The San Francisco call., 1898-12-23
: CHEAPER GAS
 IN SAN JOSE New Plant Soon to Be in Operation. CUT IN RATES TO FOLLOW CONSUMERS WILL BENEFIT BY THE FIGHT OF RIVALS. She Electric Improvement Company Yet Waging War on the Light
 and Power Corpora
 tion.
CUT IN RATES TO FOLLOW
CONSUMERS WILL BENEFIT BY
 THE FIGHT OF RIVALS.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Dec. 22.-Within a month a new gas company will be in full operation and San Jose will enjoy cheaper light, fuel and power. This is in the nature of a surprise that the Electric Improvement Company will spring on the people and its rival. the Light and Power Company, which for years has mulcted its customers by ex- orbitant rates. The Electric Improve ment people have secretly guarded the matter and not one hundred citizens of the place know that they have erected one of the most complete and up-to-date gas plants on the coast. The works have been tested and mains lalu up San Fernando street nearly to Mar ket street
 The officers of the Electric Improve ment Company were seen at their head quarters to-day and refused to discuss the matter. Manager Edwards refused to give The Call reporter a pass to in spect the plant. A trip to tle works, which is situated alongside the narrow gauge railroad near San Fernando street proved more productive. Here additional property was lately pur- chased ana corrugated iron building. Nlth cement floor, has been erected. In side IS one of the latest improved gas plants, built by the Western Gas Con- 6tructlOn Company of Fort Wayne, Ind. The Lowe process is used and crude petroleum is the chief factor in making gas. There IS mammoth furnace, car borator, washer, cooler, condenser and purlner, similar to plants just put up in San Francisco and Oakland. A gaso- meter capable of holding 10000 cubic feet of gas has been built There are also vast underground tanks for storing petroleum. The capacity of the works Is 1l5,O00 cubic feet per day.
 The operation of the works by the Electric Improvement Company means a great deal for San Jose and Santa Clara County. It is said that the com- pany has secured an option on the oil wells a Moody Gulch near Los Gatos. and will secure petroleum there. The Moody Gulch wells are good ones and have been worked for two or three years. They will now be developed to their full extent. This means a new in- dustry for Santa Clara County.
 The process used by the Electric I'm proVement Company will so cheapen gas that it can be used for power and fuel. This with petroleum the company will furnish will give the city cheap power and enable manufactures to be started.
 A few days ago the works were start ed and the gasOmeter filled, and all found in readiness. Gas lamps were burning at the works to-day. Ten-inch mains have been laid up Otterson street to East, East street to San Fernando and up San Fernando to Vine. The pipes will go up to First street and there branch off in all directions.
 Gas rates will drop. The new com pany will start within a month. The rate now is g 75 per 1000 cubic feet and the new corporation, it is said, will cut this 8 1-3 per cent at the start. The Electric Improvement Company since it came into existence a few years ago has been the means of reducing the price of incandescent light over 200 pel cent and arc lights from $3 50 to $2 each. It has had a bitter fight with the Light and Power Company and come out best every time. It now has the contract for lighting the streets. Bids have been called for lighting the city buildings with gas and here will be the first contest of the corporations on gas.
 A trip among the brokers show that the stock of the old concern has taken a fearful slump during the past few days owing to the news of opposition, and stockholders are trying to unload.
 The officers of the Electric Improve ment Company are: President, F. NJ. Pickering of San Francisco; vice presi- dent, J. A. Hicks; manager and secre- tary, H. J. Edwards. The company has been lately strengthened and it's capital Increased to S1 GOO 900.