New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-03

rectors Of any corporation is generally acoepeso
by wall Street pretty good proof that thas
corporation Is not inimical TO the interests OF the
Standard OIL Company.
1t was rumored yesterday. the report hnding
MANY believers, that an agreement had been ar
rived at between the Consolidated and MUTUAL
ard the New Amsterdam. the object and aim OF
the slashing of rates being to compel the Stand
ard Gasght Company to assent to merger
with the other companier and that as one I'M
por.ant result Of this agreement the Consolidat-
ed company would be able to achieve Its desire
to establish its gasworks In Astoria, since by
using the tunnel Of the New-Amsterdam COM
pany under the East River, 1t would escape the
necessity OF again attempting to secure at AL
bany legislation permitting it to construct
tunnel OF Its own. There was also theory yes
terday that the whole war was a "put-up job
designed TO depress for the benefit OF insiders
the prices OF the gas stocks. merger OF all the
companies having already been practically ar
ranged; but this theory found little acceptation'
CONSOLIDATED GAS STRONGER.
Consolidated Gas. which lost fourteen points
on Monday was stronger yesterday closing at
1884, net advance OF 1la points. ai'er
having gone as low 112. The common
stock OF the Standard company when is ue"''
in ION the curb" closed at 12O bid 10 ASKED a
decline OF 3 points compared with MONDAY
last quotations. New-Amsterdam closeo a' GA
bid 3sh asked, against 3212G4 on Monday
and Mutual closed at 300 bid. 30 ASKED MUM
days last figures having been 29oqolo.
The city is going to benefit largely by the gas
war Since January l last the gas companies
have been supplying gas to the city for use IN
public buildings, without any specific contract,
NJ o. cents n thousand feet. For the year loto
the contract price was 97l2 cents. but since jan
uary | tn, gas companies have been furnishing
the city with bills the rate or 10 cents
thousand cubic feet. The bills for gas consumed
after May will be at the reduced rate OF %
cents for, although the city has been supplied
with gas at A. cheaper rate than private ndl-
vfduals, II is not expected that any reduction on
the present rate will be made to the city
In 1898 it cost the city $25.315 20 to light pub
lie buildings like the City Hall and the various
courthouses under the care of the Commissioner
of Public Buildings, Lighting and Supplies In
addition. S2O,320 was paid for lighting the
armories. The cost of lighting police stations
hrehouses buildings in parks and on piers as
well as the public schools. is borne by the varl-
GUS departments having these buildings In
charge and is paid out Of their annual appro-
priations so that there is no means or arriving
at the total amount paid by the city for all It's
buildings These various departments have con-
tracts with the gas companies, so that the cut
rate will not benefit them. But because of the
stubbornness of the Municipal Assembly the
city will benefit on the gas furnished to those
buildings under the control of the Department
of Public Buildings. Lighting and Supplies. Six
months ago Commissioner Kearny sent to the
Municipal Assembly for approval form Of con-
tract for the lighting of streets and public
buildings. 1t was held. and all efforts TO get
II passed were futile. Finally the Corporation
Counsel gave an opinion to the effect that the
Municipal Assembly had nothing TO do with
such contracts, and the approval of the Board of
Public Improvement only was necessary.
CITY's NEW CONTRACTS.
Commissioner Kearny had just made all
preparations to relet the contract when the war
broke out. These contracts have heretofore been
let 20 the Equitable. the East River and the
Consolidated companies The Equitable and the
East River now compose the New Amsterdam
company Neither the Mutual nor the Standard
bid for city lighting IA u btiss -"
The contracts for street lighting have not been
let, either. These are let at certain amornt for
each lamp, and the only bidders have in the
past been the Equitable and the Consolidated.
1t is not expected that the war will affect street
lighting. So .-' '.
The only thing in which the city is a gamer is
in the lighting of the public buildings. the
armories and the markets and on this item
saving Of $4,000 a is expected
Gas consumers in Brooklyn are greatly
wrought up over the prospect Of continuing 10
pay 81 10 for gas while their more fortunate
neighbors in Manhattan get as GOOD quality
for 65 cents thousand There is q chance that
the volume of protests against this state OF az
fairs will grow mighty that the Brooklyn
Union Gas Company. which absolutely controls
the situation. Will be obliged TO lower the price
approximately to the Manhattan rate. The
Brooklyn Union Gas Company Is absolutely the
master Of the situation. and the only thing it
has to fear is the displeasure of people who VIII
insist levelling Of prices at the earliest pos
sibe opportunity. General James Jourdan, pres
ident Of the Brooklyn Union company, spent the
day in Manhattan yesterday. He is president Of
the New Amsterdam company, OF Manhattan.
which Will of course. be affected by the war in
rates. Mr.. Stoddart, the treasurer OF the COM
pany. said there was no possibility Of rate
war In Brooklyn. nor any reduction in price
contemplated. Such action, he said. had not
been under consideration, and was not likely to
come up.
The only way out for people in Brooklyn would
be to use electricity. and that is beyond the
means Of poor people If the Union company
had been successful in getting bill passed max
ing the price 81 30 or So a thousand. Brooklyn
people would have been obliged to submit Just
the same All the companies controlled by
the trust save the small Coney Island company
WESTMINSTER WANTS DOLLAR GAS
SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF REDUCTIONS AT HEAR
INes GIVEN RY THE ALDERMEN
Agitation has been begun in westchester County
for cheaper gas At present the New-York subur-
ban Company has monopoly in Mount Vernon.
New-Rochelle and other cities and towns. In Mount
Vernon II charges consumers 81 30 a thousand feet
and the city 81 50 iorstreet lights. The Westches-
ter Gas and Coke Company newly organized
corporation. IL seeking franchises throughout the
county and Offering gas at reduced prices. 1t has
applied for franchises in Mount Vernon New-Ro-
chelle. Pelham. Larchmont and Mamaroneck and
offers street lights in Mount Vernon at SIS 20 each
and 22-candle power Illuminating gas at not more
than 81 % a thousand feet.
The offer was no sooner made than the New
York Suburban Company although II has con-
tract until November at the present rates Of
fered a reduction Two largely attended hear