finance Committee
of the Council vii have 20 deal. Ii Is we'll
known fact that at the present time so say
members Of the Finance Committed money
is scarce and the city cannot afford 10 part
with any of her revenue"
Ii can also be said that the money paid now
for Gas by private consumers pay Just 80 much
money for the lighting of streets while the
man who uses OH or electricity does not pay
ANYTHING towards the support OF the city's
lighting.