Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-01-11
CITY COUNCIL.
Members OF Council were slow in as
ssmbling last night. There were but

BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
II was after O'Clock before the
board was called to order. All the
members were present.
| After tne minutes Of the last meeting
| had osel Tesd and some routine bust
ness disposed of, the report OF the COM
/ pittee on light reducing tie price q
gas 10 81 80 per 1000 feet With per
cent. of every 1000 feet upon prompt
payment was presented by Mr.. Hinken,
chairman OF the committee.
Mr.. Smoot asked if any reduction
had been made Ga gas used for cooking
purpose.
Mr. Hinken replied that there hsd
rot been.
Mr.. Smoot asked is that could not be
done. 1t would prove satisfactory 10
many.
Mr. Hiukeu suggested that any mem
Der could make such a motion.
Mr.. Smoot-"Then I move that the
price OF gas used for cooking purpose.
be reduced TO 81 per 1000 feet"
Mr.. Hsvener-"I offer aH amend
ment-that the price Of gas De reduced
10 81 per 1,0O0 feet ali around. 1t only
costs 50 cents per 1000 to put it in the
holder"
Mr.. Ballenger said he would favor
the movement provided it could 5e
demonstrated to him that the works
conld sub.eq 1ently run in such man
ner Is to meet current expenses, pay 8
satisfactory revenue to the city and
keep UP the plant.
Mr.. Hink4n SAID The committee did
not think all these things could be doae
with such reduction in the price OF
gas.
Mr.. Smoot spoke in favor Of his mo-
tion-reducin-, the price OF cooking gas
to 81.
AIR. Hinken-"That would call for
Mr. Smoot-" We'll, We could procure
them"
"Mr. B3llenger reiterated his conyic-
tons concerning the matter, saying N
would vote for the motion if he were
convinced be could do so with safety
Mr.. Hinken again TOOK the floor aud
made extended remarks concerning the
gas works. he said it cost from IS to
30 cents per 1000 feet to put the gas into
the holder, but large margin should
re allowed for leakage. He could SEE
no profit TO the city il gas were the mo
ton 10 prevail. He had at the meeting
of the committee, however, favored
S1.25 per 600 feet with per cent.
oil for prompt payment.
Mr. Havener suggested that should
=, the committee make so 600 year
they would turn the money into the
treasury aad not put down new pipes
and stop the leaks.
Mr.. Smoot aliuied to the many acct
dents caused Dy the use Of gasoline, and
said were gas furnished cheaper more
people would use it for cooking pur
poses.
Mr.. Marbury thought more none!
should be expended in the repair OF
pipes, scd that all the profits s2ouid
nor be turned into the treasury.
Mr.. Sweeney called attention to the
Few meters, Pipes, fixtures, &C., which
would be required when gas is used fol
culinary purposes.
Mr.. Havener said there was more
revenue from the gas works now, when
gss is 81 10 than when it sold for 81
Mr. Hinken-"Tnere are now more
consumers"
Mr.. Sweeney said be was not at the
meeting of the committee on light Nor
day night, and be was convinced thai
the matter under consideration was one
which could not be satisfactorily settled
il the short space of time which hao
bean given to it. There should De 10
undue haste, but the result OF the move
ment should be calmly considered. He
Intended, however, TO vote Tor the
adoption Of the committees report. h
then went into az exhaustive history
OF the workings Of the gas works show
ing, among other things, that the Wells
bach burners had materially curtailed
many gas bills aud, of course, reduced
the revenue of the works. Many PEG
pie, he said, were possessed of al idea
that all that is necessary is to put the
gas in the holder, aud to furnish it to
consumers at the bare cost OF produc-
ton; but there were many other things
| to be taken into consideration-the in
| terest on the enormous outlay repre-
sented by the works, and the fact ;hat
should they become unremunerative
taxes would have to be increased. Al
exandria, he affirmed, was enjoy
ing gas at as low figure
as most cities. Ee coutended
that Council should wait until the end
of the year, when it would be 10 bet
ter condition to say what reduction
should be made.
Mr.. Hinken said coal was purchased
at lower rate than heretofore, aud
with a proper reduction more gas
would be used aud more money made.
He had always observed that ben the
price had been cut down more money
had been turned ID. He did not, how
ever, favor making il 81, but urged the
adoption OF the committees report.
Dir. Ballenger referred to the fact
that the works had made $4,000 last
year. Were the proposed reduction
made, the city would still realize about
81 900.
Mr.. Sweeney said the works had not
turned Ia SO .OOU, Whlie they mac earn
ed that sum. Between 5000 and
81 900 worth of gas used by the city
was included in that sum.
Mr.. Smoot-"Well, allowing for that
still there were about $1,000 profits"
a vote was finally taken and Mr..
Raveuer's amendment was lost, Mr..
Snoot in the meantime Withdrawing
his N otion after having had CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Sweeney. The report
of tbs committee was then adopted.
Mr. Greene. from the Common Coun