Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-01-11
COMMUNICATED.
THE PRICE OF GAS.

II a man is required to pay more for
a bushel of potatoes this year than he
has had TO pay for many years past,
and has no more ways of making q
dollar than formerly, his meal (as
nearly every one eats potatoes at least
once q day. is not more relished by
reason of having cost 80 much. So it Is
with many other things. Reference
was made a few days ago to the COM
mittee on light having awarded the
cootract for gas coal, the lowest bidder
placing q value OF $3.50 per ton on bis
coal. This Is one cent more than in
1894 when the price paid was 50 So per
ton, and gas then sold for $l.424 net
per thousand feet. This was the price
Of gas until March 1895 when it was
reduced to $l.33 net. and again 10 June
1899 to 81 20 net. There was in 1889
a sharp reduction 10 the price of coal,
and In the latter year it was purchased
for 1924. This reduction in price was
seized upon by some OF our fellow
townsmen as an opportune time to try
and get something for nothing, and with
that com mendable spirit OF liberality
characteristic OF some people $50, 900 was
offered for the gss works and the electric
light works. The absurdty OF the
proposition was so great that its
reference to a committee was giving 1t
unnecessary dignity. An election for city
officers and couocilmen was Only few
months off and the o.called smallpox OF
that year had not been vacoinated into
the body polite up to January l, 1899
Cheap gas some thought would serve
as "a good enough Morgan" TO win
with. The committee on light on Jan.
uary 10th reported bill reducing gas
to 81. 80 with per cent. of for prompt
payment. A very amusing debate fol-
lowed and gas was indeed cheap for
awhile 10 council. Amendments were
offered, one member saying III you can
take off ten cents YOU can take of
more" dollar gas" was considered
a good campaign war cry, A member
from the Third ward said "if the price
was too low it could be raised" and
was replied to by a member from
the Second ward with "the Lord help
the member OF Council who does it,"
and 80 1t went on.
As is generally the case some men,
bers kept their heads, and some held
their tongues, knowing that Others
whose gas product was more 10 four
days than theirs in q year, were 10
engaged 10 trying to give gas away;
that II the city should reduce the price
Of gas too much 10 would have to 10.
crease the taxes; that it was entitled to
fair return from the gas works as one
Of It's asses and that coal. iron, labor
and many other things that enter into
the manufacture. distribution aon
management OF gas should be reokoned
with az to the future sn1 not upon
lines suggested by grssping, designing
men or demogogues. The city now
pays 81 80 more for each ton of coal tnan
it old three years ago, everything else
costs more Including labor and the city
sells gag Tor thirteen cents lees Der
thousand feet. II is bad policy TO low
er TIE scale OF prices when the market
is advancing; tse careful merchant or
business mau never does it. Municipal
management should keep as near the
Ideals OF private management as pos
sible. Legislators 10 some matters
should make haste slowly. Look be-
fore you leap" is as true today as when
first written. The gas works have palo
iato the city treasury S25, 900 10 the
three years ending May 81, 1901, be-
sides furnishing light for city purposes.
bus must pay for coal what the rail-
road-mine owners demand now. II the
combine ion breaks, individuals may
reap the benefit, and however much
cheap gas should be desired, the CON-
mittee on light will be. and 1t is believed
can be, depended upon 20 avoid all
chimerical schemes, even should the
halo Of plausibifily surround them.
Gas is no more enjoyed because cesl Ia
high, than are potatoes, x.