Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-08
AVERAGE GAS RATE NEARLY
SAME AS RICHMOND PRICE.
Albany and bridgeport Plants, Pri-
vateiy Owned, Charge 81 a
Thousand.
MEAN RATE IS 80 CENTS
Only Two Of Fifteen Cities Compare
Die With Richmond Enjoy Rate as
Low as 20 Cents for Product OF
Low Candle Power.

Efforts on the part OF interested
Counciimcn to compile comparative
statement of the price charged for
gas III number of representative ci-
ies comparable with Richmond In pop
uIa'ion and conditions governing tho
sas-making industry, reveal the fact
mat the average price charged I'm these
ciues Is so cents per 1000 cubic feet.
The Information referred to has been
secured from the most recent issue OF
i'rowns Gas Dircctory-the bcst-known
american authority. In every city
that figures In the compilation the
plant Is privately owned, except in
Richmond and Dayton, o. These appear
TO be the only two American elites
having a population in excess of 1907
600 that own and operate their own
gas works.
layton mas population OF 100. 600
ana supplies gas of eighteen candle
power through 104S7 meters at net
price or S5 cents AS compared with
ms richmond has population of
loo.o0O and supplies gas Of twenty
two candlepower at 90 cents. through
about 10000 meters.
LOWEST CLEVELAND
RATE is SO CENTS
In the remainder OF the fifteen cities
whose rates have been tabulatcd gas
IS manufactured and supplied by pri-
$500 wi poiht IN several OF the
larger cities, notably Los Angeles and
! cleveland. the industry Is in the hands
or two or more rival companies The
lowest rate In Cleveland is so cents per
LOU Tor gas of sixteen candle power
J The lowest rate In Los Angeles 10 *
cents 1000. The company that makes
! 'his rate. however, is comparatively
small. operating through only $500
meters.
only two OF the fifteen cities COM
prisea In the tabuiation sell gas as low
as 10 cents. These are Minneonolis
Mimi. and Springfield, III. In both
| or these cities the product supplied is
or eighteen candle power Atlanta
which is supplied by the Georgia Rail
way and Power Company. pays 20 cents
gas
In the other cities that have been
! selected because they were comparah,e
| IN size with Richmond and euioyed
relatively the same advantages as re-
eards the facilities for making gas. tho
ne ,,u Is 81. 80 10 and 90 cents, and ST.
Albany, ~ Y, which has n population
or 10000. pays 81 per 1000 for a product
OF twenty candle-power. II has "a
$40 meters to Richmond's 10000.
BIRMINGHAM PAYS ST
/ FOR ILLUMINATING GAS
birmingham Ala, Il city OF 10000
popuaatlon' Is charged three rates. For
To 10
81. a rate OF 80 cents is charged ta,
the second 10000 feet used. and a rota
or so cents for the third 10000 All
gas In excess Of 10000 cubic feet n
| noh.h is charged for at the rate of 20
! cents per 900. From this statement :,
appears that the great majority ~
| birmingham 8 1000 metered users fall
In the 81 per 1000 class. since few fami.
| lcs consume more than 10000 feet a
| month. 80 "
Bridgeport, Conn, with ponu,a,;o,
oil 10000. pays 81 a thousand for n
! product of twenty candle power vii
minston. Del. a city of $4,000 popula
'ion' pays 80 cents for gas of twenty
one candle power. Des AIoines la.
with n population Of $4,000, Elizabeth
| town, y. j.. with a population OF 81. 900
| ana BuHalo. y. Y. with "A population OF
| iz",'lo. all pay 80 cents a thousand-the
| rate that Is charged in Richmond In
| the two iirst-named cities the candle
power Is twenty-two-the Richmond
| standard. In Buffalo the gas supplied
Is of eighteen candle power
IN the So-cent class fall Cambridge
Mass population 10000. eighteen can
cle-power; Grand Rapids. Mich, populn-
| ton, III 900; Fall River, Mass popula-
ton l22.6l2. twenty candle power; and
| Cleveland. o., population 613.27O six
teen candle power
the comparative statement will he
laid before the Committee on Public
IT'S consideration in connection with the
ordinance introduced by Alderman Pow
ers which provides for a reduction OF
the Richmond rate from 90 to so cents
The committee Is scheduled to meet In
special session on next Monday night
Tor hearing on the offer Of the South
ern Gas and Electric Corporation and
others, TO lease the Gas Works
. independent OF its tImeliness in view
or the impending gas lease agitation.
the comparative statement Just outlined
Is significant in that 1t shows that the
city OF Richmond is now supplying gas
10 IT'S consumers as cheaply as many
other cities in which the product is
manufactured and supplied by private
corporations. and also that by reducing
me price 10 so cents the city Will be
abreast OF majority Of the most favor
hbiE situated American cities I'm the
matter OF gas prices
According to Chief Inspector Shelton
or the Gas department., the city would
nave made net profit OF sl3S,00O in
inc past three years had il sold gas
curing mis- period at so cents n thou
sand II Is the belief OF many Council
men that Il net profit OF this size in
three years offers an ample margin to
TAKE care @! fluctuations in the price OF
s-making materials, and to provide
Tor other elements OF expense which
cannot he foresccn. y reduction to 80
cents. therefore, 1t appears, would be
entirely feasible. and the Powers ordi-
nance carrying such a reduction into eff
rect VIII receive careful consideration
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