Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-14
(Adyertieement.l

COMPANY, CONTINC Ell.
(Advertisement.l
"A line of six-inch pipe. over mile
in length. was laid from the vicinity OF
the Capitol to the navy yard with only
one widely scattered row OF street lamps
with one of equal size down Pennsylvania
avenue to Georgetown. or near George
town
The amount paid to our numerous en-
ployes exceeds an average of $1,000 per
month
And there is about that much paid
daily now.
Our city taxes amounted to over 81 600
per annum.''
For four out of the eight years of the
tcompany's operation nothing was realized
but actual expenses and since that period
the board has been enabled to declare
dividends semi-annually of 8, 31s and lat
terly 5 per cent on the capital stock-not
lat any time more than the aforementioned
rate
The first $4,000 was lost in making a
gas that was then known as solar Oil
gas which was not a successful process.
Quoting again from the book:
The board has constantly acted on
the design of supplying all the inhabited
portions of the city with gas. having
laid in this period nearly twenty miles
OF street mains.
We now have today over 400 miles.
Then the account speaks about the an
nual consumption of gas at that time
(which L will not weary you by reading,
but this extract may prove interesting.
With capital of but 1924, 600 actually
and economically expended In the bust
ness and unincumbered by debts: with
works of acknowledged excellence ca
n producing a StlDertOr
lias equal to any demand: with twenty
miles of street mains covering. as with a
network, almost all the populous parts
of the city, and SO laid to admit OF
any future extension: with 1,6S1 con-
sumers and this number daily augment
Ing; our business systematized and now
generally understood, the company has
every motive for not only accommodate
ing the public to their utmost require
l1nents. but also for reducing the price of
gas. from time TO time as the adoption
OF every valuable Improvement and in
creased consumption may justify.
want to say in this connection that
the records show that although the gas
company was under no legal requirement
TO reduce gas in those days. yet. in fact.
I'm the twenty-five or thirty years preced-
ing, it voluntarily reduced the price of
gas. nine or ten times, doing precisely
what the companies have done this last
year. and which they will do again if
fairly given an opportunity.
Mr.. Rothermel-YOu mean that you will
ireduce the price of gas.
M. Goldsborough Undoubtedly the
price of gas will be reduced again. unless
the cost OF material advance to a prohibi-
tive degree. AS to that we all know that
the tendency all over the country is to-
ward an advance in prices.
The Chairman think 1t would be well
for Mr.. Goldsborough to conclude his ar
Eument and let us conform to the reSo-
luton, and then We can ask questions.
Mr.. Goldsborough-I rose for the pur-
SNf yiy,~v \
had the honor to make to the committee
TO take up the time until the committee
was ready to proceed with the other wit
nesses. l want to argue this case later
+on and TO read for the benefit Of the
committee the decisions Of the Supreme
Court not only the subject generally
but in cases that have gone up to it from
this jurisdiction that concern this gas
company as to these very matters here in
Question.
thank the committee very much for
Its kind attention.
Mr.. Coudrey-I think the best thing In
do in order to get at the meat in the CO.
foanut Is to have some official Of the
gas company appear before the commit
tee.
Mr.. Go!dsborough-We have some one
here to answer your questions in rega I'd
TO the amount of money made for the las,
ten years
Mr.. Coudrey-Has he prepared a state.
ment?
Mr.. Goldsborough-Yes sir.
Mr.. Coudrey-That is the thing which
YOU'D interest US most. 1 have letters
here-my mail is increasing very mate
rally, my letters from people all around
through no fault of mine. The resolution
was not introduced for that purpose. blu,
the thing for us to do Is to stick ia
the resolution. ! would like to have
some official of the gas company, II he
Is here
Mr.. Goldsborough-He is here with q
statement answering your question.
Mr.. Coudrey-I think he should be mn,
on the stand next
Mr. Goldsborough-We shall be glad te
do that
Mr.. Cary-wait minute. You have
rany has reduced the price of gas?
Mr.. Goldsborough-Yes sir
Mr. Cary-That is only apparent?
Mr. Goidsborough-No; 1T is a real re-
auction.
Mr.. Cary-I have bills here 10 prove
ehat the gas company has not reduced
the price Of gas. that the price of gas
ito the consumer has not been reduced.
Mr. Coudrey-When was the last re-
dhction?
Mr.. Goldsborough-The first day of las
July; II has not been in force one yea,
yet.
Mr.. Cary-These bills put in my hant
(exhibiting) are bills which have beer
paid by certain gentleman within tn,
past two or three or four years, and still
the price today is higher at II cent.
In the record. They start in 1907 ant
come up to March 10. 1909.
Mr.. Goldsborough-If you want me t.
explain that / can only make the ex
PLANTATION that DR.. Humphreys has made
that II has been the experience hereto
fore everywhere that when prices ar,
reduced people unconsciously use NOR
gas
Mr.. Cary-But this man does not. HI
has to close up at q certain time. and h
does close up. He only uses the SAM
number Of Jets, and he has never use'
any more. How Is II that his gas Dill
are higher at the reduced price?
Mr. Goldsborough-Possibly his mete
does not register correctly.
Mr.. Cary-I know Of case where
man had not lived in house for thre
months and yet bills were sent him AM
he had to pay them or have the ga
cut off.
Mr. Goldsborough--I will say this. MI
Cary that I have personally investigate,
- number of cases, and ! have neve
found one yet that there was not a rea
sonable explanation for. 1 take 1t that /
Is really nQthiuka hat