Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03
COST or MAKING GAS
Interesting Testimony Given Before the
House Investigating COMMITTEES
A Former superintendent Of the Com.
pany Says Gas Can BE Pronfably
Sold at One Dollar.


trict committee took rather an interesting
turn after The Stars report closed yester-
day afternoon. Mr.. Lansden. former sup
erintendent of the gas company. was ex-
amined. Mr. Lansden has been in the gas
business for thirty years. he said. and up
to the first of last June for about seven
years previous was superintendent Of this
company. Mr.. Lansden was subjected to
a vigorous cross examination by the COM
tee, but the substance Of his testimony
may be summarized as follows:
He maintained that the Washington Gas
Company can sell gas for one dollar per
thousand feet and make a good profit on
It. He said that this city Is well pfped,
that the quality Of the gas Is very fair. and
that II the company would reduce its rate
to 81 per thousand that many Of the COM
plants now made by the citizens would
| cease.
What Obstructs the Pipes.
Mr.. Lansden was asked what causes the
obstruction in the pipes and whether coal
gas will operate to produce such obstruction
| to the extent that water gas will. He re-
piled that clean gas will not clog up any
pipe II properly purified. but IL gas is made
| as a vapor 1t will In cold weather and dur
ing sudden changes of the temperature
cause naphthalene to form in the pipe. He
| said that lime Is the best purifier, but that
/ the gas company uses lime together with
oxide Of iron.
Considerable testimony having been taken
at previous meetings upon the cost Of lay
| ing mains in the streets Of Washington. the
| gas company urging that cutting through
the concrete forms considerable item
| Of their expense, Mr.. Lansden was Ques-
| toned upon this subject. Mr.. Lansden said
| that 1t does cost three or four times as
much to lay mains through concrete as
through earth or paved streets. but said
that not per cent Of the mains laid with
| In the last year in this city have been
| through concrete. This statement concur
| red with those made by other witnesses
that the greater portion Of the mains in this
| city were laid before the streets were con-
| GREETED. In answer to the direct question as
to the price which the gas company could
furnish their gas and still make a reason
| able profit, Mr.. Lansden promptly replied
II per thousand feet, and added that II Is
to the interest Of the gas company that
| they should stop all the troubles complained
OF by the citizens and make good gas at
that fgure. He admitted that 1t would
| never be possible to entirely stop COM
plants. but that the methods just mention
ed would go long way towards it.
The Cost of Producing Gas.
In answer to another direct question as
| to the actual cost of producing a thousand
| feet OF gas, he said that with the modern
| machinery now used by the company and
with the mixture Of coal and water gas
now made a thousand feet can be put
into the holder for 81 cents. 1t would then
/ cost from 20 to % cents to distribute 1t and
the latter sum would include all the ex-
penses OF inspection and the running ex-
penses Of the uptown Offices That would
make the cost from 81 to 81 cents a thou
SAND. and then adding the taxes, repairs.
| &c, the entire cost would come within ~
| cents per thousand feet. He said 1t would
probably cost from s. 10000 to H,OOO.OOJ
to duplicate the present plant.
| When questioned as to the piping of the
city ne said that the pipes run in size rather
IN excess OF the necessary measurement
In consequence of the large supply main
which runs through the heart Of the city.
This concluded the gas hearing The tes-
umony which has been taken will be print
ed for the committee and q report made
to the House at an early date.
One Financial Transaction.
| Mr.. Lansden made a statement Of one of
| the financial transactions Of the company
which appeared to interest the committee.
He said that in 1880 the company issued to
the stockholders certificates to the amount
Of 100000. drawing 6 per cent interest.
He considered that as a dividend. He
thought that the idea was to transfer or
rather take up eventually the 100000 in
bonds which had been issued for improve
| ments.
| Toward the close of the hearing a some
what interesting passage occurred between
| the chairman OF the committee and Mr..
| Cooper of Indiana. Mr. Lansden testified
that last year the company declared q divi-
dend which was virtually - per cent. Mr..
Heard asked him IL that was a dividend
of % per cent on the par value Of the stock
or the speculative and market value.
Mr.. Cooper of Indiana sprang to his feet
at this and objected to the question, stat
ing that it was in the line Of argument.
and that argument should be made on the
| floor Of the House. 1t was becoming late
anyhow, he added.
| Mr.. Heard insisted that he only wanted
| to reach the facts. whereupon Mr.. Cooper
| added that the motive for the question
was apparent; he would not like to see It
in the record. for 1t would not look well
there.
Mr.. Heard replied that he would leave
| that to the committee and the incident
was raised over. After the close of the
hearing the committee held q secret ses-
| sion.