Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-15
AMERIC'US GAS
RATE HEARING
ON TOMORROW
Reduction Expected BY Manager
Ewing, Despite Failure To
Show Profits

The hearing on the citation of the
Americus Lighting company before
the state railroad commission to show
cause why the gas rate should not
be reduced here will be held IN the
commissions office in Atlanta to-
row. Col. Dodson, attorney for the
company, was to leave Macon today
for Atlanta to be present as rep
rcsentative of the company, and Il.
P. Ewing, local manager, left TINS
afternoon with data which he VIII
present to the commission as wit
ness.
Whether the city of Americus will
be represented or not at the near
ing was uncertain today. Nothing
had been done tip to this morning
j. w. Harris, Jr., chairman of the
light committee of the city council,
stated that the matter had never
been called to the attention of the
citv council and that no Information
other than a published news item q
few weeks ago, concerning the ap-
preaching hearing had come to his
attention. He sand he would consult
the mayor and city attorney and 9TH
er members Of. the council and see
whether it would not be possible to
have the city represented. 81.
While the citation was tor the
Lighting company to appear before
the commission, the commission TAX
ing the initiative itself, it was fear
ed that if the city sits idly by and
goes unrepresented at the hearing
this fact may be taken by the COM
mission as evidence that the people
are not interested in securing re-
duction in gas rates at this time.
Just Breaking Even
Manager Ewing stated today be
fore leaving that the company would
contend that the rates should not be
reduced at this time.
'The fact is, the gas plant has been
just breaking even at the present
rate for the last year. We have cut
operating costs in every possible way,
but high freight rates have made 1t
IMPOSSIBLE to make a fair profit. The
freight on coal now. alone is more
than freight and coal combined pre-
viously were. If we could get re
duction in freight rates now we could
cut the gas rate little.
81 suppose a general reduction IN
gas rates will be ordered by the com
mission regardless of the showing
made by the companies, and | dont
see now we will continue to get by
if that is done, unless conditions
change materially. 1t is possible the
electric plant could carry the deficit
Of the gas plant for time from the
smafi earnings it is now making, but
that isn't business; each plant and
department should stand on its 0Wf
feet.
improvements Needed
'sWe have tried to improve the
gas service, and | believe we have
done it. There are new improve
ments we would like to make, as tol
instance extending the 8-Inch man
on West Church street, putting IN
pressure pumps to give a good TloW
Of gas everywhere at meal hours
when everybody is using gas at the
same time. These improvements
mean capital investment, and unless
we can show fair earning already
on the property it is impossible to
command new capital. Our patron
age is better than it formerly was
and we would be getting along fairy
well il the commission would only
permit rates to remain where they
are for time yet"
The Americus gas rate is S2 per
1000 cubic feet, with a ten per cent
discount for payment by the tenth
of the month. When the commission
granted the last increase, which was
one of a series of several, the corp.
orations were given to understand
the increases were for the period OF
the emergency only, and would be
decreased in time.
Service Found o. K.
Recently the councils light com
mittee received the complaint OF the
Rotary club that the gas service was
bad and rates too high. Chairman
Harris reported today that, his com
mittee, of which w. Z. Taylor and
Fl. B. Mashburn are members, made
tests and investigations, and found
the quality of gas up to state re-
ouirements and the service good
when burners and apparatus were
kept in proper condition.