The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-03
rnE MODERN srrEn or COOKING.

Reasons for Offering Gas Stoves to
Householdefs to Rent.
The step taken by the Seattle Gas and
Electric Light Company in offering to
rent gas stoves to boaseholsers at low
rates is such q radical one that John Ma
Their, the manager Of the company,
was asked by q Posr- STELLsexScER re-
porter yesterday what was the .peaning of
it. The rates named are exceedingly low,
being . cents per ncath f,,r three
burner stove and 50 to IS cents rser month
for .our-burner or wster-bacL stove, with
no extra charge for setting. Ar. Mather
was asked:
What is your idea in max Tag this new
departure in the gas store business"
Simply to encourags the Use OF gas
stoves and appliances III everT household
on the line of our mains, was the reply.
But how can you afford &c rent the
stoves at these figures9n
I'VE can not afford L and fniy intend
to keep it up for a limited tims, ''said Mr..
Mather. ''our object beng IL get these
appliances so generally distributed that
every one will be familiar with them ano
their advantages over the oia-fashioned
coal or wood stove. At present all
except very small proportion OF the peo-
pie know nothing at all about cooking by
gas. and they are amazed whaa they are
told such a thing is possi Die"
''Is it a fact that it is eneapes to cook BY
gas than by wood or coai2"
"If we did not believe anil positively
know such to be the case, We would not
make the offer we are nov making to put
the stoves in and let tie peopla demon
strate that point TO their entire satisfaction
before purchasing. We could nat afford, as
you know, to put out stove
that cost from $35 to $45 ut rental of Is to
50 cents per month, when the expense of
setting alone is from s2to$'A What We
want is that the people shaH buy these
stoves. although it is entirely optional
with them
We'll. if they do buy the stoves after
using them for three, four or five months,
is the rental applied On ti'a purchase
price2"
Yes"
"Are these stoves much used in the
East2"
Yes, they are used great zeal, and are
becoming an indispensable article in every
household. Many property owners insist
on their use by their tenants, and even go
SO far as to furnish the stoves, claiming
that they are amply REPAID for the
inyesmen. in saving Their buildings
from being smoked up and damaged by
having Goa! and wool carried up and
ashes down stairs"
II understand there il no heat from a
gas stove"
mo, there is not; a. least no moro than
you would get from ali ordinary gasoline
stove"
well. how do you co with 'hem in cold
weather2'
Heat your kitchen by a gss- heater, as
they do in the East, where they have zero
weather six months in the yeas. In this
country that would only be necessary for
q very short time. Moss woman. however,
after using gas steve would rather
freeze to death than be without one
Why just think of the convenience of it'll
You always have fire st moments no.
tice, and there is no dirs ashes or smoke
Then gas stoves will roast, base, broil or
toast better than any othes stove on
earth"
Where does the econ omy Of cooking BY
gas come in?"
Sin the fact that it IL not necessary to
have a fire except when it il actually re-
CURED which will nct exceed ia the aver
age family three hours day. This at the
average cost of operating gas sttsve-about
2ls cents an hour-wo'sld atsount TO ~.
cents a day. This will compare very favor
ably with even the cheapest olslity of any
other fuel"
Some people may object that gas would
impart a flavor to the f'od."
"All the best cooking in TIE country"
was the instant answer. sis done on gas
stoves, and all the fine ifrencn restaurant,
are fitted with gas appliances