Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-12
The Growth of the Gu. Bills.

Conclusive evidence of the fact that the
gas bills have increased of late years was
furnished by the table printed in last even
ing's Star. showing with but one excep-
ton the accounts rendered by the gas COM
parry to an individual consumer for every
month from the beginning of 1880 TIC the
end of 1895. seventy-one months in all.
The Stars correspondent in this way shows
that the January bills gradually increased
from So. p to 500: the February bills from
$3.50 to s5.25: the March bills from 1913 to
$40; the april bills from $3.50 to $500: the
May bills from S2.25 to $500: the June bills
from $50 20 500: the July bills from
$50 10 S1.T5; the September bills from
$3.50 to 800: the October bills from SIS
to $4-25: the November bills from $40 to
S5.25 and the December bills from Ska
to 800. There is a lapse in the August
bills, that for 1870 being omitted. while fer
the other years, with one exception,
VIXEN in 1891 it ran up to S2-2j, they are for
the peculiarly uniform amount OF s1.i5 each.
The same increase is. of course, shown in
the yearly totals, being Ss'13 for 1880;
$s5-13 for 1891; $i;.T5 for 1872; s4l-50 for
1889: Sl;;.2-. for 1894. and StT-T15 for 1925, an
increase III six years of over A per cent
over the amount paid in 1850.
There are three possible explanations Of
ing more liberal to the gas company each
year. (2) the consumer is growing more
pTcdigal il. his use OF gas; or 80 the quality
CT gas has become 50 poor that the con-
sImer IS obliged to use greater quantity
III order to obtain relatively the same
amount Of illumination as before. The price
per thousand cubic feet mas remained at a
SIS, discount rate. 1t is a reasonable as
sumption that if the gas Consumers are
growing into the habit Of using more IL
luTniEant at fixed prices they would use
very much more. in disproportionate
ratio in fact. if the prices were reduced,
ard the gas company ought TO realize that
q voluntary reduction OF the price to one
dClIar at the NEST would be a profitable
move. Street car companies have reduced
tfeir prices in other cities both voluntarily
and b. force CT law, and in every case the
result ha5 more than justified the expert
Etnt, for the net profits have increased
owing TO increased patronage This fact
lad a recent Gerf ,stration in the expert
cree of the local herdic line which in ten
months of redut ed fare carried over a mil
lien more pa ssfDgers than in the preceding
twelve months. If it he true as charged
that much of the increased consumption IS
due to increa 5ed pressure on the pipes the
gas company stands confronted with the
success Of it's own experiment as a sub
stan,iai reason why the rates should be re-
cuced
II is evident that in .scme way or other
the people of the District are going to Sc
cure sreedily a better illuminant cheaper
iliurn:nant, and some effective inspection
and supervision both of the quality of
the light and, the pressure upon the pipes
as affecting tire apparent consumption. The
practical obstacles in the way Of securing
the Pc ssage of legislation providing fol
municipal ownership cause many. who be
neve that in such ownership is the idea
solution of the problem, 10 be disposed te
attempt al first to secure direct Legislation
compelling the existing company to recoS
nize and meet the requirements of the
changed conditions in modern public illumi
ration. But If the gas company res.stS
propositions of this sort with the SAND
yigor vita which it would fight the projec
of creating a competing municipal plant
then the radica. proposition will undorbt
edly he presented, and strongly backed bi
local sentiment.