The morning times., 1896-02-13
EXTENsIoN oF MAINs

Owing to the extensive use OF asphalt for
street pavements in Washington, and the
great width OF many OF the avenues ard
streets the cost OF laying mains is in
creased from three to five times more than
the same work would cost " here there is
brick or cobblestoDe used, and the District
government reserves the right to make re-
pairs to all other brick payemeDts-
By an United States statute we are
bound to lay gas mains wherever streets
areimpruved ON order of the Commissioners,
and where streets are of unusual width
a main on each side, at a large expenditure
of money without reasonable hope of COM
pensation until such improved streets are
occupied.
1t is only necessary to call the attention
! OF business men To the problems presented
to the management of the gas company in
the near future to understand the difficult
ties in the way OF making such reduction
in the present price OF gas.
Cost OF replacing street pavements when
cut: Sheet asphalt, So per square yard;
granite block, S1.55 per square yard; cob
blestoae, 40 cents per square yard.
EFFECT OF REDUCTION IN PRICE.
Taking the above as a basis of expendi-
ture for one year in the production and
distribution, of say, 900 600 900 cubic feet
OF gas, it will be rea dily seen that any con-
siderable reduction from the present price
of gas, as now charged for private con-
sumption and for street lighting-viz: 81 20
net per 1000 cubic feet for private con-
sumption and $20.50 per lamp per annum
| for street lighting would result in serious
| loss tO the gas company. As, for example,
! suppose that your honorab bic committee,
| after q full investigation into ali matters
| pertaining to the price OF gas in Washing
ton as compared to prices charged both for
| public and private uses, with a careful
comparison of all the circumstances and
conditions pertaining thereto, should de
| eide to report that hereafter, say for the
term of five years, the price of gas in
Washington city as furnished by the Wash
ington Gaslight Company shall not ex.
ceed $1.25 gross, less 10 cents per 600
| cubic feet discount if paid within seven
| days from date of bill.
| From this you will read Oily see that 10
/ cents reduction would reduce the net re-
! ceipts on the basis of a consumption OF
| 900 600 900 cubic feet 100000. aud the
reduction of the gross charge of $3.50 as
now, per ,00O cubic feet, TO S1.25 gross,
would make On the aggregate about S10o,-
| 600. This amount of loss is upon the
presumption that the present price. $50. 80,
for street lighting, remain as now To
reduce the price as suggested in the bill
before you to 81 per 1000 cubic feet
would result in n loss to the gas company
on The above basis OF output, to S225,G00
per annum, thus absorbing the entire
amount necessary 10 pay the dividend on
the capital stock, and $4,000 of the
sum required to pay interest on the bonded
| Indebtedness.
Mr.. Leetch, in concluding, assured the
committee that the gas company woulC
he glad 10 permit the committee to in
spect its books at any time. but would not
throw them open to public incuisition OF
the part of Unauthorized persons. Will
this the hearing came to close.