The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-26
Gorc Information Wanted.

Editor Of The Times.
ar.-lursuius AN admirable policy, tie
RetrenChment and Reform Committee ~
inc city Council are systemAucaliy ahu
lt detail taking UP each and every or-
partmeut Of the city government. IN reiA-
ton 10 salaries. iu earnest cndeaNor 10
devise some mctho. by which the city $
current expenses may be cut down. lney
have done. ana are doing, their simple
duty, for city % live beyond ITS .esit-
mate income is not less deplorable than
for an individual 20 do 80. There IS, how
ever. another committee. appointed under
resolution OF The Common Council. and
composed of the COMMITTEES on Lisht and
Finance TO consider the matter of The
sale or lease Of the Gas Works. and their
present status. ETC., that has not yet act-
ed The result OF that investigation Us
awaited with interest. The resolution
under which this matter Is referred, Is as
follows.
lie it resolved. That the matter here
tof0re referred TO "a committee composed
az the Committees on Light and Finance
i'm relation 90 the SAFE OF lease Of the
City Gas Works. and this day reported on
to this body. be and is hereby referred
back 20 said committee. with instructions
that the committee investigate the pres
emit status OF the Gas Works. showing its
necessary to put the works In good Zee
pair. with an modern improvements ana
advisable cond tions. the cost Of running
the works. -includug depreciation. con-
struction and interest on the money in-
vested in the works, the quality ana cam
die power Of the gas now furnished to-
gether with any other matters deemed
material by the committee or hy the
parties appear ng before 10 10y petitions
referred to 20 from this body.
Tho parties who are applying for the
purchase or lease of The Gas Works shall
have at least three days notice OF any
meeting Of the committee. and shall have
the privilege ~ having am expert % make
an examination or the Gas Works and the
matters herein referred 10. and may
make their report OF such Investigation
10 tho committee. The committee shall,
after it has made tho investigation here.
in ordered report 10 tho Council az fits
regular March meeting the result m Cos
invo tiglt.on and the adyisabLity of sol'-
Ing or leasing the City Gas Works. too
pother with any reports that may Dee
made 10y or 20 tho committee on the mat
ter referred to IT, The parties applying
for the lease shall pay the cost OF in-
vostigating tho Gas Works.
This resolution is broad. comprehensive.
and explicit in it5 provisions. and gives
nm opportunity Tor q thorough and cN-
h1ustive investigation Of the whole qucs-
tion-an Investigation that viii show exc
artv how the city stands in relation 10
those works. whether they are source
OF profit or loss.
III may be that The publications hereto
fore made. touching this question. do not
give AN that tho public should know. or
desire 20 know. on the subject. Among
them arc some statistics from tho annual
report Of Superintendent Knowles for
1896 From this we have:
Total receipts from al sources. SSS 81
Total disbursement for works.. 1856 o9
Excess or apparent prOht.......S f6. $50 ~
From THIS 10 would seem that the city
cleared on The Gas Works 1892 ~ in
excess Of the gas used for public pur-
r0sos. But 20 make a proper estimate OF
the cost 10 the city the total disburse-
mont for p1v-r0ll coal. oil. and expense.
SOS 51f 0q. as given above. and extensions
Sl5.13i54. together with a reasonable in-
tercst. say $4,000. must Doe taken into con-
siderati0u. The tOtsl Of these amounts
make Slsi2l0f3. az against total receipts,
Sl1f SS25i. making a deficit Of H3,2 j..
II win also be- seen from the figures
published from the superintendent ro-
port that the tOt1i consumption of gas
for private and public uses was l93l9l.2h0
cubic feet and that the total disburse-
mcnts charging interest. should be $si-
27Ne. consequently tho average disburse-
menis and receipts per lo00 cubic feet for
am gas 10 tho city IS as follows.
cost per 100 cubic foot............ o. 3S-i00
Receipts per loco cubic feet...... 90 52-ioo
Loss 10 city per 900 cubic feet. 4 S6-io0
II is solf-cvident proposition that in-
tcrost ON any moneys invested in business.
whether 90 be private or public should
be % charge against that business. then
why is the interest IN this case not
charged against The Gas Works.
By actively carrying ont the spirit o.
the resolution NJ the Common Council
tho committee may discover many things
which would ORE Of material interest %
the c'ty. and in no way c1n there Boo any
injury from it However excellent The
condition ~ orr ras plant. yet there may
sfIll Pc something 10 De done in tho
way ~ improvement. ana ~ there is iet
/ The people know o..
BETRENCHMENT
Richmond Va. Fob. o.. 1897.