The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-23
JOHN R. M'LEAN'S Views
He Considers the Present Price of
Gas Reasonable.
The President OF the Washington
GnsIiGht Company Reviews Recent
Legislation ON the Subject md
Declares the Compnn, WINS Put to
Much Expense in ODE, ing the Law.

The Commissioners yesterday received a
reply from John r. Mclean. President OF
the Washington Gaslieht Company. in re-
| Spouse to their request for statement re-
| garding the views OF the gas company en-
! the bill which mas been introduced in Con-
! gress for the amendment of the charters
Of the companies in this city in order to
COMPEL the latter to pay to the District
one-half OF their annual receipts less per
cent Of the total Paid-up capital STOCK:
! also that the price OF gas in the District
OF Columbia in the future shall be - cents
Der thousand cubic feet, and that the in
| spectors OF gas metres of the District
should have the right to COMPEL the COM
pany to maintain a certain standard of gas.
As soon as the bill was received the Com
! missOners stated that they desired to Sc
cure the views of the people of the District
and the officers of the two gas companies
the bill wonld affect
In his reply Mr.. Mclean gives a state
ment of the action of Congress in 1895
when a bill for the purpose of securing
cheaper gas was introduced and passed.
He says that after a thorough inyes;iga-
tion of the resources OF the company re-
port was made by the committee having
the bill in charge to the effect that the
company was furnishing the citizens of the
District good gas. and that the prise sho I'D
be reduced to sl.l0 per thousand cubi, feet
net instead OF s1.25. which was charged be-
fore that. This price was TO remain fr
five years, and in 1901 the company would
be required to furnish gas at 81 per thou
sand cubic feet to all customers. In the
reduction bill it was provided that the
company should furnish gas to the District
government for 81 at all times.
ITO meet this large reduction in the
price OF gas" MIR Mclean states and
very serious reduction in the revenues of
this company, it became necessary for the
officers of the gas company TO consider and
decide upon measures TO enable 1t to carry
out the abovenamed agreement entered
into by act of Congress. To this end and
with an ondeavor to reduce the cost of
production. it was determined to build an
entire new Lowe water gas plant at our
West Station Works. which has been done
at an expense OF over $l5OOG0. Since the
passage by Congress OF the above named
act. this company has faithfully. and we
believe, to the satisfaction of the Honor
able Commissioners. carried out its part of
the contract thus entered into. both TO pr'-
Vate and public consumers OF gas the latter
including the street lighting
THE problem which is now presented to
the future management OF the gas COM
Dany is serious one. II is not how to re-
duce the price OF gas but rather how 1t
may be able to meet its obligations under
the agreement entered into as named above
during the unexpired time. or until July
l. 1901. There has been an unexpected
and extraordinary increase in the price Of
every kind of material needed and used
in the production and distribution of gas,
an increase of from so to 200 per cent; this
includes all kinds of pipes and fittings.
coal and oil. Coal mas largely advanced
in price from what It has been for two
years past. Naphtha. of which We use near
ly 100000 gallons annually, has Increased
in price so much as to make il serious
question with us as TO our ability to carry
out our obligations under the above named
agreement and at the price named without
serious loss TO the company"
IL conclusion Mr. Mclean states that he
does not think the Commissioners should |
report fayorahly on the measure after be- |
ing possessed OF the above facts