The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-12
s7,u6,os3 10

city gas works:
Total cash receipts
from 1866 to 1904 In
cluslve...... .:.... s7ls,ess 10
ESTIMATED" value
OF gas used by the
city at prices paid 4t,
by private consum- ~
crs.............. -. l.s5o,6l4 10
- FL REatti
Total earnings... $s,76S.647 rs
Total expenses for
same period, lnclud-
Ing pay rolls. coal
and oil, extensions
and connections. 5.ooso7 "a
Gross earnings
from operation. s2,767o69 %
Interest on invest
ment, based on al
expenditures and
figured annually. 81. 479,Soo 80
Cost of works to
January ], 1861, not
included in above
figures. I. 49,. -. a9l,a77 2s
Total taxes that
would have accrued
to city during pc
Rod, If assessed
annually, on cost
OF plant to January
!, l9p5.... ......... 4l6,oza 10 ,I,-o''oo-s o
- ----------
a seeming profit of 4'e,ii Z.
In controdistinction to the profit clalmed
by the superintendent Of $3.50 o3o.O. quite
a differences. In the above statement
there is ON arbitrary charge OF $l,6oV oli.l9
for gas for municipal purposes. Inc gas
Represented by this vast sunk was NJ
metred simply estimated, to SVEN me
receipts OF the gas works. and 70 Show
a seeming profit. Would any private cor
poration conduct business along such
iincs?
II is reasonable to suppose in view Of
the fact. that under the Adams admin
istration, 1t was openly charged, anu u
remember correctly, proven. mat ar
was regularly and systematically INTO the
pipes TO swell tho city estimate ana
to enlarge the bl is OF private; consumers,
that at least one-fourth Q-D OF this sum
might reasonably be deducted, which
makes the comfortable little sum OF S4l2,-
G53.55. We think this Is q reasonable ana
fair assumption, lnasmuch as the SUPER
intcndent OF the city gas works oIliy
charges In his last report Tor iva, the
city with s25,552.0l for public consumption
Taking this as fair average Tor lne
period named. IS years, would make Sslo'-
$685. instead Of tho amount estlH'aleo
and charged. sl,650,6l4.l0; we. therefore,
+ think 1t fair that this arbitrary charge
/ OF s1,G5O.GlA19. should be credited by at
least sal2,G53.55. This sum deducted from
the apparent profit as shown by The ac-
countant's figures, reduces the profit to
4 oil ho andent nor
has the city accountant charged the city
gas works with the insurance paid by the
city on this plant, The plant cost Inc
city prior to 1867, 800. 1870. Leaving out
what 1t has cost since; let US take the
present assessment on tho buildings OF
$1l9.500, and put the machinery, regard
less OF cost at 100000 which our compe-
tent and courteous accountant thinks
reasonable. and We find that for the pc
Rod named, the insurance that the gas
works should be charged with amounts
to s125.llb. Deducting the apparent profit
as shown above, we have net loss OF
s5S,O51,36 ! have made no charge for
cost OF gas used at the works.. cost OF
street lamp lighting and extinguishing
and numerous other items which Expert
Bruce says 'have been entirely omitted
from cost reports"
We Respectfully supnht tne ABOVE Iacts
and figures to Alderman Dabney, who
states in communication to your valued
PAPER Of October ESD, "the gas works Of
Richmond have long snca reimbursed
the city for all money appropriated to
this enterprise"
This enterprise has NeYer paid me
city one dollar on Its investment, but
has been tax upon its revenues, rs Is
Demonstrated by the facts and figures
given above, and the best and only way
to get rid OF this incubus, Is to lease It
out to some private corporation. under