The evening times., 1896-02-27
Hearing Given BY the House
|. District Committee.
NEW CoMPANY's PROMISES
Incorporators of the, Columbia Con-
cern Tell the Members of the Com
mittee What They Are willing to
DO-Cheaper nnd Better Light, Of
fered-Natural Gas May Be Used.


Company, which proposes to manufacture
and sell gas for Illuminating and fuel pur-
poses.
Among those present were Hon. W. T.
Marshall, ]. N. Pew, Z. o. Emerson. and
Thomas s. Bigelow, of Pittsburg, some
of the incorporators; President Tucker and
Ex-President FrlZzell, OF the Northeast
Citizens Association; Col. Sands, and others.
Representative W. A. Stone made some
Introductory remarks. stating the incor-
porators were among his constituents. men
of high standing and considerable means.
They had had years OF experience In hand
ling both artificial and natural gas. and had
never sold or consolidated a company which
they controlled.
at is evident" Mr.. Stone said, that
Washington should have better gas at
cheaper rates. There is but one company
here, and the only practical way in which to
secure the desired end Is by competition"
LARGE BOND OFFERED.
His people were perfectly willing to give
bond in any snIn-three or four mllllon
dollars If necessary-to furnish gas at
satisfactory prices, without selling out,
buying or pooling.
In addition to supplying superior grade
of gas, the proposed company will agree to
furnish natural gas for fuel purposes. The
iDcorporators have such confidence in the
existence of natural gas in Virginia that
they Will contract to develop and pipe it to
this city. They will find the gas or lose
a million or two of dollars in the effort.
Mr.. Stone argued at length in regard to
the power of Congress to make 1t oondi-
tion OF the contract not TO sell q controlling
interest in the stock Under pain OF for
fc;ture and confiscation. He said il Con-
grcss had the authority to give. it also pos
sessed the right to take away.
Joseph y. Pew said the best Illuminating
gas is made by enriching coal gas with oil
from the Ohio field. In New York g.
candle power is supplied by this process and
its superior quality is u matter OF general
comment.
In reply 10 q question from Mr.. Babcock.
Afr. Pew said that high candle power gas,
produced by being enriched with oil. did
not give any more smoke. odor. .inflammab!e
or noXious matter than a sixteen candle
power gas. He mentioned New York. Brook
lyn, Chicago and Boston as instances OF
cities benefited by competition.
BENEFITS OF COMPETITION.
Mr.. Mines said that in Detroit for years
the price OF gas was $l.CO per tbous sand.
But eventually a competing company was
permitted to enter the city. and now the
price is so cents per thousand, and the
quality OF gas far superior to that pre-
viously supplied.
In reply to a question from Mr.. Cur
tis, Mr.. Pew said it would cost more to
manufacture gas here than in Pittsburg. and
thereartficial lgasrctaiiedat S per thousand
net He would be well satisfied to furnish
it here at that price,.
Mr.. Pew did not agree with Col. Stone,
that it would be safe "a contract to bring
natural gas from Virginia at this time. al
though it might be feasible in the future.
Col. Stone said he had based his promise
upon the assurance OF Mr.. Meredith that
everything could be found in Virginia.
"Yes. everything good" responded Mr..
Meredith.
Mr.. Marshall read a letter from the
city comptroller of Pittsburg stating that
Mr.. Pew had been in the gas business
there for twelve years and had faithfully
complied with all laws and regulations.
PIPES IN THE POTOMAC.
Mr.. Bigelow stated that he had nothing
a special act of Congress would be necessary
to allow pipes for natural gas 10 be laid
in the Potomac.
Mr.. Emerson said he had been asso-
ciated with Mr.. Pew for twenty years in
the gas business. He had sufficient conf
dence in the good Judgment. integrity, and
uprightness of Congress TO do what Is right.
"You do not refer to the Senate now. do
rn1 hut. Nr
was diplomatic enough to hold his peace.
Mr.. Pew thought the price of seventy-five
cents per thousand to private consumers
and sixty cents to the government was too
low, but If the committee considered it
reasonable his company would be satisfied.
General Manager Leetch of the Washing
ton Gaslight Company introduced Capt
Henry White of New York, who, he said.
was probably the greatest gas expert living.
CALLS IT A FALLACY.
Capt. White said the proposition to fur
nish better gas at cheaper prices Is the
greatest fallacy OF the age. He said the
natural gas people had made fortunes in
the West, and now seek TO take from the
artificial gas manufactures what little
remains to them.
Capt. White doubted the sincerity OF the
new companies. In the city of Washington.
he said. are 800 miles or gas mains. and no
new company would come in here and
parallel these mains. The best paying
streets would be selected, and the others
neglected. This city, he said, is one OF the
five best lighted cities in the United States.
Asked to mention 4 city worse lighted than
Washington Capt. White mentioned Phila
delphia, and said that place was not sur
passed for poor gas anywhere in the country.
He claimed that the present company has
one of the best plants in the world and
was furnishing gas here as cheap as it could
be done without loss.
INFERIOR TO NEW YORK GAS.
Col. Stone cross-exanlined Capt. White
and brought out the admission that the gas
furnished here was inferior to that of New
York, which he said is the best in America.
In concluding his remarks Capt. White
rather rubbed it in on the committee by
expressing his amazement at the prop
osition to tear up all the streets of this
beautiful city, when Congress possesses the
power to regulate the price and quality of
the gas without the destruction and incou-
x,opiopca