Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17
D. c. GAS COMPANY
TO EXPEND SG(D,O|l)
IN EXPANSION PLAN
Lines viii Be Laid to Many
Sections of Nearby Mary
land and Virginia.
FIRST STEPS ARE TAKEN
IN PROGRAM FOR YEAR
Company Awaits Permission to
Increase Territory-Hearing
Next Thursday.

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The Washington Gas Light Co. has
launched on program of expansion
into Maryland and Virginia, which will
mean the piping of gas to many COM
munities for the first time, and the ex-
penditure of about 100000 for new
distribution.
This is part of plan for expansion
of the company, which comes in con-
junction with move for a new sched-
ule OF rates expected to be filed within
the next two weeks. President George
"A. G. Wood of the company plans to
hle the revised schedule of rates to
make more equitable distribution of
the exception of those having extremely
minimum gas bill per month. Most of
the monthly bills of consumers, with
the exception of those havin gextremely
low bills, are expected to be reduced.
Principal Factors.
The program of the company, which
was recently reorganized with Mr..
Wood at the head, is understood to
have two principal factors. first the de-
velopment of larger sales within the
: present territory, and, second, the add
! ing Of new territory in nearby Mary
land and Virginia.
The expansion program already is
granted for extension into Maryland,
the company has piped gas already as
Tar as Silver Spring. and is now on the
way to Kensington, Garrett Park and
Rockville. Gas will be In Rockville
before cold weather, the company has
promised the Public Service Commits
sion OF Maryland, at Baltimore.
AS explained by Vice Presidents
George B. Fraser and Frank A. Wood
head, this expansion program is look
ing even further into nearby commu-
mites. A hearing will be held next
Thursday at Baltimore before the Pub
lie Utilities Commission on an applica-
ton for permission to pipe gas to Seat
Pleasant, Capitol Heights and Tuxedo.
Gas service is now being extended in
the extreme Northeast section of the
District of Columbia.
Spreading out into Virginia, the ex-
panston prograrnmsin- that State alone
VIII call Tor expenditure of about
100000, the vice presidents explained.
New mains are now being laid toward
Falls Church, Va, TO follow what is
known as Memorial drive.
Gas lines also will be laid to serve
the Virginia communities of Bancroft,
RidgecreSt, Aurora, Oak Crest, Aurora
Heights, Glebe Road, Mackey's Hill and
Rock Spring Road.
FOucy Oh Expansion.
Last year the gas company laid is
miles OF new mains. But during 1880
so far already 80 miles of new mains
have been laid, and it is expected the
expansion program will include at
least 100 more miles, before the end of
the year.
Extensions are being made on the
expected revenue, according to Vice
President Woodhead, under what the
company considers a generous policy.
For instance If the net profit from the
new extension service can cover the
interest on the investment necessary
to make the extension, then the ex-
pansion Is authorized, In the hope of
an expanding market there in the
future.
I'VE look upon the Washington situa-
ton optimistically," said MIR. Woodhead.
who is in charge of engineering and
plant. He thinks there is good pos
sibility for further development. He is
taking an active part in the new ex-
pansion program.
BY way of improving facilities for
the public, Vive President Fraser ex-
planned that the company has re-
modelled its main Office and stores,
which, beginning tomorrow, will be
open for one week every night until
$50.
New Store and Branch.
A new store and branch Office has
been opened in Riggs Bank Building,
33l0-3312 Fourteenth street, and an
other at 5632 Connecticut avenue in
Chevy Chase, Mr.. Fraser explained.
and each of these will be open until
8 O'Clock each night for the convenience
of the public In addition the main
Office will remain open a half hour
longer daily, until $40 instead of S
O'Clock
Meanwhile legislation authorizing
merger of the Washington and the
Georgetown Gas Light companies, the
latter owned by the former, is pending
in the House, after having been favor
ably reported out by the House District
Committee.
Gas sales for the six months ending
June 80 of the Washington Co. showed
a deficit, but it was believed to have
been partially due to the excessive
heat. Statistics show that Washing
tonians burn more gas on a cool day
than on a hot day. For instance Sat
urday, August 8. this year, when the
average temperature for the day was 81
degrees, WaShingtonians burned 1926
900 less gas than they did on August 9
1929, when the records show the mean
temperature for the day was 1876 de-
grees. Conversely. the record for Au-
gust IL this year and last points to the
same trend 1t was cooler this August
IL, with a mean temperature of TIA
degrees for the day, and Washingtonian.
burned $4,000 cubic feet of gas more
than they did for August IL last year
when 1t was much warmer, with q
mean temperature of 1915 degrees.
Gas sales of the company for the si1
months fell off from 1881 ,780 900 last
year to 1888, 100000 cubic feet thil
year for loss of 63,120,000, or 18!
per cent.
Revenues for the same period de-
creased from $2,993, SEQ last year t.
S2,934,144 this year, or $59,549 a droI
of 1.e9 per cent.
Trends in Industry.
Mixed trends characterized the ga
industry during the first six months o
the current year throughout the coun
try, according to the American Ga
Association. Reports received by thi
association from companies Representing
go per cent of the manufactured ga
industry indicate an increase of pc
cent In manufactured gas sales and /.
per cent in revenue in the first hal
year, as compared with the correspond
ing period of 1929, while reports fror
companies representing 10 per cent G
the natural gas utility industry show
decline of AZ per cent in natural ga
sales and a drop of AZ per cent in rev
cnue for the same period.
Il L. NetUUEN asNg a -