Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-04-11


cubic feei) for the Tree gas burnt by the
city during the last four yeare.
Finally VITA regard TO free gas, had
the committee met us 10 the spirit
which we offered TO meet them we
would have williogly made concessions
which would have been equivalent to
putting gas t. the city. If hereafter
needed, 10 excess oftbe past public con-
sumption, at price equal 20 what IL
will cost the city to produce II. In
priyate conversations with several
members of the Council and at least
one member of the committee, We 80
stated several weeks ego. Such a con-
cession would be strictly 10 eccord with
the letter accompanying, and therefore
constituting part OF, the written
proposition of cur principals submitted
70 Council In which IL was said
We wish'a TO be distinctly
understood that this is not
hard and fast proposition, that
on the contrary, II Is open to
any changes and additions sug.
gested by yourselves or your
committees which will not
substantially vary the financial
risks and obligations which our
principals offer \, assume.
10 regard to the excess public cleo
trio lighting, what we have just said
about excess public gas service applies
10 all respects. Further more, upon
request by the committees, had the
com mittees seen fit to accord Us
Il II.
we would willingly have altered
the language of the proposition
so as to make 1t specific that the ctv
should have SO arc lamps. We supposed
that the general language adopted
would operate to compel us ID furnish
that number oil lamps, for we were in-
formed by member OF the Light Com
mittee before drafting the clause In
question, that during the year last past
the city burnt SO lamps, whereas they
now say that they burnt only 81.
Even had we not so figured at the time
of drawing the proposition, We should
have been as little disposed 10 negotia-
ting with the committees tohsggle over
Ia difference of one half dozen arc
lamps as over q difference of IL, 100
cubic feet of gas 10 one year.
IL is stated somewhere 10 the reports
that we should be charged with taxes
Cd $3.50, 900 in order TO make our offer
compare with results accomplished Dy
the city. Why? The city does not
pay or charge itself with taxes. So by
what right Is 1t claimed, for purposes OF
comparison, that should our manage
uent substitute the city's management,
the city would lose something which IL
does not receive as result of its own
management
Agaio, the execution of the operating
contract does not make US the owners
OF the plaIts aad franchises. Do per.
soDs who lease houses or other proper
" customarily pay taxes on them z
Our understanding OF the law lie, that
had we omitted the exemption clause,
we, as lessees, would not have been
bound to pay taxes on property owned
by the city. The clause was put iD as
matter of precsution to prevent any
possible misunderstanding.
With regard to both the gas and electricity
which our 81 Indicate offer TO furnish free, we
| neither intended, nor did we 10 any way ex-
1
| 10 res riot the city's control over 1t so that
portion could not te supplied 70 charitable
institutions.
1t 10 stated ia the report that the city
) would lose all control over the plants after
the execution Of the contract This state
ment overooks the following cause IN our
propo stlou, which we are Of cOurse willing 10
, | modify in any suitable way.
y "For the further protection Of the city's in-
: terest, the Finance Committee and the Gas
5 Light Committee Of the City Council, either
or both, shall have the privilege ssmi-sa-
7 nually Of examining the operators accounts
. | relative to sales Of gas and eeclri;ity In the
. | city and relative to repairs, renewals, better
mepts and extensions and Of inspecting the
, plants. They shall also have the privilege Of
I making like special examinations and iDspec'
tions whenever directed by the City Courcil.
y | The meters, or other instruments used BY the
Z | operators for measuring gas and electricity
, consumed 10 the city shall at sll times be
opeped 10 inspect on by members OF ssd COO :
mittees or any person or persons appointed
1, for that purpose by the City Council"
Another statement made in the reports to
{ which we take exception 10, that we pay
| nothing for the franchises We pay nothing
, for the title to the franchises, because the
, title to the franchises does not pass to us.
But for the use of the franchises during tho
life of the operating contract We consider that
We have offeTe very handsome Ielt The
amount which we offer TO pay annually is, We
submit, much In excess OF what the city
makes from its own use Of its franchise, and
much more than any outsider has ever before
offuei the city for the use OF its franchises.
Let US add together the principal annual
returns which the city will receive, convert
ing, for purpose OF comparison, free cleo ricity
and free gas into terms OF money upon the
same basis that the committee has seen fl to
adopt in making similar estimates for The
years 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1871.
Electricity for street lighting
per annum "A of "2l, 79214) 3 5,446O3
Electricity, the sale Of which
| to the Southern Bail way has
beep lost, thereby increasing
cost OF operation ss above, 10000
100000 feet of free gas per
snnum offered the city, which
for the purpose Of far compaIi.
SON with the committees figures,
mult be taken at their vslua-
ton, which is, as above shown,
S1.34 4-10 per 200 cubic feet 4 ,300s0
10 cents on the / 600 feet Of
Gas, which, IL asked. 100 would
haze guaranteed, and Wiu nOV
0ssarealee, tCiH not be Less than 40
cents per / 900 on ~, 1916, 500
cubic ieet ger snnum, or, 2,o19.e5
Interest saving at per cent.
on 10000 for gas and $12,-
nun " ~ $4,000
Saving on gas bi Is OF private
consumers OF 20 cents per loo
feet Of 2O196 500 cubic feet
sboys ' !. sus,snteed) 4,Os9s3
Total $17637. ST
II we figure the value Of gas given the city