The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-31
THE TRUTH
Regarding the
Gas Plant.
Mr.. CHILOS TALKS.
Tells The Spy What Clinton
May Reasonably Expect.

Clinton. Dec. S0.-Arthur +. Childs,
treasurer of the Light, Heat and Power
Company, now in control of the gas
and electric light industry in Clinton,
and who is treasurer OF the Clinton
Gaslight Company, was in town today
on business connected with the enter
prise.
By an engagement made with Mr..
Childs several days ago, he met the
Clinton correspondent of The Spy for
the purpose of giving to the public, in
an interview, some idea of the purpose
of the new management and its policy.
This is the first interview that has been
given to the press.
incidentally, Mr. Childs expressed his
entire disapproval of efforts that have
4 been made to give the new manage
Inent a policy that it Knows nothing of
and to tell what it is going to do be-
fore the officials of the company know
what they can do.
TT is our policy" said Mr., Childs
''to make no promises in advance. Es-
pecially we are not prepared to make
promises in Clinton, because We do not
know what can be done here.
Evidence Of our good intention to
the people of Clinton will be given in
deeds and not in words.
I'VE do not contemplate at this time
reducing the cost of electricity 20 per
cent or any other per cent. We shall
not promise to reduce the price of gas,
because at this moment we do not know
what we can do, We are business men,
seeking a reasonable profit on our in
vestment
1.-The price that can be made in either
gas or electricity, depends altogether
upon the amount consumed. The larger
the output, the cheaper the price will
be.
1--WE shall make every effort to in
crease our output, especially in gas,
by giving the best possible service, the
best possible light, and by laying be-
fore the people in an attractive way
the advantages that may be gained in
using our product
When Mr.. Childs was asked if the
Light, Heat and Power Company con-
templates acquiring the gas companies
in Spencer and Webster, he laughed
and replied:
1--WE have never purchased a plant
in a city under 10000 in population.
presume that our people might pur-
chase a plant located reasonably, if the
piLCe were tight nat dpplleS TO OPEN
Ger and Webster ! suppose as well as
TO any other Places
From Mr.. Childs it was further
learned that the Light, Heat and Pow
er Company, through Its chief engineer,
Alfred Clarke. is looking over the local
plant with the view of seeing if it can
be modernized, and the cost of produc-
ton be cheapened, quality for quality.
The company at present manufac-
lures pure coal gas, enriched. The
engineers are considering to ascertain
If high grade water gas may not be
produced more cheaply with better re-
suits to the consumer.
The new management will till field
hitherto uncultiyated. They will push
the use of gas as a fuel. This depart
ment of a modern gas industry has
been almost entirely neglected in town
The company will undoubtedly soon
succeed in getting electricity to the con
sumers a. less price than the consumers
are paying at present; how much less
no member of the company can say
because the basis upon which the rate
must be figured has not been ascertain
ed.
Mr.. Childs conveyed the idea that he
is reasonably certain it will be possible
eventually to make a better price or
gas. He did not say so for publica.
ton, however, because the estimates or
not ready and consequently not before
him
The change of management means
also an increase in the number Of miles
of pipe put down There are severa
thickly-settled localities in town into
which the gas does not reach, that car
almost certainly be served at a profit.
incidentally, Mr.. Childs spoke in {
highly complimentary way of The New
Spy. He said: II know your Mr.
Walker. He has made The Spy an in.
teresting and progressive newspaper
kept it reliable and credit to Worces.
ter county"
The personnel of the Clinton Gas
Light Company remains the same
except that H. N. .Bigelow, resigned
as treasurer, is succeeded by Mr.. Childs
There will be no further changes unit
the annual election in February.
The transactions between the ole
management and the new are the re.
suit Of a business arrangement mutu.
ally agreeable. The best of feeling
reigns on both sides, and there is MOI
and has not been any disposition on the
part OF the new management to crit.
else the plans or the methods of the
old
Mr.. Childs is much better known il
Worcester than he is in Clinton. He i.
related to the Moons by marriage. Geo
K. Blake, president of the Light Hea
and Power Company, is president o.
the Blake Pump Manufacturing Com
pany Worcester
Henry n. Bigelow will, if he desires
retain the position of clerk of the cor
poration, which he has held for many
years. The existing board of direct
ors ig Eli Forbes, John E. Thayer, Her
bert Parker and II. N. Bigelow.