The Washington times., 1919-02-03

1917, made application to the Public
Utilities Commission for an increase
in the price of gas from 75 cents to
S1.1O per thousand cubic feet The
statement OF the company's case was
carefully prepared by Mr.. Robert o.
Luqueer, OF the firm of Humphreys &
Miller, and certified TO by the AmeFi-
can Audit Company as to the correct
ness of some of its figures.
zone Of the questions raised by
the commission was as to the valua-
tion OF the company's properties,
which issues had not been finally de-
termined by the courts. In order that
the company might receive the bene-
fit of an increased rate, so necessary
for the conduct of the business, and
TO enable it to have funds to meet its
very largely increased expenses, the
directors of the company accepted
the commissions valuation of it's
properties, used and useful in the
manufacture of gas, as a basis for
the increased rate, without waving
its rights under the appeal now pend
ing in the courts.
street Lamps Are Loss.
THE Government rate of 20 cents
thousand cubic feet. as fixed by
Congress, was not passed upon by the
commission. The company, believing
the 7O-cent rate too low Qower than
the actual cost of gas at the burner),
took up with the Comptroller of the
Treasury the question as to whether
or not the Government should pay
the same price as the private con-
sumner. The decision of the comp
troller was against the company, he
taking the position that the Govern
ment rate was fixed until changed by
an act of Congress. This decision not
only works hardship upon the COM
pany, but upon the consumers as well.
The fact that the company is lighting
all the street lamps at a loss causes
an additional hardship upon the COM
pany, in addition to that caused by
the 70-cent rate paid by the Govern
ment for gas.
Having given a trial Of the 90
cent rate to private consumers from
March until November, with the reve-
Rues running behind, the company
made another application to the COM
mission for an increased rate OF $1.lO
per one thousand cubic feet, which
application is now pending.
Before the war this company en-
tered into an agreement with the H.
Koppers Company, Of Pittsburgh, to
erect a toluol plant at the West Sta
tion Works. This was one OF the
first toluol plants to be erected and
subsequently served as a model for
other plants that were erected in the
country to meet the needs Of the Gov
ernment i'm tolul requirements. This
contract would naturally expire in
July, 1919, and the company's financial
expectations from il for the three
years Of the contract would have been
about $4,000 per year. However,
since the armistice was signed, the
price OF toluol has fallen of to such
an extent that the plant has been
closed down, and the company will be
deprived of this source Of income.
On the other hand, the condition Of
the gas manufacture has improved and
is satisfactory since the plant has
been shut down.
Cites Figures.
"At times during the operation OF
the plant the gas conditions were not
satisfactory. Whether the abstrac-
ton of the toluol from the gas was
the cause has not been fully deter
mined.
"The income account for the yeac
lois shows operating revenues Of
SO. .435, ,747.16, as compared with $2,49S,-
$3.50 in 1917, an increase OF $685.
21S.s6 for the year. The operative
expenses were $2,TS0,577.S1 in 1918,
as compared with S1,679, 9,37S.11 in 1917,
or an increase of $1,101. 1870.
"The net corporate income. after
paying operating expenses, taxes and
interest. was S251, ,19O.1S in 1918, as
compared with $435,T92.12 in 1917, Or
SIS4,6O194 less than the correspond
ing period of 1917, and IL was neces-
sary to pay part OF the dividend out
of the surplus Of the company. The
principal items OF expense which have
affected the net revenues of the com
pany were labor, coal and oil. The
wages for the year 1918 were S19S,-
94A.74. as compared with $5SO.195.50 in
1917, an increase of 81. per cent; coal
costs were ST21 ,9S5.07, as compared
with $4TS.O69.62 in 1917, an increase
of 51.O2 per cent. and oil cost $1.l02,-
49617, as compared with $450,1O9.7O
in 1917, an increase Of 144.0i per cent.
The sales of gas for the year were
1, ,O96, 421 .397 cubic feet as compared
with 3,314,694 1O5, an increase for the
year over 1917 OF 7S1, ,T27,2 ,292 cubic
feet. or 23.5S per cent. The amount
Of oil used was 16321,414 gallons. and
TO.1I3 tons of anthracite and IL, ,4O6
tons of steam coal were also used dur
ing the year. The total number OF
meters in use at the end of the year
were 5000. showing an increase Of
.9S3 for the year. This is a falling
off from the normal increase largely
due to the lack Of new residences
constructed and new apartment
houses.
Plant Enlarged.
I'm the sales department, the NUM-
Der of appliances sold amounted to
S34S, ,9O44S in value as compared with
$245,245.1S a year ago.
"By reason of the abnormal in
crease in the demands for gas, the
plant of the company had to be Tn
larged; new water gas sets were con-
structed, increased collier capacity
made at the works, new blowers and
pushers installed. larger main ca
pacity put in to get the gas away
from the works. and to give the con-
sumers increased pressure at the
weak places in the system.
while the service rendered has not
been all the company has desired it to
be, il has been constantly our GndeavOr
to make il so. Consideration should be
given the fact that early in 1918 people
YE..I- in a.IIare