Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-05
ELDEN MITCHELL TAKES GAS PIPE
LAYING SERVICE TO PUBLIC
UTILITY COMMISSION

The complainant has sent the Board
a copy of a statement made by Eden
Mitchell, a builder in Wildwood, re-
ferring to a charge of 55 cents per lin
cal foot made by the Wildwood Gas
Company for installing service pipes
from the center of the street to the
residence of the customer, Mr.. Mitchell
stating that the local plumbers will do
the same work at the rate of 80 cents
per lineal foot. Secretary COPYRIGHT
Smith states in his letter to the Board
that this is the second complaint of
this nature filed with the Board of
Trade and appears to feel that the
charge made by the Wildwood Gas
Company is high and should be low
cred owing to the reduction in the cost
of materials.
The Boards inspectors have made
an investigation of the cost of install
ing service pipes by various gas com
panies in the state and examined the
figures submitted by the Wildwood
Gas Company showing that company's
estimated average cost of installing
service pipes in Wildwood. Making an
allowance for the storeroom charges,
the hauling charges, the cost of pipe
fittings, etc., in connection with the
material costs, and allowing for loss
of time in carrying men from one job
to another in estimating the labor
costs, the Boards inspectors feel that
so cents per lineal foot is a reasonable
price for the Wildwood Gas Company
to charge for service pipes at this
time. In addition to the material and
labor costs an allowance is made
for the cost of bookkeeping, collecting,
etc, and the Boards inspectors feel
that if the company's charge is re-
duced to the above figure the pipe can
be installed without loss to the COM
pany.
The Boards inspectors have always
felt that service pipes should be in
stalled by the gas company, as the
Boards rules hold the company re-
sponsible for the quality of the gas
service supplied at the outlet of the gas
meters. The company, however, does
not appear to be justified in making
a profit from the work of installing
service pipes. The fiat charge of $3.50
included in the company's present cost
of installing service pipes to Owe the
cost of cutting the cellar walls and
repairing walls, sidewalks and lawns,
and transportation of men has appa-
rently caused considerable complaint,
as the average customer or applicant
for service does not understand the
reason for making this charge. In the
estimate of the Boards inspector an
of this work.
1t might be added that most of the
gas companies in this state are now
installing gas service pipes for so
cents per foot or less. One of the
companies supplying seashore resorts
has recently reduced its charge from
40 cents to 80 cents per lineal foot.
This company, however, also has a fiat
charge of $500, which is based on the
same costs as the fiat charge now made
by the Wildwood Gas Company. r
Summing up, it appears advisable to
recommend that the Wildwood Gas
Company revise it's charge for service
connections, installing this work at
the rate of so cents per lineal foot OF
pipe from the curb line to the meter,
the fiat charge of $3.50 to be discon-
tinued.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILANDER BELTS,
Chief Inspector, Bureau of Utilities
Investigation made by
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