The morning times., 1895-11-12

10 1-2 cents per thousand From the
foregoing it appears that the aim of all
the factors properly represented in the
cost of production equaled in 1889 7S
cents per thousand, and in 1893 66 1-2
cents.
To have not included dividends, interest
on Indebtedness, real or fictitious, and
extension Of plant Is entering into the cost
or producing gas. If to the apparent cost
of production upon the capital stock be
added, the entire expenditure for the year
1898, for each 900 feet of gas. would
be 80 cents. The cost OF extension Is
properly excluded. There is no reason why
agas consumer should, in paying for his gas
add to the permanent value and productive
power of the company's plant.
In arriving at the foregoing results we
have assumed the correctness Of the figures
furnished by the gas company and the
legitimacy of all the items of tue expense
account. We havo also assumed that no
favoritism has been exercised in the col
lection of bills, and that no person has
received gas free of charge because of his
power To render political favors. We have
not inqu red whether expenditures for
services have Included the employment OF
lie wspapers OF other mediums TO protect
the interests of the company. 1t Is perhaps
sufficient to observe that in other juriE-
dictions these items have materially uper-
ated to enhance the price of gas TO the
plain citizen.
COMPARATIVE FIGURES.
We may now to advantage compare the
cost of gas manufacture in this jurls-
dction with similar cost i'll Philadelphia,
where the distributing plant is owned by the
municipality and perhaps two-thi res OF tie
gas manufactured by it, private producers
selling the city about Cne-third Of the gas
supplied 10 its Citi zens.
Philadelphia pays for such gas as IL
purchases 81 cents per thousand cubic
feet. Adding to this 8 cents tthe figure
given by some authorities) as 10 the cost
of delivery AT the burner, and we find the
cost OF purchased gas at That point 10 lie
% cents per thousand.
In the year 1894 gas sold In Philadcl-
phia for 81 per 900. Al the same time
one-fifth of the whole production was used
by the city without cost, leaving so cents
as the price at which gas might have been
sold 10 the private consumer, bat for the
free public consumption. Had the city heen
charged the same price as private CONSUMERS
The cost would have been more than S71 g.,
600. The profit TO the city for the year was
SlS2, 900, and large and costly eXtcn-
sions were made. For a variety of rca sOHs
during the year the leakage and wastage
was about 20 per cent-two-thirds more
than the preceding year and about twice rs
great as with the company under cons!dera
tion. Had the leakage been no greater than
in the year 500 a material reduction i'm the
cost OF production would have been made.
II thus appears by inspection of the com
pany's own reports and by an examination
OF the Philadelphia cost OF production that
approximately the same results re reached
But the Washington Gas Light Company
has repeatedly contended because OF the
higher price OF coal in Washington the
cost OF production was materially greater
here than in Philadelphia. The contcn-
ton is nnsouDded. A ton OF coal Yields
10000 cubic feet of good gas or larger
amount OF gas of an inferior quality. A
difference of 40 cents In the price of n
ton is unsound. 4 ton of coal Yields
average difference between Washington
and neutrality-suspicious. but cents