Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-20
CONCERNING CHEAPER GAS
Profits Made by the Municipality in
Philadelphia.
Mr. Dodge Quotes From Recent OFF,
cial RepOrts-Anssvering Gas
Company Statements.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:


facts:
At the hearing on the gas bill last We'd
nesday 1 read from The Star the statement
of the Commissioners. showing the profits
derived from the gas works in Philadelphia
to be about 100000.
To counteract the effect of that, Mr..
Leetch OF the gas company read from the
report of the director Of public works of
Philadelphia for a single year statement
to show that the profit to the city was
but $192,3lO.
AS l had but fifteen minutes allowed me
in which to discuss the whole subject. and
was compelled to leave at the end of that
time to attend hearing before the COM
mittee On patents, of course l had no OPP
portunity to hear or answer the statements
MADE by the gas company. Since then l
nave obtained the mayors message for
1870, and, IN turning to report OF the bureau
of gas, PIP. II and ID, it reads as follows:
The total expenditures of the bureau of
gas from 1891 to 1894. inclusive, for ma
terial maintenance, labor. supplies, coal,
etc, was s10,S5S,9l0 and for extensions
and permanent improvements $l,0.D,elS.Sl;
a total of $11,9O9. 1898. During the past
four years there have been turned into the
city treasury as receipts from this bureau
Sli,'D, iol2o, or very nearly three Mil
lion dollars in excess of the entire eXpen-
ditures. This is in the face of the fact
that the price of gas in 1891 was reduced
from $l.5o to 81 per thousand feet, de-
crease of thirty-three and one-third per
cent in the price.
1t IS but just to the bureau of gas to
state clearly that the money received by
the city for its operation during the past
Tour years not only elualed the entire
sum appropriated to it during that period
no Of ont INN
ments but that ii returned a profit owe:
and above these expenditures of nearly
three millions of dollars.
IN ;he bureau Of gas, the important per-
manent improvements paid for out of the
appropriations include the laying of 1G2iA
miles of gas mains, the removal of print
tive benches and resetting in their places
new stacks of the y. D. Fleming gener-
--@ benches. the Introduction of six Of
the Ross patent retort discharging ma
chineS, seven new station meters, new
bulidiHg for station meters, new purifying
house, office and wash house for employ
es, new exhaust mouse, rebuilding of sta
ble, carpenter, wheeiwright and paint
shops destroyed by fire June -. 1S9D, the
rebuilding of a sponge shed at the twenty
NTH ward works destroyed by fire Fcoru
airy > 1S:s), third lift to gas holders at
the ninth ward works. twent y-tfth ward
works. and 9tn and Diamond streets and
10Th and Callowhll streets holder stations,
and various other improvements of minor
character at each of the other gas works.
The manufacturing capacity OF the several
works Of the city has been increased dur
ing the last four years i..;1 900 cubic feet
per day, gain of 2S1a per cent. and dur
ing this period the holder capacity has
been increased 2J1O,tDD cube feet, a gain
OF II 81 per cent.
From 1891 to 1894 the bureau of gas has
also furnished the various municipal de-
partrnents and for street lighting =. 400 sos =
.'S cublc lcet OF GAS. for which the bureau
f',At all Ill.
the city been compelled to purchase at
even one-half the price PAID by private
consumers, would have cost $I,6;o,G5l.
AR. Icctch vas careful to select the year
Wnen gas was reduced from 81 - to 81
ana which, of course, showed "A large re-
duction IN the profits; and ne was careful
also not to tell the committee anything
about the large amount taken from the
feceipts Tor the extension and Improvement
OF the gas plant, and nothing of the Sl.G4g.-
ti'l worth Of gas used free for public light
ing, and which, if charged for at the same
rate that citizens paid. would amount to
81. 2G, :;02.
Now. as shown by the above official re-
port, the amount turned into the city treas
ury from the gas works of Philadelphia
during those three years was, as stated
near $3,ooo.eOo. Paid for improvements out
of the profits during the same time, $685.
2iS.Sl and gas for public lighting during
the same time Of the value of 81, 2229 ::;o2
This makes total profit in three years of
s1.349,o'0!
Messrs. Leatci, and McIlhenny were also
careful not to inform the committee of the
important fact that certain portion of
gas is also furnished to the city by a pri-
vate company, as the city works cannot
make enough to supply all the outlying g
suburban settlements; and that for six
years past gas has been furnished to
the city at thirty-seven cents per thousand
feet. Not only that, but when the city
council two years ago appointed a special
committee to investigate and determine
whether that contract should be renewed
or the city should enlarge its plant suf1i-
GENTLY to furnish the whole amount re-
quired. parties offered to furnish il at -
cents per thousand.
Taking gas at thirtyseven cents per 1000
feet. and adding for the cost of distribution
10 per cent given by the acknowledged
authorities, and we have the price of gas at
the burner II $40 cents. Or in round num-
bers. - cents.
And yet these gentlemen told the commit
tee last year that it costs them from 81 OG
to $3.50 to make gas! And that. too in face
of the fact that, as shown in the Senate in
vestisation of 1856. Mr.. McIlhenny then
president of the company, did not claim
that il cost them over Sin cents and that
too, when they We're making from two
thirds to three-fourths OF the gas from coal:
and when. too, he said they had gone to
making water gas because it was cheaper
to make than coal gas, as We all know it is
In that investiga ton Mr.. McIhenny said
to the committee that they could sell gas
for 81 per 1000 and make a profit of fen
cents per 1000.
And yet in the face of the fact that re-
sponsiSle parties stand ready to sell gas for
sixty cents, and put up million dollars for
the faithful performance of their under
taking. these gentlemen soIemnly repeat
that gas cannot be made for 81 per thous-
and!
If they cannot do 1t, then it is high time
they give up the business, and let those who
can, do 1T.
In addition to all this in that inyestipa-
ton. the then president of the gas company
Mr.. McIlhenny, admitted, in answer to uues-
tons of Senator Van Wyck, that of the
resented profits. and not money paid in =,
This can be found on page As of the tesf Hi
mony, Senate report 1850, part 2, first SEES
sion, Forty-ninth Congress.
With this statement of the facts. as shown
by official records, and about which there
can be no dispute, the public and Congress
can judge of the reliability of the state
ments made by the gas company or it's rep
resentatives. w. C. DODGE.
1925 to Baltimore and Return vim
II. and q.
The B. and o. R.R. will sell excursion
tickets from Washington to Baltimore for
all trains Saturday (Washington's birth
day. and Sunday. February ~ and 23. at
the rate of $1.25 for the round trip valid
for return passage until following Monday
inclusive.-Advt.
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