The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-02-09
TWENTY PER CENT
ON ALL GAS STOCK
Continued from First Pagel

report were included within the period
during which the price Of gas had been
reduced from 81 to 30 cents. it appears
thar this reduction in price had very
little effect on the revenues Of the
company.
The amount Of gas sold and accounted
for during tie year ended December g.
l,S66.sfG.4E for the preceding year
Considering. therefore, that there was
almost 10 increase IN the amount OF
gas sold. the reduction III price might
have been expected to effect a more
considerable decrease IN the company 8
revenue from sales Of gas
The explanation which has occurred 10
q multitude Of users Of gas within the
last few month is that the public does
not seem 70 have had much evidence in
its gas 0llls Of the effect OF the price
reduction
Price Almost Unchanged
Nevertheless. the company reports this
year as the average price received per
LOO cubic feet Of gas sold S-95TS, while
a year il reported as the average
price received per 100 feet. S1.05. One
year ago the annual report placed the
average gross cost. exclusive o. in
terest, dividends, and construction ac-
count. Pc 1000 cubic feet sold. At S.63197.
The aver, &c net cost per LOO feet was
reported - year ago as $-56653; this year
il is repOT ed At $-5S25S-
one yer ago the company reported
general office salaries. including law
and Legal expenses and 70 clerks in all
departments S162.g73-03; thss year the
sane item IS set down at Sle3, SIS
A year ago the company reported
wages paid to inspectors and miscel-
laneOuS labOrers- Sl-S-,5l9-2S. this year
the report for the same item is Sl1S,-
sass. II appears. therefore. that while
there has been a very large increase in
the salary account. amounting 10 over
$1,000. the wage account has been re-
dUced over SII,U54
Salaries High, Wages Low.
This is OF particular interest in view
Of the fact that the census reports have
shown that the proportion Of cost per
thousand feet Of gas. chargeable 20 sal
aries. IS higher IN the District Of Co.
Iumbia than IN any other census division
OF the United States; while on the other
hand the average wage paid in the gas
industry in the District OF Columbia
IS among the lowest for any census di-
vision
Under the heading OF extension OF
plant and construction the company
a year ago listed various items aEgre-
eating SiZ-s-S-I', this year. the amount
charged against extension OF plant and
construction is only Sis. sos. 4 year
ago the largest item included in this
total for extension and construction was
Si-5s5z-lS Tor street Mains this year the
amount charged against street mains
is SlI4S4&7
One year ago the report showed gross
income after deduC1iuE operating ex-
pensesr SssZ>6f-Sl- this year the same
Item IS SlEC1 as e54-r,-53-5l- Il IS diff
cult. however from the apparently more
or less Unrelated figures that are set
down IN the report 10 explain the &C
casion OF this loss IN gross income
The total OF deductions from income
and surplus was set down a year aEO
as S3s3s-l3-45- this year II IS placed az
Suisse Of which S159.555-g2 is stated
as amount from surplus
The depreciation and renewal account
was put down IN the report a year aEO
as Sl55.ooI-u. from which was deducted
on account Of various repairs go - q
leaving q net depreciation account Of
Sl6rl4s The same figures for the last
y ear are Albl-a-si--1- depreciation and 70
newsl account less SS7.s22 So for vari-
Gus repairs, leaving a net depreciation
Of s13,1AS5-
Against this depreciation account II
must De unders nod. IS 10 be set of
plant and construction. which in both
years made g total several times larger
than the net depreciation These figures
on depreciation and extension Of plant
indicate that property Is growing very
Ia piGly-
Value Of Plant Increased.
In the two -sars covered by these
two reports tie company is shown TO
have paid 81 per cent in DIVIDENDS, and
to have added very largely to the value
Of its plant Th,, latest report gives
as the value OF the plant Exclusive OF
working capital and franchises 81 enS-
$685. IN the -sD0rt a year ago no hs-
ure was g5--ra corresponding to this
one
The annual report published today has
been the subject OF a good deal of
study on Capitol Hill. in view Of the
initiation by Senator Brown Of Nebras-
Ea Of a move for general investigation
OF the company The desire for more
detailed enliEhtening information about
the affairs Of the company has been
strengthened by the efforts to get salts
factory conclusions out Of a comparison
Of these two reports.
The Senate Committee on Corpora
lions Organized in the District Of Co
luEGbia- 10 which Senator Browns rnS0-
luton was referred has not vet met
and u is expected no meeting viii be
called until after the return Of Senator
Taliaferr0. chairman of the COMMITTEES