The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-27

around our sign are not affected, Due u LUG
prices for them are raised they 60 too.
Il have very little fear OF the electric
light company keeping up with the new
OF their lamps, and about one month will
settle this new move on their part.
Mayor L. r. Ebert. when asked what the
position of the City Coun-
Gil was in reference TO the The Supervisors
charges for artificial light
ing, said that he had not nay A"o'u
yet looked the matter up the REQUIRED Relief
and was unprepared TO
say II the Board of Supervisors had any
right to say what charges should or could
be made by them. When that matter is
brought up, as IL probs bly, will be, the men,
bers of the board and the board in general
would look ont for the public interest as far
as they had any power.
Supervisor Refs, chairman of the Street.
lighting Copmlttee, said that he had no
doubt that the charges for electric lighting
were too high, and he was of the opinion
that il was matter that should DE taken up
by the Board of Supervisors.
The managers Of the gas companies felt
elated over the move of the electric light
combination. c. l.. Barnett Of the San
Francisco Gas Company said that so far it
was impossible to say just what increase in
business they would get. The bills at the
end OF the month would show that big in
crease In the consumption o! gas is eX-
pected. and it is being prepared for.
Several merchants have been in," he
said. during the past two or three days
and Informed us that they were now using
gas instead of the electric light, and great
many others may be doing the same, but to
what extent cannot be told until the meters
are examined.
'Gas and electric light ran at about a
saw-off as to the matter of expense before
this circular of the electric light people went
into effect, aud as they have about doubled
their rates gas will be that much cheaper
for the same service
This company will In the next three or
four DAYS make q canvass OF the meIchantS
and principal users of artificial light, and
before that is done 1t will be impossible to
give any estimate as to how far the electric
light comrades foot is in the mire."
Superintendent II. +. Bowie of the Elec-
tric Improvement COM
The Excuse That pany could not see how
=, NJ. 8. any advance in prices had
"iA"e ~ been made. Electric light
the EIectrn was now furnished much
cheaper than IL was four
Light Monopoly. years ago, and the prices
quoted in the circular were
about the same as those of the companies in
the Eastern cities. The citizens of San
Francisco should not object. Before the
Electric improvement Company commenced
operations the rates were about double
those quoted in the circular This COM
manufacture light cheaper than the Edison
people. and to get business were COM
PEELED TO put our rates below theirs, and
we got number OF their lamps by SO doing.
They, in turn. reduced our cut and took
part Of the business away from us. We
went still further and regained the business
and added more TO Il, and as a compromise
the EdIsonS came down even with our fig-
ures, and there it stood. Rates were too
low to pay any dividends to the investors.
out This could not last very long, and my
ment has been made between the two com
panies. but what II is have Il o idea.
The light is cheap enough at the new
schedule prices. considering the prices we
have TO pay for coal
continued Mr.. Bowie. lis from a few per-
vidual 10 put in plant and supply them.
10 waste NJ 10 midnight, but the eOmpan les
fused TO sell him any machinery for any
such purpose. although he could get all he
required tor his own use.
Their refusal was in accordance with
the contract between the manufacturers Of
the plants and the electric light companies
of the city.
taken out, and there is no doubt In the
minds Of the directors Of the electric light
companies that all the consumers are per-
fectly satisfied with the new schedule Of
prices"