Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-16
ADVANCED THE PRICE.
Philadelphia Company Gas Will Cost
More After November 1.
Observation-Disclosures.
Greater Demands for the Fuel is the Cause
of This Advance.
ANOTHER COMPANY ISSUE A NEW ORDER

The truest signs that winter Is fast ap-
preaching are the movements of the gas
companies. The first prophecy that fall is
being merged into winter will be given to-
morrow, when the Philadelphia Gas Com
pany will officially announce an advance of
21l cents a thousand feet in the price of
gas.
To the consumers this advance was un-
looked for. In fact they do not know of it
vet, save for one or two who happened to
hear the rumor. 1t is said they h We al
ready called at the company's Office and
filed their kicks in the usual vigorous way.
These protests will have many companions
before office hours are over tomorrow.
The notice which will be published in
THE DISPATCH tomorrow, is sent out by
Treasurer Caldwell, of the COMPANY, and
reads as follows:
Cutting Down the Discount.
By instruction of the Board OF Directors
of the Philadelphia Company, the 20 per
cent discount heretofore allowed on all bills
within Is days from date is reduced to a 10
per cent discount. This will apply to all
gas consumed on and after November ], 1892.
Mr.. Caldwell was seen yesterday. Ofthe
notice he had this to say: eve are making
this increase of 215 cents because there is
greater demand Tor gas. Yet even with
this increase in consumption, we cannot at
ford to sell it at the old rate. The many
new and economic appliances which are
now being used make it possible for people
to use gas with meter at very low rate.
This fall there are many people getting
ready to use gas, who heretofore have
burned coal.
"The cost of maintaining pipe lines is q
great expense. We are constantly laying
new lines and the right of way is often hard
and costly to get. New territory must be
money. These things all taken together an
advance is necessary. The consumer will
have to pay but little more for his gas, but
it will make him be little more economic
The manufacturers, too, will be affected by
this advance. The real idea is to get rid of
supplying the manufacturers with gas.
There is more money in selling it for
domestic use. We do not expect any COM
plants from consumers on account of the
advance.
The Companies Affected by the Advance.
This reduction will affect all the compan-
les and lines controlled by the Philadelphia
Company. These are the Allegheny Heat
ing Company, CHARTERS Company, Penn
sylvania Company. Birmingham Company
and the Peoples Natural Gas and Pipesge
Company.
There are but two other companies in
Pittsburg. These are the Manufacturers
Natural Gas and the Peoples companies.
The latter was seen yesterday. 1t has not
yet decided upon any advance in price, nor
do its management think there will be any
made The Manufacturers has not ad-
vanced its price, but has made change in
its manner of collecting. This il the
notice it is now sending out:
To the consumers of the Manufacturers
Natural Gas Company-Youa are hereby notf-
OF this company will be rendered monthly
instead of quarterly as heretofore. A dis
count of per cent will be allowed on all
month. In all other respects your contract
will continue unchanged. Respectfully,
MANUFACTURES NATURAL GAS Co.
H. E. Seibert, Secretary of the company,
was seen yesterday. 1T is not our inten-
ton to advance the price of gas.
The Price Still the Same.
1--WE now sell it at % cents a thousand
feet and intend to keep the price the sane.
We have been making quarterly collections
in the past, and in many cases got the worst
of it. People often move out during the
qusrter, and by the time we get around
with our bill they are lost. Under the
new arrangement we will be able to make
closer collections. The 8 per cent discount
still goes If the people take advantage of
it they will be able to get their gas tor 20
cents a thousand.
Advances are often made at this time of
year for the purpose of getting rid Of manu-
facturera The gas companies would sooner
sell their gas tor domestic uses. During
the summer, when this latter class of con-
sumers bring but little revenue into the
companies, there is a general bustling to get
contracts with manufacturers. In this way
business is made fairly good the whole year
around, but with the coming of winter these
contracts are not considered good. The
Philadelphia Company must certainly have
plenty of gas It has struck some good
wells in the Pinhook field during the sum-
mer."