Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-24

,,n,ore was the first American city to
sdopt gas as an ilumnant.
Tho Consolidated Gas Company which
today supplies Baltimore with gas, is the
sirect successor of the original parent
COMPANY The Consolidated company
hos taken unique and fitting method Of
celebrating this centennial by virtually
making the consumers of gas In Balti-
more profit sharers in its business.
n began the celebration last year by
making a rate of 35 cents per 1900 feet to
manufacturing plants. which naturally
consume very large quantities of gas.
II continued the celebration this year
by reducing the price of gas for do
nestle consumption from so cents per
1000 feet to - cents per 1000
A few days ago it put a climax to the
centennial celebration by offering TO
every domestic consumer whose largest
consumption OF gas for any one month
In 1915 was 1000 feet or over, q rate Of 81
cents pcr 1000 feet on all gas hc may
consume in any month during 1916 i'm
excess Of his largest month in 1918.
For example. If householder's largest
consumption in any one month in 1915 had
been 5000 feet, with this liberal offer he
may wish to use gas during 1916 for a
great many purposes, which an So-ccnt
or even 75-cent rate would make pro-
hlbitlve. But with only 3j-cent rate to
consider for his excess consumption, he
may conclude that gas is cheaper and
cleaner than coal for the heating of his
house, for a constant hot water supply,
for all cooking purposes or for one or
all of the many modern household uses
TO which gas can he put
II by using gas in this manner he should
double his former maximum monthly con-
sumption he has the satisfaction of know
ing that the excess gas used is only cost
ing his 80 cents per 1000 fcet-a rate which
is only cents per 1000 more than natural
gas costs consumers in such favorable
locations in the natural gas belt as Pitts
burgh and surrounding cities, where the
rate to domestic consumers for natural
gas Is 30 cents per 1000
So CENTS PER 1000 FEET.
Or If he wishes to look at the matter
from another point of view. he can figure
out that, while he has doubled his normal
consumption of gas he has brought down
the average cost to 80 cents per 1000 and
that a greater consumption will still
further reduce his average cost This
is a well-known principle of cooperation
where increased consumption reduces the
cost to the consumer.
It is also plain business proposition
without thought of philanthropy.
The gas company is in business to man
ufacture and distribute gas The more
gas II manufactures and sells the more
money II will make
Like all gas companies that supply large
cities, its equipment must be equal to
the heaviest possible strain which any
emergency may impose on ii. This maxi
mum strain occurs in midwinter, between
the hours of p. m. and midnight, when
the company is called upon to supply gas
TO all the street lamps, to stores and
dwelling houses, which are then con-
suming their maximum for the day. AT
other times all this machinery for the
manufacture and distribution OF gas Is
more than 30 per cent. idle, but the eX-
penses OF running it must go on all the
same.
PARALLEL CONDITIONS HERE.
The condition is parallel to our city fire
stations, which We must keep up to
the point of greatest efficiency to meet
the greatest possible emergency, although
30 per cent. of the time they are idle.
The officers of the CONSOLIDATED Gas Com
pany. in Baltimore, reason that the aver
age householder, If he could obtain gas
at the lowest possible rate, would use
more of it day and night. Therefore in
making this 3j-Cent rate for excess con-
sumption the company has only taken
into consideration the additional cost OF
manufacture and distribution without re-
gard whatever to the capitalization or
cost of the present established plant or
the present fixed charges of operation.
AZ lue OlllCeS oil llt bUlltu NIdS llil-
provement Company Lewis Lille, third
vice president and treasurer, said he was
very much interested in hearing of the
Baltimore experiment, but that the mat
ter was "A purely local one, and while II
may work out satisfactorily i'm Baltimore,
II did not follow that it would do so in
other places. lie said the Consolidated
Gas Company deserves great credit for
having worked out the problem as il has
DONE and he hoped II would find It sue
cessful.
CITY FINES PRICE TO CONSUMER
When asked If the United Gas Improve
meht Company made special low rate to
Industrial plants I'm Pl liladelphia, Mr. Lille
explained how the company had nothing
Whatever to do with the rates charged TO
Philadelphia consumers under the present
gas lease with the city, and said the
making of rates for the consumer was up
10 the city government philadelphia gas
consumers are paying a rate of 81 per
400 feet" continued Mr.. Lille. The city
pays the United Gas Improvement Com
pany so cents per 1000 feet at present un-
der the lease, the difference of 20 cents
per 100 being turned into the city treas
ury and ostensibly goes Oward the reduc-
uon of taxes. Last year this payment
amounted to about 100000 In addition
10 this the United Gas Improvement Com
pany, under the terms of the present
lease, furnishes free gas TO all the street
lamps and all city departments using
gas, II keeps the street lamps in repair
providing them with Welshach mantles'
aiso Tree of cost. In addition at the
tsrnlhation of the present lease, all per-
hiahent improvements, additions, service
pipes, etc, which the company adds to
tue present plant, and which amounts TO