Evening star., 1925-08-29
GAS FIRM LOSES
S16,559 IN JULY
Barren Summer Period Is
Particularly FeIt-Position
of Industry Cited.
by CHAS. e. SHAEFTER.

The Washington Gas Light Co
operated at a deficit Of $16,559 durin"
July last, as compared with a profi1
! OF s20,022 in the corresponding month
| OF last year. according to statemer
filed with tie Public Utilities Con.
| mission early this afternoon.
! Summer months are always lean
periods Tor fuel and lighting co,A
panies, as consumption IS at the min
| mum. on the other hand, expenses
maintain All e-en keel regardless o.
! volume o. business, and this fact
coupled with July's intense heat and
the usual exodus Of consumers from
! the city, kept sales at an unusually
| low level. Then, too, the cost Of fuel.
| used in the manufacture of gas. priH-
| cipally coal and oil. increased matert
ally, for the most part being responsl
| BILE for an increase IN operating eE
! penses Of s29 900 In July last. as com
! pared with the same month Of last
year.
Operating revenues Of the compan2
totaled $2e9,1e6, with expenses OF
$24o. 500. Deductions from gross total
ed $29.2s5, and interest and discount
deductions aggregated $45,25t.
The Georgetown Gas Light Co. also
suffered q reverse of SO. PAS, as com
pared with a, gain OF So ,090 in July OF
| last year. Operating revenues smoun1
ed to SS4, ,135 and expenses to $32 .241
| Gas company obligations should be
classed among the best public utilitH
| investments. But because of the pres
ent widespread popularity of electriC
power and light company, some buy
ers have overlooked the security anG
stability of the gas business, so tina
| there are presented at intervals op
poItunities to purchase gas securitie.
on very advantageous terms.
| An analysis of the industry dispeis
any impression that electricity is
| driving gas from the field. There has
! been a substantial increase in cor
| sumption OF gas in this country eacl
year for the last 20 years. In 1924
! 405 ,344 900 cubic feet Of gas were cor
| sumed in the United States, by far the
| largest sendout OF any year since the
| industry was established in this coun
| try IN 1916. Furthermore, there il
! conclusive evidence that there is !
very definite acceleration in the an
| nual rate Of increase in the volume O.
! gas manufactured and its consunp
| ton per capita.
/ Originally introduced as an illumi
| nant, authorities now recognize thar
| gas has q much greater future as q
| source OF heat because of its cleanh
ness, economy and the ease with which
! 1t can be regulated to any predeteI-
I mined temperature. Gas is universalll
used for cooking. In the home as We
/ as III bakeries and restaurants, and
| there is beginning 70 be genera
! realization OF its deSirabllitr for the
heating Of water and buildings, espe
! cfally homes, and as fuel in ir-
| Vulnerable Industrial processes Sc
| wide IS its field of practical appllcs-
! ton that II Is even being used for tn
/ firing Of brick kilns.
! Gas companies have number o.
! advantages over electric light an.
! power enterprises. Gas can be man
! ufactured and stored during IT,
hours o. small send-out in auLicipa
ton OF peak demands, So that 4 plan
! OF comparatively small capacity VII,
! serve the same community as an elec-
tTlc plant OF larger size. in whici.
/ the capacity o. the generators mus
/ be based upon The peak demand
I casually oil short duration) rathei
than on the average load. During
. the early morning hours the gas plan
( Is making gas to be used during the
Forthcoming daylight hours whiIc
most electric plants are practically
shut down, earning no return on the
! investment. Furthermore. u large
part of the plant investment of
gas company Is IN distributing sys-
! tenn Of cast iron pipes laid under
! ground. on which the depreciation
! and maintenance is comparatively
, small. Cast iron pipe laid in the
| ground for more than 100 wears
/ when dug UP has been found to be in
perfect condition.
The following latest bid" anu
| asked" prices for unlisted securi
| ties are quoted for the guidance q,
| holders Of these issues: