Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-05
COST TOO GREAT
T0FURN|SH GAS
President Reeside of Washing
ton Company Gives Reason
for Not Entering Maryland.
DISTRICT CONSUMERS
WOULD BEAR EXPENSE
Robert W. Wells of Prince Georges
County Disagrees With Him,
However.

hHa' the great cost OF extending the
mains of the Washington Gas Light
Company into Prince Georges county
for the purpose of serving residents OF
Hyattsville, Bladensburg. Riverdale
and other villages in the territory con-
tiguous to the District of Columbia
was the company's principal objection
to such an extension was the declara-
tion today of President Howard Rec
side of the company.
Personally, I would have no objec-
tion in the world to extending the
mains of the Washington Gas Light
Company to serve the entire territory
embraced in the towns in question. l
would be glad to do so If it were not
for the apparently insuperable obsta-
Gle of expense. This expense would
have to be borne by some one. and the
cost undoubtedly would fall on gas
consumers in the District. as this COM
pany could make no profit on gas piped
to Hyattsville consumers or residents
of towns still farther out"
Mr.. Reeside contended that Congress
has no authority to order the extension
of the mains of the Washington Gas Light
Company to any point outside the District
of Columbia and asserted that the proper
be laid is the Maryland public utilities
commission. AS the Washington Gas Light
Company owns franchise for operating
nj Montgomery and Prince Georges coun-
ties, as well as other adjacent counties in
Maryland, the public utilities commission
of Maryland might direct the company to
extend its mains as desired on penalty of
forfeiting its franchise to operate in the
Maryland counties adjoining the District
of Columbia.
Discusses Threat of Marylanders.
The implied threat which. it is stated.
has been made by interested residents of
Prince Georges county to obstruct the
proposed merger of the Washington and
the Georgetown companies, permission for
which has been asked Of Congress. was
also discussed by Mr.. Reeside. ..
II do not believe he said. that Con-
gress would refuse to grant permission for
the proposed merger simply because the
Washington Gas Light Company could
not see as a business proposition. the ad-
visibility Of extending Its mains into parts
of Maryland. The gas consumers of the
District of Columbia are too deeply In
terested in the effects Of the proposed
merger to permit Congress to forbid 1t on
such grounds. If this merger Is per-
mitted the price of gas to consumers west
of Rock creek will immediately-the day
following the completion of the merger
be reduced to S5 cents net, and the cap
italization of the Georgetown company
will be wiped out These are the two
great objects sought to be attained by
the merging of the two companies"
Robert Weaver, president of the
Georgetown Gas Light Company, said
today that his company conducts its
suburban business at a loss. The mains
of the Georgetown company extend to
Woodmont. Montgomery county, and
also to Chevy Chase. and gas con-
sumers along these suburban lines pay
the same rate as do company's patrons
living in the District-that is, 81 net.
arate accounts kept Of the business of
the company in Montgomery county
show that, were this business conduct
ed by a separate company, such COM
pany could not live, as the returns do
not pay for the gas. the cost of ex-
tension of mains. depreciation and all
the incidental charges entering into the
cost of manufacture and distribution of
gas.
Disagrees With Mr.. Reside.
Robert w. Wells of Prince Georges
county said today that residents of
Hyattsville, Bladensburg and other
points adjacent to Washington are deeply
interested In the proposition of procuring
gas at 81 from the Washington Gas Light
Company, and that the aid of Congress
is to be enlisted in the effort to induce
the company to extend its MAINS
II do not agree with Mr.. Reside" said
Mr. Wells. when he objects to the ex-
tension and service on the grounds of
expense. His company is now serving
Takoma Park. Md, with gas at S5 cents,
The people l represent are willing to pay
81. They are tired of paying $1.5O for
gas, as they have done since the company
at Riverdale was established.
The two Washington companies are
now appealing to Congress to sanction a
merger of the companies. 1t seems to me
that the Washington Gas Light Company
will be willing. II the matter is properly
brought to its attention. to offer as a
quid pro quo for permission to perfect
merger of the two companies to extend
it's mains and give one-dollar gas TO the
people of Hyattsville and the other towns
asking for IT.
of paralleling the existing company's
mains. do not believe there would be any
necessity for this. Figures in my pos-
session, which am not at liberty to give
out show that the Washington Gas Light
Company could buy the plant and mains
Of the Riverdale company at a price that
would not be excessive, and that at the
same time would give the present owners
of the Riverdale plant a fair profit on
their investment. This would obviate the
necessity of laying parallel mains. and
at the same time would remove the small
local company from the field as a com
petitor. without injuring the owners Of
the company or entailing unreasonable ex-
pense on the Washington Gas Light Com.
pany.
I'm ON IN NEW VnpY