Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-27
SALE OF. CITY GAS
/. PLANT AUTHORIZED
Alexandra Council Moves to
Sell to Seaboard
Company.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, September ~
Sale of the municipality owned gas
generating plant and mains to the
Seaboard Investment Trust for a con-
sheraton OF $750,000, was officially
here yesterday afternoon. The sale
will be effective October /. The bid
OF the Seaboard Co., which is the
holding company of the Washington
Gas Light Co. and the Rosslyn Gas
Light Co., was accepted by council q
week ago.
Council also granted a franchise to
the newly formed Alexandria Gas Co.
to operate here. The Alexandria Cos
Co. already has been chartered by the
State Corporation Commission to do
business here. George A. G. Wood Is
president of the new concern.
Seek Price on Quality.
A discussion of rates came up dur
ing the consideration of the final action
on the sale, and officials of the pur-
chasing company sought to have coun-
Gil allow them to reduce the cost of
gas Il It bell below quality Of 500
British thermal units. Council, how
franchise must be adhered to.
On q basis of the lis per 1000 cubic
feet rate for users of less than $4,000
cubic feet per month, gas of SOS B. T.
u. quality would be charged for at a
fraction under $1.03 per 1000 cubic feet.
This will make the rates definite, which
council has favored in all of its dealings
In the matter.
The city will read all meters on Sep
TENDER SO and October /, thus balancing
the amounts used, and will collect for
gas up to that date The city will fur
nish . 24-hour supply of gas in the
holder and a months supply of materials
when the plant Is turned over.
Surveys Due October 2.
On October 2 surveyors will be here
in connection with extending the mains
to the outlying sections, where there
are 900 petitioners for gas service.
The new owners have four months in
which to install the new rates and to
furnish the 500 B. T. u. gas They also
have four months in which to begin lay
ing mains to the outlying sections. They
viii run O master main from RoSSlyn
into the local plant as soon as possible
and supply gas here through that source
until the by-products plant is built.
George A. @. Wood, president of the
new company. In q statement before
council, said that it was the ambition
benefit Of epen lower rates than those
specified when possible, and that the
company would make an attempt to
obtain quantity use. It was stated
that q heating rate of approximately
IS cents per 1000 cubic feet would
be established.
Money Motion Fails.
The matter Of the use of the $3.50, 1000
to be obtained from the sale was
brought up by Councilman Thomas j.
Fannon, who introduced a resolution
calling for all of the money to 60
toward the paying on of bonded in
debtedness This was lost for want
Of a second. Under the previously an
nounced plan: all but about 100000
will go toward paying on Indebtedness,
while this 100000 will be established
as q temporary loan fund from which
the city may borrow in anticipation
Of the collection of taxes.
Question of the permit for q gasoline
station ut Washington and wilkes streets
again came up, and City Attorney Carl
Budwesky said that, according to his
Interpretation of the records. the per-
NIT only called for So feet frontage
on Washington street.
Wants to Use Whole Lot.
Gardner L. Boothe, attorney, on be-
half OF Agnes G. Gael, owner of the
property, which the Standard OIL Co.
Of New Jersey is interested in, asked for
a permit to use all of the lot for a filling
station. After considerable discussion
the matter was finally proposed that 1t
be referred to the new Zoning Commits
sion.
At this point Attorney Boothe stated
that he did not want 1t referred to this
commission. Boothe said that Council
was testing with him. Mayor Carroll
case. Boothe then sought to withdraw
the petition On vote however, 1t was
referred to the zoning Commission, to
o. Councilman Thomas ]. Fannon not
voting.