Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-01-22
APPLICANTS FOR A GAS
FRANCHISE: MAKE ANSWER

in the city of Bluefield in answer to
various objections which have been
raised TO the granting in such fran
chise submit the following:
Since the undersigned made appli-
cation for a gas franchise in Blue
field some comment has been made
upon the price. terms and conditions
filed with the City Auditor. num-
Der or anonymous communications
have appeared in the Daily Telegraph
together with several editorials upon
the price at which we propose TO
supply the residents of Blueefild with
gas
We do not desire the franchise I'M
less we have with it the good will
OF the people of Bluefeld. We are
willing 10 submit for comparison the
price of gas in other cities similarly
situated as Bluefield and let the
Board of Affairs, the City Council
and the citizens generally pass judg-
ment upon the matter
The Daily Telegraph In numerous
editorials has contended that arti-
fetal gas should be supplied at 81.
per 1000 cubic feet. If the writer of
these editorials will agree to furnish
Bluefield with artificial gas at 81
per 1000 cubic feet, or If he can or
ganize a company which will furnish
gas at this price, and give assurance
to the people of Bluefield that the
gas plant will be installed within the
specified time named in our applica-
ton by depositing with the city the
sum OF $4,000 to be forfeited in The
event that such plant is not installed.
We will withdraw our application, or
cheerfully surrender the same to him
or his company. If there is big mon
ey in gas at 81 per 1000 cubic feet.
We take it that the writer Of the edi-
torials and communications above re-
ferred to should have little or no
trouble in organizing company
which can assure gas at this price
We should also be glad if the writ
er OF the communications which have
appeared signed by Citizens would
come out from under cover and let
the public know who he is what in
terest If any, he represents. and give
intelligent reasons for saying that gas
can be supplied here at fifty cents
per 1000 cubic feet. We have on file
Browns Latest Directory OF Ameri.
can Gas Companies Statistics" show
ing the price of gas, the amount sup
piled. and the dividends earned in
every city in which gas is used in the
United tates, and we are willing for
any city official or citizen Of Bluefield
to examine these Statistics, and to
pass judgment, after such eXamina-
ton, upon the price proposed in our
application for a franchise.
1t is evident that gas cannot be
supplied in Bluefeld at as low price
as in larger and more denseIy popu-
lated cities. The houses in Bluefield
are widely scattered and would re-
qlHre double the mileage OF mains,
piping and laterals as it would in
more densely populated cities. Anoth
er difficulty in furnishing gas for
Bluefield J." the fact that the town is
of gas is upward instead OF down
ward it would be impossible to locate
a plant at any point in Bluefield which
would supply the whole city without
cnv ofdarablo r,vocc,,ra W. bo,vo ,,ar,-
ed the price OF $3.50 per 1000 cubic
feet when the consumption amounts
to- nine million cubic feet.
The following statistics taken from
Browns Directory or American Gas
Companies will give some idea OF the
cost OF gas in other cities, as well as
the dividends they pay.
The Roanoke Gas and Water Com
pany (Roanoke, Virginia. with an an
nual output OF over forty million Gu
bic feet charge gross price of $3.50
per 1000 cubic feet. with a net price
OF $1.35 TO those who pay promptly.
Annual dividend of g per cent.
The Lynchburg Traction Light
Company GUchburg. Virginia. with
an annual output Of over forty mill
lion cubic feet per annum, charges
a gross price of S135 with net
price OF SIPS TO those who pay
promptly. Annual dividend per
cent
The Newport News Gas Company
(Nawport News Virginia. with an
annual output Of over forty-three mill
lon cubic feet charges $40 for
lighting and 81 for fuel It has not
pail any dividends
The Petersburg Gas Company Pe-
ttrsburg. Virginia. with am annual