Evening star., 1896-03-18

an opposition company has always been
willing to make a low price In order to
get in, and afterward trust to luck to get
The chairman-what is the price of gas
in Philadelphia?
Mr.. McIlhenny-It is 81 per thousand feet.
believe.
Prices In Other Cities.
The chairman-And what in New York?
Mr.. Mc1lhenny-$1.21.
The chairman-And 81 % in Baltimore?
Mr.. McIlhenny-$1.25.
Senator Gibson-Do you state from per-
sonal knowledge that in all the gas plants
in the United States there is no gas manu-
factured cheaper than 81 per 1000?
Mr. McIlhenny-There are very few gas
companies selling gas as low as 81.
Senator Gibson-Is not the percentage
very small?
Mr.. McIlhenny-I do not think it is 10 per
cent; no. it Is nothing like it.
The chairman-It is 81 in Cleveland?
Mr.. McIlhenny-$1.
The chairman-And in Detroit?
Mr.. McIlhenny-One dollar in Detroit.
1t is also 81 in Pittsburg, Boston and Phil
ade1phia. Really, I am at a loss now to
say where else the price is 81. I do not know
of any other place. I think the price is
81 at st. Louis. No: 1t Is 81 10 In st. LOUIS.
in round numbers, in the United States,
but very few sell gas as low as 81. and
where they do so it is under stress of this
competition, or where the materials for
producing it are very cheap. I have no
idea that the people in Boston are satisfied
themselves with 81 gas, and, in fact, we
know they are not making money out of 1t.
A little over two years ago they had the
price of gas reduced in Brooklyn to 80
cents but very soon the competing COM
panies came together again and set the
price at $1.25. The price is often reduced
for awhile but the competing companies
get together and put the price up again
somehow or other. If you should put the
price of gas down here in Washington you
| here at your doors every day worse than
we are fighting for our rights. They would
want the price put back because they
would say, I'VE are not getting anything
on the capital we have invested and are
not making a sufficient profit out of the
business
What Would Result.
Senator Gibson-As a matter of informa-
ton, let me ask: If this proposed new COM
pany should be authorized to begin busi-
ness in the city of Washington, would it
be necessary to put the mains of the new
company wherever the mains of the old
Company hre located?
Mr.. Me1lhenny-Yes. that would appear
| to he So, but they would not do it. They
| suppo$e, And before they consolidated there
Would be. some understanding with the old
e5mpanieS
tSenator, Gallinger-In your statement
you made the observation that very
small proportion of the companies in this
country are furnishing gas at 81 per 1.0OO.
Have you made estimate as to what
percentage Of the total number of COM
panies, with an output equal to that of
Washington or Georgetown, furnish gas
at 81 per 1000?
Mr.. McIlhenny-For instance, there is
| one company in New York-but I hardly
know how to answer that question exactly.
Senator Gallinger-Let me state 1t again:
Have you made any estimate as to what
percentage of companies, with an output
equal to that Of your company, in this
city, are furnishing gas at 81 That elm
mates the small companies in the little
cities and towns.
Mr.. McIlhenny-The Boston company
| sells great deal more than the company
does in Washington; they are selling it
about four times as much as the Washing
ton company does; they are selling at 81.
The Pittsburg company sells at 81, but not
quite as much as we do.
The Chairman-There has been a consoli-
dation of the gas companies in Chicago,
has there not?
Mr.. McIlhenny-Yes, sir: I believe they
sell at 81 there. They have consolidation
in Chicago; that is known as the Chicago
gas trust.
Chicago Gas Trust.
The Chairman-There are three or four
companies consolidated, If remember cor
rectly?
Mr.. Mc1lhenny-Yes. Five altogether. But
what have said Is true, that there is nc