Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-15
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|GAS-RATE INCREASE
FACESCONSUMERS
High Cost of Fuel Oil Assigned
as Reason by Director
Trafford.
MATER, TOO, MAY COST MORE.
Department Shows Deficit, Ac-
cording to Mayors Budget,
Due to u Undercharging.
WATER. TOO, MAY COST MORE

An Increase In tho gas rate here, OF
kt'1east 90 cents per 1000 cubic feet,
|yill boi oinccossary within the next nine
~ dayB x the City Gas Works is to
fontinue operation without a decided
ioss.S according to n statement made by
. W. Trafford. Director Of Public Uti,ir
| les, yester rday.
Fuel oil has increased In price from
,s-f cents per gallon TO IL cents dat
Elthin the past thirty days. Mr.. T.af-
5ord stated yesterday, In commenting
n the present gas situation.
with this increase. which totals
lmost 100 por cent. staring US in the
fzce. 1t looks;as though immediate ac-
lon ofgsome sort must ho taken TO con-
finuc 'successful. operation"
sair. Tranord also stated that the
urchase OF OH for the Gas Works has
eco1nes a problem. Purchases OF oil
70 being made IN quantities OF less
aSn 100000 gallons. or less than
nsuEh,,to do the Gas Works two weeks
Director Trafrord, took a decidedly pes
innistie view in commenting on the
robabtIity OF the oity securing fuel
u for elong>at even ia cents a. gallon.
S Price IHcre4se. Usvreesdented.
Increases in. the Price of fuel oils
thin. Tthc past sfew,.-daysa:aye. said TO
i uubrecedented,. and tho demand
cadily increasinEs,with tho Increase In
10 number so. automobiles .gssd In the
a!ted states ,:Jft s., s.
y is knatsH Aht 4 ts pm AIS at City
xsibility, o. proddcinE Ssacl clfaatly the
stIS hm9hunt ,hn Ss ga,s yssa l'i ssy
ID Would eaii'P toy The sxb bshaitHfe 6f e
hst Sl g go sSs bsss siy Sss
ptt Into, opei ,EioD with The efreet
Possibly saving The city thousands
lent,sts have eetinated that. al
cught the Coal supply in the United
ates has scarcely been touched. ap-
oximately 40 per. cent OF the supply
Mr. .Trafford declared $iast night that
cl6ion rs 10 how the problem OF pro-
cinE gas under the present condi-
Committee on Finance Decision on
Is matter Is now UP to- them,-he de-
BESIDES the increase in the present
g rate OF 20 cents per. 1000 cubic
st, the Council Committee on Finance
now considering an increase in the
esent water rate charged by the
Loss From CndercharsInE.
Director Traford has laid before
committee in-'the Mayors budget
= the year figures showing a large
fcit I'm this department. . Loss from
derchar Sine for water here is do
red to be several thousands of dol
I is proba Bile that. the Finance Com.
ttec will appoint an investigating
tetirer the loss to tho city Is oc-
tonen by the use Of water by largo
icerns or whether the rate is too
V on all users. According to the
,seD.. Fl isures. before the committee,
is believed that rate affecting, GER
n classes of$users would bring the
'enues. from this source high enough
meet expenses without causing q
nket raise In the water rate.
Compared with other cities, rho gas
o In Richmond Is not exorbitant at
present time. In Baltimore and
Louis. however. the companies
ldiinE, this commodity have man.
I'D TO .solye the problem OF selling
), az SS5 cents per 1000 cubic feet.
inE to the other ;e1treme. at Jack
willie: Fla, the. gas rate As Sc,
,rlestop I, has the same 81 rate as
20. % in. ciiatta c nooxa.s1m1b rt II Maamf and Is Is
tnokh. Knoxville ana Harrisonbt1rr
20. Savannah has emanaEed,f fo worrv
pS. on a rate OF $40, while Raleieh's
{ rate is 37.85. The city gas COM
~. atANorfolk. now has "a petifion
ore the Virginia State Corporation
pmission asking an increase in It's
{. The rate is now 81 80 m SNorfoIE