Evening star., 1896-03-18

such thing as the existence Of connecting
gas companies in any cities in this country
one company in a city may furnish gas to
consumers at one price, and another at
another; but they have blacklists SO that
IL man does not pay his bill to one COM
pany the other company will not furnish gas
to him.
Senator Harris-Do you know whether or
rot these dollar gas companies of which
you have spoken have paid, and are paving
dividends; II SO, about what?
Mr.. Mc1lhenny-The Pittsburg company
has paid dividends at one dollar, no doubt.
We do not know how much. But the Phila
delphia company is not making anything
IKE enough to pay interest on its capital
40 not think the Boston company is either
know their bonds are selling at a very low
figure.
The Chairman--Is not that because they
nave very large capital stock, watered
stock to great extent?
MT. McIlhenny-l Go not know about the
watered stock. They have built yery ex-
tensive duplicate works there, adding cost
TO II. l have no doubt, however, that the
Stock STOCK has been watered, but I would not
like to assert it.
Senator Gallinger-There is certainly not
much doubt as to that concerning the Bay
State Company.
Mr.. McIlhenny-Very likely
Prices of Coal.
Senator Faulkner-What is the difference
between the price Of ccal In Pittsburg and
J here?
Mr.. Mc1lhenny-Coal in Pittsburg sells at
about 81 ton, from $1.1O to $3.50.
Senator Gibson-Are there not reasons
why gas must necessarily be manufactured
at greater cost in Washington than in any
other city In the United States?
Mr Mcllhenny-I do not know that II
! would do to say greater than in any other
city. On the Pacific coast coal is very dear.
ana consequently the gas companies there
nave 10 charge higher prices for gas than
| we do. But there is Eo city on the Atlantic
coast 1 think. where it costs more to make
gas than 1t does in Washington.
| here?
Mr. McIlhenny-No. The gas people are
/ paying very high wages
senator Galllnger-What factors are there
entering into the cost of the manufacture of
gas mere as compared with other cities?
Mr.. McIlhenny-One of the troubles here
in making gas IS trat we have no valuable
manufacturing plants in this city, In man.
u1sctur1ng cities like Cleveland, Detroit and
Plttsourg the coke is valuable and can be
used in the arts and ufacturing The
! tar and ammoniacal LIQUOR are worth more
| there than they are here
Senator Proctor-What kind of coal do
you use? =
Mr.. McIlhenny-West Virginia coal and
Pennsylvania coal. = y
Senator Proctor-You say Pennsylvania
| coal; what brand or kind?
senator Faulkner-He means whether
hard or soft. +, -
Mr.. McIlhenny--In making water gas an
| thracite coal is used exclusively. In MAX
| Ing coal gas the West Virginia gas Goals
are used. The Pittsburg or Youghiogheny
Goals are used in connection with West
| Virginia Goals.
Senator Proctor-In' what proportion do
you use these different Goals?
MI Mcllhenny-That could not tell you.
| think the Pennsylvania Goals are used
mostly.
Senator Proctor-By Pennsylvania do you
| mean anthracite? b ~
Mr.. McIlhenny-Noy sir; I mean the
Pennsylvania gas Goals, what we call
Youghiogheny basin COAL
Senator Proctor-You do not use very
much anthracite, then?
Mr. Mcllhenny-oh, yes; there is great
deal OF 1t used. 1t is used for making
water gas exclusively.
Senator Proctor-About what proper. lion
in water gas?
Mr.. McIlhennny-About two-thirds is
water gas made in this city and one-third
coal gas.
Senator Proctor-Do you use more of
coal?
Mr.. McIlhenny-No, sir: because 1t does
not take so much anthracite to produce
1.OOO feet as 1t does of the bituminous for
the reason that the oil is the basis Of the
water gas. 1t is not gas coal. The ether
Is just fuel to make heat; 1t is only fuel;
just like we have to have fuel to make
steam under boiler
The Chatrman-You have examined this
i (Continued on Eleventh Page1