The Worcester spy., 1899-04-16
WANT CHEAP Gas.
Watching the Reck-
less Meter Makes
People Wan.
MUNICIPAL PLANTS.
Mayor Van Wyck's State
ments Cause a
Sensation.

municipal gas plant, gas consumers
themselves believe that at least dollar
gas is a most urgent necessity.
At the present time Worcester pays
$110 per thousand cubic feet for her
gas, and this rate has been in operation
for several years, the regular terms be-
ing $125 per thousand cubic feet, with
Is cents discount Time was when the
city of Worcester paid S1.70 per thou
sand, but people cite other cities in the
country where people are now paying
81 or less.
The recent utterance of Mayor Van
Wyck of New York in recommending
municipal gas plant by which gas
can be manufactured with profit to the
city at 70 cents, has precipitated a pan
ic among the gas manufacturers of that
city, and given great encouragement to-
the advocates of cheaper gas.
The Worcester Gaslight company
which has exclusive control of the To-
cal gas consumption, was incorporated
in 1851 for $5O000O, and now pays re-
gular dividend of per cent. Since
President Charles l.. Lamson took
charge there have been several reduc
tions. Few knew the New England
territory as regards the operation of
gas so thoroughly as President Lam
son. For many years prior to his con-
nection with the local company, he
was closely identified with the Boston
gas companies, and today he enjoys
the honor of being the president of the
New England Association of Gas Man
ufacturers When he came here gas
was $1.50, and since then there have
been reductions as follows; To $1.40
then to $1.25, later to $1.15, and last of
all to $l.10, the present rate. With the
lowest rate in effect the gaslight COM
pany has paid its dividend of 8 per
cent on its capital stock of $500, ,000
with ease
Since the reduction in price, there
has been a tremendous increase in the
amount of gas consumed by the people
Of the city, and business men argue
from the facts of the past, that with
the rate at 81 per 1000 the gaslight
company would more than counterbal-
ance the decrease in price by the en-
ormous increase I'm consumption.
While many people are sparing in their
consumption of gas today, the dollar
standard would unloosen the purse
strings of many q householder, and
there would cease to be that wan, tor
tured expression which comes from
anxiously watching the meter.
| Few who have not been in the bust
ness and had full opportunity to un-
derstand the intricacies of the manu-.
facture, can appreciate the tremendous
profit that the gas companies reap.
Charles A. Kittle, formerly of the New
| York East River Gas Company, has
been staying with a relative on West
street in this city for several days, and
| from his experience in the manufac-
ture of gas his statements bear great
weight. Being manufacturer OF gas
himself, he does not hesitate to say
that dollar gas or even cheaper gas in
sures a large profit to the producer.
Mr.. Kittle stated in the course of his
discussion of the problem of cheaper
gas: "It is matter Of record that the
East River Gas Company supplied It's
customers and the city with gas dur
| ing the twelve years | was at the head
for 81 per thousand cubic feet The
company made and delivered the gas
on q basis of 46 cents per thousand feet.
This included all expenses Of manufac-
| ture and distribution, the leakage and
condensation amounting to about or
| 10 per cent, and every item of expense
except the interest upon the bonds,
| Gas can be made much cheaper today
than then. / would be glad to have
| long contract with the customers Of
the city and the municipality to sup
ply gas at fifty cents per thousand
, cubic feet, and I will guarantee to get
sufficient capital to undertake the en-
| terprise if the city will deliver such a
contract.
This will include all expenses for ac-
curing sites for plant and gasometers,
| interest on bonds and every other eX-
nense. l merely ask for a contract to
! furnish gas for so cents. Since retir-
ing from active participation in gas ar
fairs. | have kept closely in touch with
the subject, and am now interested IN
| gas companies in the west, Where we
/ supply gas at rates that would seem
ridiculous to New Workers, ana yet we
! find a profit in it. | have made care
fuI calculations of khe sum for which
gas can be made and distributed. These
| figures were for syndicates who pro-
nosed entering the field in large cities.
"There are two methods of making
gas, the Hastings process, Whlch EN-
ploys soft coal, and the usual hard coal
| or Lowe process now used Dy tue sas
company here 1 prefer the former pro-
cess because it IS less expensive, soft
! coal having the advantage Of produc-
! ing at the start five candle power more
! than hard coal, and therefore does not
require so much naphtha or petroleum
! oil to produce the same Illuminating
4 power. Here is an estimate on a plant
| making 100000 cubic feet per day by
! the Hastings process, using soft coal
! on every additional 100000 feet there
| is something saved in labor and the
| cost is less.
| For twenty candle power of $50 Brit
! ieh thermal units. Fifty pounds soft
coal at S2.7j per ton, 6.8l cents; three
/ gallons oil, at 3 cents per gallon,
! cents; labor 1.-TWO shifts at Sl5 each or
1 $50 per day. so cents; publication, etc,
/ $40. 40 cents; total cost per 1000 feet,
Sl6S7 cents.
"Thus at a little less than II cents
per 1000 feet. gas made by this process
! can be made and put into the holders.
/ BY the Lowe or hard coal process the
/ cost is about cents moreS or p cents
per 1000 cubic feet.
! These figures are for the manufac-
ture. and they mean that for the sums
mentioned gas could be put into the
] holders. The cost of distribution, col
1 lection and the allowance for leakage
and condensation depend greatly upon
/ circumstances. but under the most
/ dfsadvantagaOus conditions gas could
/ be sold for fifty cents and a good profit
/ be made.
| Instances Of cheap gas are numer-
| Gus. but / need only to say that in
/ Louisville, KY. they are supplying gas
/ for fuel purposes at 30 cents per thou
sand feet This is to take the place Of
/ shortage in the natural gas there.
and by means Of incandescent burners
I can be used for Illuminating purposes,
as well as the ordinary hard coal gas.
| While personally still interested in
| private gas companies I cannot help
! realizing as a private citizen, that the
municipality should own and operate
its own gas works. These figures / have
given will show the great economy this
would mean 20 the city Of Worcester.