The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-17
GAS LIGHT COMPANY.
Annual Meeting Yesterday Afternoon and
Report of the President.

The annual meeting OF the Portland
Gas Light Company was held yesterday
afternoon, and President E. H. Daveis
made the following report:
The consumption of gas for the year
ending on the 3Oth ult, was IS, $50. 600
feet, gain ofs3,2S4, 600 over the preced-
ing year. The net receipts from the
sales of gas amount to S39, against
70. ooa ior the preceding year, owing to
the reduction in price. The net receipts
from the sales of coke and coal tar Wera
S11, $50, against S14, 900 for the preceding
year. This falling off was owing to the
small quantity of coke on hand at the
beginning of the year, and to running
the retorts in the old benches. The re-,
generative furnaces we had purposed to
oullo would nave produced five bushels
more OF coke for sale per ton of coal. but
the old retorts held out better than ex
pected, and it was on the whole. more
economical to use them another season
5. 760 tons of coal and 1913 tons of oil were
used in making 65,151, 900 feet of gas
we have Bis consumers, gain of So
Iwenty-seven new service pipes have
neen put IN; 657 feet OF new street mains
nave been laid, and the four and three
inch mains on Exchange street have
been replaced by two six-inch pipes
from Fore to Middle streets. Gas stoves
to the number of 119 have been sold, an
increase of II over the preceding wear
The price of our gas. was reduced a year
ago with rebates to. large consumers.
making the net price from S1.25 to 81. SO
per 1000 feet. This is low price for
company selling ssssless than Sc, 900. 600.
feet year, and making pure coal gas.
The Boston and Bay State Gas Comma
MES sell forty times as much gas as we
do. and they make water gas, which is
poisonous. The report of the gas COM
mlssioners makes mention of It's gradu-
al introduction into Boston, and saws
that the number of deaths from inhaI-
ing it has increased. alarmingly: In 1889.
two deaths; in 1890, eight; in 1891. is:
in 1892, Is; in 1898, 25. Your directors
have not thought it best to incur such
risks in order to make saving in cost
Leaving out those two companies. whose
large output places them beyond COM
petition, the report of the commission
ers gives the average price of all the
annually more than thirty million feet.
to be ii. 40 per thousand, against ours at
about 81. 49, Many of these companies
make water gas. The report does not
state how many, as all are classed as
coal gas companies, except those max
ing oil gas, the price of which averages
So. "a per thousand.
u ono PaSo slA nuns, our profits,
with some interest added, have nearly
covered the usual dividend. For the
coming six months, with the smaller
consumption and larger running fexpens-
es, we shall have to draw largely from
our insurance and renewal funds; and If
no disaster occurs these funds may ena-
bic us to keep up our dividends until
the increased consumption due to the
low price shall give sufficient profits
The treasurer's account shows our re-
ceipts and expenditures in detail.
Thetollowing directors were elected:
Edward Fl. Daveis, William W. Thomas.
William Fl. Moulton, Fred N. Dow.
Charles S. Fobes, Zenas Thompson. The
directors organized by the choice of Ed
ward H.. Daveis as president and Samuel
Rolfe, treasurer.