Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-06
KEYPORT CAS-
HEARING HELD
Promise Made to Improve the
Service and Cut Rates Soon
as Possible

KEYPORT, April 6.-At the con-
ference of the ofIicials of the County
Gas Company which was formerly
THE Standard Gas Company. the
mayors and councilmen and other
representatives from tbs boroughs
supplied by the above company, held
in the borough hall in Keyport on
Tuesday afternoon. II was declared
by the officials of the organization
that at present all efforts would be
expended in improving the service
latter which the lowering or the gas
rate would be the next item OF in
~terest.
The conference was well attended
lamong the officials being w. w.
Montgomery, president and William
J.. Clothier, vice president. both OF
Philadelphia; General manager III.
A. Stockton and from the public
utilities commission, Z. u. Annette.
municipalities represented were
lRumson, Mayor William Mahoney.
lCouncilmen James Z. Bruce, FRANK
Benson, Ira d. Emory; Matawan.
Mayor william H. Sutphin. Council-
men w. ". Clark, 4. o. Moreau'
Freehold, Township Clerk James 3.
| II aTItll OIL MdflbOiO
representative of Raritan township,
Cecil s. Ackerson; Mayor s. Frank
Mason and borough council OF Key
port.
The meeting was called to order by
Mayor s. Frank Mason and the hrst
speaker was Vice President Clothier,
who stated that in order to be sue
lcessful, a company must make 8 per
lcent. He stated that the newly or
lganized company included h bond
holders of the old company. That
the best engineers had been secured
to survey and improve the property
and that at least $4,000 would De
expended on the remodeled plant I'M
mediately in order to supply plenty
of gas to the consumers. he stated
that the county gas company would
endeayor to double the present out
put that many more service pipes
would be laid and everything done
to increase the service.
Accountant johnson gave the ac-
counts presented by Receiver Striker
of Perth Amboy to those present.
| Mayor Sutphin of Matawan stated
that there were some taxes u Mat
avian from the old company ana ne
was asked to furnish the necessary
f, data as the officials of n newly
formed company were in ignorance
| that such claims existed.
Mayor s. F. Mason stated that IN
| his opinion the gas rate here was
| tirely toe high and what
| might be expected in the way OF low
| erinp the same. He was told by the
| officials that at this time nothing
| could be done toward lowering the
rate as all funds securable would be
needed in the plant improvements.
1t was stated definitely, however that
the rumor that the service charge
! would be increased from rs cents 10
so cents was ~unfounded n tnat
such would not take place.
Councilman Rothwell stated that
the ouality of gas was poor TO wnicn
manager Stockton replied mat at
this time the company was hapdi-
| capped as the plant a been unoer
| their control only since FEBRUARY
but that all efforts were being eA-
erted to improve the quality ana n
crease the quantity. He stated tnal
on Tuesday $4,000 worth or machin.
cry arrived and that by the hfteenth
of July the company plans 10 nave
all the new machinery installed.
Vice President Clothier stated that
between S62 900 and $4,000 would
be paid the United Gas Company Tor
their services in order to nave the
improvements completed before the
summer rush of gas consumers, ana
that the gas would be in circuit drlps
which would do away with the TAR
leaking out of the pipes. He also
stated that at least $4,000 would be
used for the installation of mains.
Mayor Mahoney stated that at
Rumson it was costing so cents a
DOT to intsall gas pipes from tae
curb to the house and ne was IN
formed that the work could De uohs
by any private individual PROVIDED
the specifications as issued by the
gas company were compiled with.
The following tabulated cost OF
producing a thousand feet of gas was
given as follows: .95 production;
1854 distribution; 1876 commercial;
% new business: so miscellaneous
making a total of $1.S9.3. The pres
emit charge of $2.25 and an extra SER
vice charge of 25 cents will remain
for the present. Former Mayor y. :.
Bogardus stated that in his opinion
the company would obtain a greater
volume of business If a drastic cut
in the rate took place as owing 10
moor gas and lack of service abous
so per cent of the consumers OF for
mer years had discontinued usihs
gas.
But the president and vice presi-
dent of the newly formed company
expressed themselves as being great,
ly in favor of reducing the rate and
that this matter would be given all
attention as soon as the needed re-
modelling of the plant had been con-
Guided.
II was also stated that amounts
due from excess gas charges would
not be collected if bills were que
prior to Nov. II. 1920, as these would
be smaller than the cost OF conect-
ing.
Altogether the meeting was a sue
cessful gathering of townspeop,s,
club women and representatives
from various municipalities VINO
agreed to assist in every way in max
ing the efforts of the new company