Evening journal., 1904-07-29


asked.
Mr. Mitchell spoke Of being visited by
William Lawton, the president Of the
Board Of Trade and Of the latter's de-
! claratiOn that the gas company was
going to cause the Board OF Trade 20
lose the industry. AS result, he
wrote to the Otto people stating that
the price of gas to all was 81 per one
thousand cubic feet, and that the
company would modify the previous
terms to the satisfaction of the engine
works. He said his company did not
wish the city to lose the plant and had
done an it could Mr. Mitchell said he
was ready to renew the proposition to
the gas engine company.
Two Gas Plants Would Not Pay.
w W. Lobden, a director Of the gas
company, said as he was an owner of
property In South Wilmington he would
be benefited II the Otto concern should
locate its plant there. lie declared that
there was a prejudice against the con-
Germ because consumers think their gas
bills are too high. He said many per-
sons contend that their bills are now
as high for the month as they formerly
were for the quarter. He thought il
the matter it had better do so with It's
eyes open. He declared that represen-
tatives Of the Otto concern had look
ed over the ground here long before
Mr. Crozier took charge Of getting the
project here.
Mr.. Lobdell said there had never been
the slightest disposition on the part Of
the gas company to hold up the Otto
concern.
He said he had been informed that
the industry could erect plant for
furnishing its own gas for at least $780,
600.
Two gas companies Mr.. Lobdell con-
tended, would not pay here. There are
two things. he said i'm which there
must be a monopoly, gas and water.
1t would cost from Si,OOO 900 to $780,
600 FOR a concern to go into competition
with the local gas company. lie asked
why it would not be better for the OF
to people to put up their own plant or
make arrangements with the local con-
Germ instead Of paying 100000 for a
tract and not using it. He declared
that the revenue from the manufac-
ture of gas is lower than most people
suppose, and he went on TO speak Of
the discomforts from streets being
wi % hH NilN HidAAAA tllANAAAtANus
Mr.. Mitchell was reminded that he
had not answered Bishop Coleman's
question relative to why the gas COM
pany had not put its proposition I'm
writing. He said that he had been in
formed by the Otto people that they
would not want gas before December.
, He preferred to wait and give a more
definite proposition than the first one.
but before the board OF directors could
act the letter had arrived from the OF
to people saying they would have moth
ing further to do with the gas COM
pany.
Mr. Marvel in answer to question,
said Mr.. Mitchell told the committee
when IL called on him that the COM
mittee could dictate the contract if ii
was not satisfactory
Mr. Sparks asked IL the franchise was
wanted for the Otto Gas Engine Works
or some other corporation. MT. Mar
vel answered that it was not for the
Otto Gas Engine Works. but for a cor
poration 20 be formed under Delaware
laws. 1t was then explained that the
Otto concern under its charter could
I not manufacture gas and that the COM
y pany would be formed among its Off
- GERS.
{ Mr.. Bayard said it narrows down tc
e this: The Board of Trade has been ask.
p ed to so out of its way TO act as arbi
k traitor between two conflicting concerns
lie thought the board had better gC
e slow.
y Mr.. kurtz Points Out the Issue.
s W. Z. Kurtz did not think this wal
p the issue the gas company being ou
e of it. IL was now a matter of a fran
{ chise, he contended, and he thought tn
d board should know the reason Of thl
= proposition TO supply gas instead o
r building gas engines. He thought thl
e. board should let the Otto people know
d that il wants that industry to come {,
o Wilmington, but the Otto people shoul,
o make some definite proposition as t.
- what they want and what they will dl
p and then there would be something T.
act on. The issue Is. does Wilmington
v want this gas engine company by Civ
a ing it a gas franchise. Mr.. Kurtz add
d ed that the local gas company made
d mistake. The cost. he said. was M
d consideration, II the public demand
n gas in South Wilmington then il shoul
IS be placed there.
Bishop Coleman asked if the gas com
% pany would renew its proposition an
n Mr.. Mitchell answered 1t would.
N Mr.. eawthrop's Talk.
ID Alfred Gawthrop did not agree wit
Is Mr.. Lobdell and said he thought com
De petition i'm the gas business would be
70 good thing. II the gas company ha
he done its duty, he said, it would hav
ot put gas i'm South Wilmington year
r. ago. Mr. Gawthrop did not think tn
as committees report was as complete a
1t should have been.
Jerome b. Bell thought somethin
should be done to encourage the OFT