The evening times., 1899-11-25
TEE new YORK GAS war
General Interest in the Fight Be,
tween the Companies.
Fear That a Return 10 the Old &1.1O
Rate VIII BE Madeleine Concern
Refuses Longer to Sell It's Product
for 50 Cents-RumOr That the
Standard OIL Monopoly Controls.

The progress of the gas war in New
companies, municipal officers, and business
men generally throughout the country. 1t
is now believed that a general attempt
will be made by the various gas compan-
les of the city to advance the rate of gas
from 80 cents thousand feet. the present
rate TO si.10, the old price before the war
was inaugurated One company has al
ready taken this step, and there is general
gossip in New York that the others are
TO follow suit. 1t becomes evident, how
ever, that there will be strenuous efforts
by consumers to prevent this general re-
turn to what are believed by many 10 he
extortionate prices.
The gas war" began several months
ago. it is said, in an effort TO compel Rus-
sell Sage TO sell out his large holdings in
some of the companies. Prices We're re-
duced by first one company and then an
other to 80 cents, and then to 90 cents III
addition 10 this cut of more than oo p%r
cent in the price the companies oneiea
various inducements in the way of paint
burners, and even gas stoves, TO get GUS
somers from each other. Up TO that time
only the consumers had benefited by the
war 1t was said that gas at 90 cents Win
patent burners was losing business 10
the companies. Some consumers doubted
this, and others said that 5o-cent gas was
at least more near the equitable price than
sl.I0 gas.
The stocks OF the various concerns went
down in price many dollars share, anu
specuIators and investors lost large sums o.
money. few who knew in advance that
the cuts would occur sold the stocks
short and made profits
The Consolidated Gas Company reduced
it's dividend from SIS a share per annum
10 81 share, cutting the income of ITS
holders in two.
Rumors have been circulated every few
weeks since the beginning OF the war that
It's end was near. but they have all ap-
proprately been for stock jobbing purposes.
The Gas stocks advanced in price and then
declined when the Enmors were denied
The first real indication Of the end OF
the fight occurred last Thursday when the
Amsterdam Company went back to the old
rate.
1t was stated yesterday morning that be-
ginning with December ] customers would
again be charged 81 for their gas. A big
jump in the price of the gas stocks oc-
CURED on Thursday ard yesterday morning,
but the prices tumbled again later yester-
solidated Company had held a meeting and
failed TO change the rate. The quarterly
dividend of 81 share was declared, which
many understood to mean that the compa-
ny intended to continue the low price in
definitely.
1t is stated on what seems to be the best
authority. that the Standard Oil magnates
have secured control of all the New YORK
gas companies, and that despite the SEM
blance of fight still kept up there is now
nothing left OF it except the chagrin of the
people that attempted to cope with the big
monopoly. The continuance of the cheap
rate by the Consolidated Company is va
riously construed. 1t is limited, however,
that it will be quite possible for this COM
pany to cut down its production to mini
mum and turn its business nearly all over
to the other companies. In this way it will
preserve the sembiance of fight for polit-
ical stock iobbing or other purposes and
at the same time the Rockefeller people
will be able to reap all the reward of high
priceS.