Evening journal., 1904-12-16

The Wilmington Gas and Electric
Company has rejected the propositions
which were submitted by the special
co.smittee Of City Council yesterday.
At the regular meeting of Council last
night he committee made this an
ossour ID. pent in a report and recon-
, ended that the only immediate relief
that the citizens can have is by and
through competition. the competition to
be either by granting a franchise to a
responsible company, which is willing
TO give the city more benefits than the
city is now receiving or by the city
itself owning and operating its own gas
and electric lighting plant"
The report was presented by d. w.
Lynch, chairman of the special commit
tee. and was signed by Mr.. Lynch
and John ]. McGovern. B. F.
Spence did not sign it. Council defer
red action on the report for week.
The Gas company's Reply.
The answer Of the Wilmington Gas
and Electric Company to the council
manic committee is as follows:
"Messrs. Daniel w. Lynch, John j. Nc
Govern and Benjamin L. Spence,
Committee.
Gentlemen: Complying with our un-
derstanding that we should put in writ
ing on the following propositions: First,
ing on the following propositions; First,
95-cent gas for Wilmington; second,
five percent. of gross receipts from sale
of gas to be paid into city treasury
third. make satisfactory terms with
the Otto Gas Engine Works. fourth
allow city to appoint a gas inspector
~e nj eur company pay his salary; we
now submit the following:
I'VE know Of no gas company in any
CITY in our vicinity existing under the
same conditions as we are that sells
gas for less than 81. The price of gas is
regulated by the demand and cost of
manufacturing same. and IL it can be
now sold for less than S1.OO per one
thousand Gu. IT. it would be evidenced by
a lower price in cities located as we are;
for. instance there are:
65 companies in New York selling 81
10 s1.75. and 9 companies less than 81.
65 companies in Pennsylvania selling
81 to 50 and companies less than 81.
Q companies in Maryland selling 81 to
S1.5O and / company less than 81.
and Z companies less than 81.
2S companies in Massachusetts selling
81 to 81, and companies less than ST.
"a companies in Michigan selling 81 ia
SIPS, and 3 companies less than 81.
G companies in Maine selling 81 to 81
IS companies in New York selling 81
to $1.SO.
s companies in New Jersey selling 81
to $3.50.
p companies in Vermont selling 81 tc
$3.50.
S1.10 to $1.57.
p companies in Connecticut selling 81
to s14O.
p companies in Virginia selling 81 tc
$3.50.
Why Lower Rates Prevail.
"The low price of the companies II
most Of the above named States is ac.
counted for by close proximity to Goa
and oil and conditions entirely different
from ours. When lower prices exist il
cities situated as Wilmington it will b'
evident that gas can be made and SOLD
for less than 81, and we guarantee yol
will find us in the procession withou
any demands being made upon us by
your honorable body in fact, we hop'
that conditions will warrant the sale O.
gas for less than 81 at no distant day.
'2d. We now believe and always
have believed that there should be som
way devised by which our city shoulC
derive some income other than from
real estate, for. unless something Il
done to relieve property, taxes on rea
estate will become very burdensome.
Just how to realize from othe
sources our mind is not entirely clear
but we assure you you will find u
ready to meet with your honorable bod.
or your committee, with a view of de
vising a scheme whereby the cit.
would receive an equitable portion o
the receipts Of all companies benefits
by city franchise.
But One Price For Gas.
''Sd. We have now and can have bu
one price for gas. We have some man
ufacturing establishments that use