Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-03
AGREED TO DISAGREE.
The Philadelphia Gas Bill for the
Water Works Not Yet Paid.
A TIE VOTE IN THE COMMITTEE.
Lively Discussion Upon the Merits of Gas,
Coal and Lima Oil.
CONTROLLER MORROW is DIPLOMATIC

| CONTkUlIIER MUkROW Is DlPLOMATlC
The bill of the Philadelphia Company for
gas furnished the Brilliant pumping sta
| tion, which has been the cause of dispute in
Councils for the past six months, was con-
sidered by joint committee in lively ses-
sion yesterday afternoon. The committee
failed to agree and will so report to Coun-
ellis. Six members compose the committee,
three from each branch. The three men,
bers from Select Council are Messrs. j.
Mem. King Heating and Gillespie, the
latter being interested in the Philadelphia
Company. Common Council is represented
by Messrs. Wright, Wilson and j. J. King,
all of whom opposed paying the bill pre-
sented by the company. The members from
| the Select branch were unit in favor of
paving the bill.
Last spring when the fuel contract for the
| Brilliant station expired, the Philadelphia
Company notified the city that fuel would
be furnished at the rate of 61@ cents for
each $1,000 gallons of water pumped. 1t
was figured that this would be double the
old contract price, which was 5000 a
month, and the offer was declined. But the
city kept on using the gas for several
months after the expiration of the contract,
and the bill was rendered on the rate of the
last proposition. When Chief Bigelow
completed the arrangement for using Lima
oil for fuel, the gas was shut off and the
Philadelphia Company sent in their bill for
500, ,977 IA. The Controller disputed it
first. 1t got into Councils and has been the
subject of dispute ever since.
Argument of Those Opposed to Paying.
The committee yesterday had all the
papers before it. j. j. King opposed pay
ing the bill entirely. Said he: Councils
refused to accept the Philadelphia Com
pany's bid and their officers knew that no
contract could be made with the city except
by Councils. When their bid was refused
they should have discontinued the supply
of gas. They can't hold the city for the
gas furnished under such circumstances, and
| an opposed to paving this bill. They
have made enough off the city in various
ways that they should supply the gas at
much lower rates"
MIR. Gillespie-The price the PhiIadel-
phia Company offered was fair rate, and
was much cheaper than the Lima oil fuel in
use now. And I want to say that at the
time that bid was offered the city could not
have changed from gas to any other fuel
without causing water famine in the city.
The boiler capacity was so small that it was
with great difficulty the water department
could keep up even daily supply. For
many weeks last summer there was danger
of a water famine and Chief Bigelow, know
ing this, did not dare to discontinue the use
of gas. He did not dare to stop the pumps
for - hours. 1t was at his request and to
help the city out that the company kept up
its supply. Anyone who knows ANYTHING
about gas knows it is the best fnel in the
world to make steam. The old boilers
at the water works could supply
steam enough for the engines with gas, but
since Lima oil has been introduced it has be-
come necessary to increase the boiler
capacity at Brilliant, and besides, the gas
furnished at our new rate was from 20 to 25
per cent cheaper than Lima OIL The
monthly bills are running from 1000 to
$1,000 higher with the oil than they were
for gas.
Mr.. Wilson-Wel1, if they are, it is a
higher price than they should be. am
satisfied that the Lima oil can be used at
less cost than natural gas if handled prop
erly.
Mr. Keating-I differ from the gentle
man. 1 think a bad move was made by
adopting Lima oil for fuel. 1t is costing
more and more every month to run the
water works with it, and the cost is already
much above the cost of gas. 1 am con-
vinced by practical demonstration that
Lima oil is not as good steam maker as
Pittsburg coal, and no one will deny that
gas is better than coal.
Merits of the Different Fuels.
Mr.. Wilson insisted that Lima oil could
be used to better advantage than gas, and
Mr.. Wright maintained that coal could be
used cheaper than either. This Mr.. Gil
lespie rather heatedly denied, and said: 'I
well bet 200 to 81, 900 that you can't run
the Brilliant water works at her present
won't make steam fast enough to keep I'D
the pressure required. If you go back to
coal you will need to nearly double your
boiler capacity"
The discussion of the merits of various
fuels was dropped finally, and, it being evil
dent that an agreement could not be reached
on the payment of the bill, Controller Nor
row was sent for in the hope that he might
straighten the tangle out. When the Con-
troller came up Mr.. Heating asked: 'Mr
Controller, if you were given full authority
to decide this matter without interference
from the Councils, the Mayor or anyone
else, what would you do?''
The Controller was astonished at the
question, but was too wide awake to assume
any responsibility in the matter, for after a
moments reflection he replied: 81 can't
say. I had not thought of the matter in
that light.
Mr. Wilson expressed disapproval of
such an attempt to shift the responsibility,
but offered to agree to the bill if drawn at
the rate of the old contract instead of the
new proposition. Mr.. Wright also agreed
to this, Mr.. J. J. King sticking to his orig
inal position. The other members of the
committee refused to consider anything but
the bill the company had rendered, saving
that as the city used the gas and as one of
her officials had contracted for it, she ought
to pay it all. When motion was made to
approve the bill the vote was tie, and it
was decided to report to Councils that the
committee could not agree.
ONLY ANOTHER WEEK
r. 60, fI,o r