Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-22
CITY SELLS GAS CHEAPER
THAN MANY OTHER CITIES
Shelton Lists Twenty Leading NUM-
cipalities Where Prices Are
Less Favorable.
PLANT IN AUGUSTA
Shows That Gas Works in Georgia
City, Owned by Same Interests
That Seek Richmond Lease, Is Less
Aggressive Than Local Plant.

Aggressive Than Local Plant.
Bearing pcrtincntly upon the gas
lease question that will be considered
by the Administrative Board tomorrow
, afternoon, is n tabulation OF compare
! tive gas statistics compiled by Chief
( Inspector Shelton. OF the Gas Depart
ment by means OF which he shows
that of twenty-onc representative
American cities. ranging in population
from $4,000 to $4,000, Richmond sup
plies its citizens with cheaper and bot
ter gas than any OF the municipalities
named. in each Of which the gas plant
is privately owned.
AN interesting comparison is made by
Mr.. shelton between the municipality
owned and operated plant In Richmond.
and tho gas plant In Augusta, Ga
which is operated by the Same inter-
csts that now seek to operate the To-
cal plant.
SHOWS UP ADVANTAGES
OF RICHMOND PLANT
Although allowance must be made
for advantages in production and dis
tribution enjoyed by n large plant like
that In Richmond as compared with
the plant in Augusta. whose output Is
less than one-fourth as large. Mr.
Shclton's figures Indicate sharp dis
parity between the benefits derived
by the two cities from their gas utili-
ties. with the scale tipping decidedly
in Richmond's favor
Richmond's population is taken as OF
tho last census, l27,62S. and Augusta
Tab Il
tho Augusta plant are 112. 900. 600 cubic
feet rs compared with Richmond's 54S-
S45.9ll cubic feet. The price OF gas in
Richmond Is 90 cent sn thousand In
Augusta the price charged is Sl.l5 net
From tho same statement 1t appears
that the proportion OF consumers TO
total population is ! out OF ll25 in
Augusta. while in Richmond IL IS |
out of every SIS According TO Mr.
shelton this is an effective answer to
the charge that municipal ownership is
not consistent with Il thorough Guilt
walton OF the Held. and that nri
rately-operated plant Is more success
fui and more aggressive in extending
its service.
LOCAL. PER CAPITA
SALES ARE 4,3aI FEET
Mr. Shelton shows, further, that the
per capita sales OF the Richmond miami
are 1881 feet rs compared with opir
-N'S 'T''' iNiIiiIipuI, II aD-
pears from the same statement has II -
consumers for every mile Of gas main
while Augusta has 81 consumers for
each mile of main. Tho candle-power
OF the Richmond product is 2l.s. while
That OF the Augusta product is is
Very few. II any, companies" CON
cludea MIR. Shelton. can make as good
n showing rs Richmond in the matter
OF furnishing gas for lighting, cooking
! ana heating, and supplying it at a rca-
II ,.yI,
equal Richmond on all four points
In Augusta. Ga. the works arc
owned and operated by the same people
VINO desire 10 lease our plant since
preparing this statement we have
learned that they also own and oner
ate the gas works 1T Bluafeld. w. Va
and sumter. S. G According to the
statistics furnished Browns Directory.
we make better gas for lighting. better
gas Tor heating and cooking and sell
II much cheaper and more of it per
capita than they do In any of tbrs,
places.
DOES NOT AGREE TO
FOLLOW CITY STANDARD
As matter OF fact the Southern Gas
ana Electric Corporation does not stip-
niatc tho candlc-pOwer and heating
units OF the gas IL proposes TO furnish,
II Goes not say that il will furnish
rs iood Eas as is now being furnished
- 80 N''S' ~ tpSS NOT say that 1t VIII
furnish tho quality of gas or give tho
service the city government may re-
puivc.
The Southern Gas and Electric Cor
poratlon tells YOU that 1t will comply
with amy standard OF quality for ras
ana service which may from time 10
'ilhe tie reasonably provided by the Cor
p"ration Commission OF Virginia In
Inc absence OF such regulation IT win be
wiling, II says. to accept the recent
. D.. :. a u. al net, al Il.
nee Commission OF New York state
Tor the Second District
BOARD Will. HEAR
FULL DISCUSSION
This means only that II will fur
nish the standard OF quality for uas
and service that IT may he from time
10 time be compelled to furnish By ex-
pcnsivc liiiGation before the State Cor
porht!on Commission or the standard
established by foreign public service
com mission
The whole gas lease question will he
thoroughiy aired before the Admins
,ritllNc Hoard tomorrow afternoon The
| fact that the would-bc lessces will he
IN INC cnemy's country will not pre-
Hcnt them from presenting n strong
case for their offer
rho central contention Of the appu-
cant for the lease is that there are dis
abilities irseparable from ,nunicinnI
"'iisii must forever prevent
the Gas Work from giving TO the cIti
Zens of Richmond the service and ouol
ity or ptoduct that could be supplied
by n privately managed plant backed
Ivy Wide experience and ample capital
PRICES CHARGED IN
OTHER AMERICAN CITIES
rs compared with the price of 90
cents Tor LOCO cubic feet charged for
Has In Richmond having a population
. 81 l2I,62S. according to tho census ne
/ l'lO. Mr.. shelton lists the following
prices charged by other leading Amer
b lean cities:
l'nnalo. y. Y. population 433,1l5, 81:
ioicco. o, population 100000. 95 cents;
hlrmihHham Ma. population Ia25S5