The Washington times., 1911-07-30
IN LOCAL FINANCIAL CIRCLES
By I. A. FLEMING.

The Washington Gas Company has
recohsidered the question of the es-
| ia blishment of a commercial depart
ment for the sale of stoves, irons,
and all manner of appliances for in
| creasing the consumption of gas, and
will in the near future, open several
demonstrating stores, where stoves.
etc, will be exhibited and the pub
lie may become acquainted with the
advantages of cooking, heating, etc,
by the use Of gas.
This project was considered early
this year and abandoned, but has now
been taken up in earnest, II. G. Reed.
a specialist in this class of work. has
| been engaged as manager of the
commercial end and will soon install
his department He will have a large
force Of statesmen. demonstrators, etc.
Just at the present time he is maxim g
study of conditions in Philadelphia
and New York where the highest ef-
ficiency has been developed in the
general usage of gas. and expects to
launch the movement here by Sep
tember l.
In the absence of President Mclean,
Howard S. Reeside, vice president, is
acting as president, and is making an
enviable record in cutting down ex-
penses. pruning and pairing where the
economies will not be harmful in
the least to the service.
Leakage, the cause of much waste
in 1910, has been given much consid-
Grafton and more than 5000 meters
have been thoroughly overhauled and
put in perfect condition and the work
will be continued until the entire
meter service has been checked UP.
Mr.. Reside has assisting him in in
stalling economies Joseph Letter and
James NJ. Green, the three constitut-
ing committee appointed by the d.
rectors to supervise expenditures.
There are twenty eight domestic
science schools in operation IN the
District and the gas officials will see
to it that each is thoroughly equipped
with all of Its appliances.
1t is the intention to follow the prac-
tice common in other large cities of
selling stoves. etc, on monthly In
stallments. Every known variety of
gas appliance will be shown in oper-
alton. Demonstrations of baking.
roasting. etc, will be given and the
customers may select the stove or
appliance that best suits. and the
monthly installment will be added to
the bill for the consumption of gas;
Mr.. Reside expects that there will
be a large net saving and increased
sales of gas during the year that will
make the earnings show good surplus
over the fixed charges and dividend re-
quirements. Last year the net earnings
were not sufficient to meet the $3.50 a
share present dividend payments, but
Mr.. Reside has no doubt but what
with a larger service, economies that
have been and will be installed, the
working Of the commercial department,
and larger consumption and saving of
gas, the 1911 earnings will show a net
surplus after fixed charges, dividends,
etc. He expects large returns from the
new department.
On the outlook for the future. on
economies to be installed, on saving of
gas through better equipment and larger
field for sale, the acting president was
willing to comment freely-anything
that would tend to snow actual progress
in the business. On melons and kindred
topics he was more or less silent.
Owen T. Reeves. national bank ex-
aminer, assigned to Washington for
many years and has now been promot-
ed to the Chicago post. has Just issued
an interesting phamphlet entitled, Are
the Comptroller's Requirements Of His
Examiners Unreasonable?'
Being still In the service and high
grade official at that Mr.. Reeves nat
urally thinks not
He demonstrates that Comptroller
Murray simply puts 1t up to the ex-
aminer to get busy and see that faults