Arizona republican., 1899-06-25
GAS PLANTS CONSOLIDATE
The Old Works Become a Part of inc
 Paoenix Light and Fuel Co.

The old gas works are being moved,
 the Phoenix Light and Fuel company
 having absorbed the business of the
 old company. About all Of the ma
 chinery was moved yesterday and the
 balance will be taken away by Monday
 night. This removal, while unim-
 portant in itself, marks an era in
 the history of cheaper light and fuel
 in Phoenix
 The old gas works were established
 in 1886 by the late James Lacy. who
 came here from Tombstone where he had been engaged in a similar busi-
 ness. MT. Lacy displayed great in
 dustry in establishing his plant and laying the necessary mains. He fixed
 the price of gas at $6 per thousand
 feet, which price remained in full
 force until August, 1S97 A few weeks
 previous to this date Mir Thomas w.
 Pemberton, who had long been a
 heavy stockholder in the Phoenix
 Light and Fuel company, became it's president and general manager He
 brought to his new position of re- sponslbility a thorough business eX- perience gained in that whirlpool of commercial activity, Chicago. He inn
 nedtately conceived the idea of g-v:ng to Phoenix method of obtaining light and fuel at much lower rates than then obtained. After making numer- ous and important improvements in the electric light service of his com pany he turned his attention especial ly to the gas supply The company already possessed the necessary fran ch-se for installing distinct and sep arate gas system. In July of 1897 MT. Penberton began operations and within sixty days he had in place modern gas pE9nt with mains all over the city and had fixed the price of gas at $250 per thousand feet The public while glad enough to avail themselves of this low rate, gave MT Pemberton grudg:ng credit for what he had accomplished. It was the general belief at that time that his intention was to keep the price low until the old company should be frozen out,'' when he would make haste to put the price back to the S6 notch. Time has proved the honesty of MT. Penlbar- l tons purpose. His principal object | was to give Phoenix a cheap fuel. l The popularity of his undertaking en- abled him by October 1. 1898, about a | year after the installing of the sys- l tenn, to reduce the price of gas to S2 i per thousand feet. This last reduc- | tion served to convince the former | skept:cs
 The old company had. in the mean | time, reduced prices also, but the pace | was too swift and one day last Jan uary Mir. Pemberton wrote his per sonal check for a good round sum and | became the possessor of the plant and | franchises of the old gas works. It !, h foxr <I 5f7o4 the final transfer to the Phoenix Light and Fuel company has been made
 Although for fully half a year in ab solute control of the situation, prices have not been raised and there is every prospect that at the. present rate Of increase in the number of con sumers it will he still further reduced, probably to $1.50 per thousand feet, ! which is fifteen cents a thousand cheaper than the rate enjoyed by Los Angeles where there is 3 population of 100000. The present rate is but little higher than that es- taIb.ished in both Los Angeles and Pasadena These points are much nix and freight rates are fully one hird less, greatly reducing the. cost of production in favor of these points.
 Everything considered, the fact shines forth that MT. Pemberton and the company which he represents have kept faith with the public, and there is every indication that they will continue to do So. The plant IS modern in both facilities and man agement and shows no indication of being outgrown by the increasing pop IlaJiOn of the city.
 The few consumers who have. not enjoyed the S2 rate owing to the diff :ulty :n reaching them have the as ;urance that after July 1 they will be nven the advantage of the prevailing lrice
 In carrying out his plans Mir. Pem- ,erton has been ably assisted by Will fam Evans, who is a practical plumb 1T and gas man. MT Evans was en- ,loyed by the old company for a num- )er of years. He has been the me hanical head of the new gas system i:nce it's inception. Nearly every one T town knows "Eflly'' Evans.