UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY Class Book Volume Ja 09-20M ILLUMINATING GAS. WHO HAS BENEFITED BY IT? BOSTON: ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS, No. 24 Franklin Street. 1886 . 4 V KW o-ir WHO BENEFITS BY COMPETITION^iTHE;^ COM- PANIES OR THE^ CO^iSUMERS?.. , / . The following list of prices at which gas was sold in July, 1884, will answer that question : — No Competition. Population Price per Results of Population Price per Census of 1880. 1,000 ft. Competiton. Census of 1880. 1,000 ft. BOSTON GAS L. CO. NEW YORK . 1,206,299 $2.26 abt. 160,000 $1,60 > BROOKLYN, 566,663 2.00-2.60 [Boston proper.] to city 1,30 ' BALTIMORE . . 332,313 1.62i LOWELL . . . . 59,485 1.60 city 1.86 LAWRENCE . . . 39,178 1.90 ALBANY . . . 90,758 2.60 HAVERHILL . . . 18,475 1.80 ROCHESTER . . 89,366 2.00 CHARLESTOWN . 33,734 2.00 MEMPHIS . . . 33,592 3.00 ROXBURY . . . . 60,879 2.00 BUFFALO . . . 155,134 2.26 CAMBRIDGE . . . 52,740 2.00 NEW ORLEANS . 216,090 C 3,60 EAST BOSTON . . 29,918 2.00 1 4.00 LYNN . 38,284 2.00 DETROIT . . . 116,340 2,00 NEW BEDFORD . . 26,875 1.87 ST. LOUIS . . . 350,518 2,60 WORCESTER . . . 58,295 2.00 C 1.60 SAN FRANCISCO, 233,959 SOUTH BOSTON . 56,370 2.00 C 2,26 WASHINGTON, D.C., 147,293 1.60 TROY .... . 56,747 2,76 NASHVILLE . . . 43,350 2.10 PROVIDENCE . 104,857 1.90 to city 1.05 INDIANAPOLIS . 7.5,056 2,00 SYRACUSE, N. Y. . 51,792 1.80 JERSEY CITY . 120,722 2,60 COLUMBUS, 0. . . 51,665 1.26 CHARLESTON, S. C.,49,984 2,50 CINCINNATI . . 255,708 1.60 Z.V\<=\'5 A COMPARISON -PF; : XHE PRICES AT WHICH GAS HA^^ solo" kk*' BOSTON BY THE BOSTON GAS^LI^HT^^CQMPANY AND IN NEW YORK SINCE BOSTON. NEW YORK. Years. Price per 1,000 Population ft. from census. Price per 1,000 ft. Population. 1849 . . .$3.50 $3.50 1851 . . . 3,00 136,851 4,00 515,547 1852 . . . 2,50 3,00 1856-57 . . 2.50 2,50 & meter rent. 1860 . . . 2,25 177,840 2,50 805,638 1863 . . . 2,25 2,50 Four companies 1864 . . . 2,50 2,50 2,50 ^ 1865 . . . 3,25 war tax. 3,50 r war tax. 4,00 ^ Six companies 1870 . . . 2,75 250,526 3,00 942,292 1871 . . . 2.50 2,75 1872 . . . 2,50 2,75 1874 . . . 2.50 2,75 1875 . . . 2,50 2,75 1876 . . . 2,25 2,50-2,75 1879 . . . 2,00 ,75-2.50 Seven companies 1881 . . . 2,00 362,839 2,25 1,206,299 1882 . . . 2.00 2,25 1883 . . . 1,80 2,25 1884 . . . 1,50 to city 1,30 2,25 1885 . . . 1,50 to city 1,30 1,75 Eight companies, ,/ A SHORT HISTORY COMPETITION IN GAS IN LONDON, PARIS, AND A FEW OF THE ESPECIALLY FAVORED CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates https://archive.org/details/competitioninillOOunse LONDON. ?t» C-f^k-iZL^ C'kL--, rnj. CL^.Ji^ . ' Population in 1881, 3,831,719. M ^ ^ ^L^i^fc-c 'yo <^ The Gas Light and Coke Company was organized in London in 1810, with a capital of £200,000. The principle of free competition in gas was tried in London for ^ many years, and one company after another was chartered, until in 1845, there were thirteen companies competing in London, and the pipes of six or seven companies were laid in the same street. The anno 3 "ance to the public in the constant disturbance to the pavements, the frequent leaks, and the difficulty in ascertaining which of the many companies was responsible therefor and bound to repair them, and the fluctuation in prices, at last obliged Par- liament to interfere. For ten years only one gas company paid an}' dividends, and that company only about two per cent. / In 1860, by The Metropolis Gas Act, the following companies, all supplying gas in London, were obliged to give up competition, and supply gas only in the districts established by the Act ; viz.. The Gas Light and Coke Company, The City of London Gas Light and Coke Company, The Commercial Gas Light and Coke Com- pany, The Equitable Gas Light Company, The Great Central Gas Consumers Company, The Independent Gas Light and Coke Com- pany, The London Gas Company, The Phoenix Gas Light and Coke Company, The Ratcliffe Gas Light and Coke Company, The Surrey Consumers Gas Company, The South Metropolitan Gas Light and Coke Company, The Western Gas Light Company, and The Imperial Gas Light and Coke Company. Since 1870, various acts of Par- liament have been enacted obliging the various companies to con- solidate, and in 1875, The Commercial Company consolidated with the Ratcliffe ; in 1876, The Gas Light and Coke Company ab^-orbed seven of the other Companies ; and in 1881, The South Metropoli- tan absorbed three other companies; so that in 1884, London was supplied under supervision of Parliament with cheap gas at a price fixed by law, and inspected by government inspectors, by the fol- lowing companies, viz. : — V 8 1. The Gas Light and Coke Company. Capital, £9,656,147. Price per 1,000 ft 68-74 cents Cubic feet of gas sold, 13,749,951,337. 2. The Commercial Company. Capital, £745,845. Price per 1,000 ft 70 cents Cubic feet of gas sold, 1,562,426,390. 3. The South Metropolitan Compan3^ Capital, £2,092,221. Price per 1,000 ft 70 cents Cubic feet sold, 3,842,445,805. 4. The London Compan}^ Capital, £898,891. Price per 1 ,000 ft. . ' 75 cents Cubic feet sold, 1,596,035,873. The English Parliament has been lately petitioned to compel the consolidation of the Gas Light and Coke Company and the Commer- cial Company, which will be undoubtedly done in the near future. Q'UU- parS/fran^ ' Population: 1872,1,851, 692 ; 1881, 2,269,023. Gas was for some years furnished to the citizens of Paris by eight competing gas companies. So much inconvenience and an- noyance was caused by this competition that, in 1855, they were forced by the Emperor Napoleon to consolidate into one company. The Parisian Gas Company. At the same time a commission was ap- pointed by the Municipal Council of Paris to determine the kind of gas to be made by the company, and after an examination of the different processes, including that for making water gas, the gas com- pany was ordere ’ to make coal gas, and that only. In 1878 gas was sold for $1.45 per 1,000 feet, and the company paid eighteen per cent dividends. ' In 1882 the company paid to the city of Paris $2,500,000, and sold 9,724,921,186 cubic feet. In 1883 it sold 10,024,955,150 cubic feet, and paid dividends 13^ per cent. The capital of the company is 256,245,000 francs = about $51,259,000. The company is obliged to divide with the city all profits over ten per cent. ( d- NEW YOlJK.Qlrl^Y.. Population: 1850, 515,547; 1870, 912^29^:, 1 88,0,, ly^Oe. 299. In 1823 the first gas company, the New’ York Gas Light Com- paii}’, was organized with a capital of $ 1 , 000 , 000 , which was increased by a stock dividend in 1871 of $3,000,000, to its present capital of $4,000,000. In 1836 the Manhattan Gas Corapan}^ was organized as a com- peting coinpanj^, with capital which has been increased graduall}" to $4,000,000, and after a short competition it purchased a dis- trict ft’om the New York Compan}", and both companies sold gas at same price. Before 1871 the Harlem Gas Company organized in 1855 with capital of $120,000, increased by 1884 to $2,000,000, and The Met- ropolitan Gas Campan}’ organized in 1858 with capital increased to $2,500,000, were both organized as competing companies, and ^ began by competing, and ended by purchasing a district from the other companies, and ceasing to compete. In 1871 they all sold gas for $2.75 per 1,000 cubic feet. In that year the Mutual Gas Light Company’ was organized by the Tweed ring with a nominal cajutal of $5,000,000, of which not more than $2,500,000, was paid in, and was given a roving commis- sion to sell gas anywhere in New York Cit}’. They laid their pipes only in the thickly settled part of the city and in the principal streets, but soon agreed to charge the same price as the other com- panies and competition ceased. They made a coal gas, enriched with naphtha. In 1874 the Municipal Gas Light Company was chartered with an original capital of $500,000 (increased in 1880 to $3,000,000, with bonds issued to amount of $750,000), to make water gas, and in 1876, having laid their pipes onl 3 " in the large thoroughfares, an active competition ensued for several 3 ’ears, during which the price of gas fluctuated from 75 cents up to $2.50 per 1 ,000 feet. An a^'cement was made in 1878 b}" which all the companies j agreed to charge $2.25 per 1,000 feet for five years. The Knickerbocker Gas Corapanj^ was started soon after, as a competing company, and was bought out by the Municipal Gas Compan}" at a cost of $1,250,000. 10 In 1880 'tile' ITqw; .York G-as Co. adopted the manufacture of water gns,‘ but made no reductioa in its price. In 1884 a :eon&olidatioii :a>as ' effected by which six companies combined with the following results Amount of Stock. New York pas .^-ight Co. Manhattan Gas Light Co. Metropolitan Gas Light Co. Municipal Gas Liglit Co. . Knickerbocker Gas Light Co. Hailem Gas Light Co. $7,821,000 12,352,000 7.422.000 5.276.000 3.104.000 3.103.000 $39,(578,000 In 1883 the Equitable Gas Light Co. was organized, with capi- tal $2,000,000 and bonds to amount $1,000,000, and laid pipes, and built its works in 1884, and is now selling water gas at $1.75. The Mutual Gas Light, with capital of $5,000,000, has not 3’et joined the consolidation, nor has the Equitable Gas Light Co. c Amount of capital on which to pa}’ dividends Mutual Gas Light Compan}^ Equitable Gas Company . Amount of gas sold about 4,800,000,000 cubic feet. $39,078,000 5 ,( 00,000 $44,078,000 3,000,000 $47,078,000 Amount to be added to cost of gas to pa}’ 10 per cent dividend = $1 .00 per 1 ,000 feet. Amount to be added to cost to pay 6 per cent = 60 cents. The Union Gas Company was chartered February, 1885, with capital of $1,000,000 ^ krO^lyn/n: Y. Population: 1870, 396,099; 1880, 566,663. The Brooklyn Gas Company was organized about 1849, and furnished gas to the original portion of the city wit hout compe - t ition until 18 61, and now has a capital of $2 OCO,000. The Williamsburg Gas Light Company was organized about 1854, and has supplied the Eastern District of Brooklyn ever since with- out competition. 11 The Citizens’ Compan}^ was organized as a competing compan}’’ in 1861, with a capital of $1,520,000, and entered upon a vigorous competition with the old Brooklyn Company, during which gas was sold as low as t.wpivn and one hn]f‘ ppr 1 orTLfpnf- ; hut in 1863, the Citizens’ Company purchased a district from the Brook- lyn Company, and competition ceased. The Peoples Company, with a capital of $1 ,600,000, and the Metropolitan Gas Company, with a capital of $1 ,000,000, were both organized as competing companies, and after a short com[)etition, bought districts from the old company and agreed upon a price. In 1873, the Nassau Company, with capital of $1,700,^ 00, was organized, competed, bought out a district, ceased to compete, and agreed on same price. In 1877, the Mutual Gas Light Company was organized, but did not succeed ; and in 1880, the Fulton Municipal Gas Company bought its charter and began an active competition with the oth^n’ companies, under the control of the Standard Oil Company. It made water gas and had a nominal capital of Sl,8< 0,000. The Fulton Municipal Company competed first with the Peoples^ \ Company, then with the Citizens’, and by threatening competition with the Brooklyn Company and the Williamsburg Company, obliged them to pa}^, in one case $85,000, and in the other $20,000, per annum to be let alone. During the competition gas was givei;^ awa}^ at times, and sold at nominal rates. In 1883-84, the Fulton Company attempt( d competition with the Nassau Company, but was obliged to give it up, and the two com- panies have agreed to charge the same price for gas, viz., $2 per 1,000 feet. Where there is no competition with coal gas, the Fulton Company has charged $2.50 per 1,000 feet, until a few weeks ago, when the price was reduced to $2. In 1884, the capital invested by the seven companies amounted to about $12,000,000, and the gas sold was 1,100,000,000 cubic feet. Amount to be added to the cost of each 1,000 feet of gas to paj^ dividend of ten per cent on this capital, about $1.10. Price of gas in 1884 per 1,000 feet, $2 and $2.50. In 1884, the Brookl}^ Equitable Gas Company has been chartered, with a capital of $1,000,000, but has not j^et begun operations. 12 Boston Gas Light Co., price of Gas. 1874 $2.50, per 1., 000 ft. Brooklyn. $3.00 1876 2.25 “ “ . . * . — 1879 ' 2.00’ “ . . . 2.75 1882 2.00 “ . . . . 2.50 1883 1.80 ‘‘ “ ■ C 2.00 1884 1.50 “ “ . 1 2.50 C 2.00 . ' ( 2.50 /O /o BALTIMORE, MD. Population: 1850, 16.), 054; 1870, 267,354; 1880,332,313. Up to the year 1872 the Baltimore Gas Light Compan}’’, with a capital of 000, 000, supplied the whole city with coal gas. In 1872 a newcompan}’. The Peoples’ Gas Light Company, was organized with a capital of S2, 000, 000, and at once without competi- tion purchased a district from the old company and agreed upon a price with the old company. In 1874 the price charged by both lor 1,000 feet was $2.75. In 1878 or 1879, the Consumers Gas Company was organized, with a nominal capital of $2,500,000, to m ike water gas, and compete with the Baltimore Gas Company. The price of gas was then $2.00 per 1,000 feet. The old company sold gas for $1.50, the Water Gas Company at $1.90 per 1,000 feet, until in 1880 all three com- panies combined and formed the Consolidated Gas Light Companj’ of Baltimore, with a capital of $9,600,000. In 1881 a new coal gas company. The Equitable Gas Compan}", was organized, with a capital of $2,500,000, which competed with the Consolidated Company and sold gas for $1.00 per 1,000 feet. In 1884 The Equitable Gas Company ceased to compete and com- bined with the Consolidated, and gas was sold for $1.62^ to con- sumers, and to city for $1.85 per 1,000 feet. Amount of capital upon which consumers must pay interest, $ 12 , 000 , 000 . Amount of gas sold annuall}^ about 1,000,000,000 cubic feet. Amount to be added to cost of gas to paj" ten per cent dividend, $1 .20 per 1,000 feet. Amount to be added to cost of gas to paj' six per cent dividend, 72 cents per 1,000 feet. SAN FRANCISCO. Population in 1880, 233,959. \ In 1852 the San Francisco Gas Light Company was organized, and built its works in 1854-55. Since that year there have been from time to time three new companies chartered, which built works, competed, and then sold out to the San Francisco Gas Light Company, causing an unnecessary addition to the capital of the old company of $5,000,000. In 1880 a water gas company. The Central Gas Light Company, was organized, with a capital of $1,000,000. The amount, how- ever, paid for erecting their works was reported to be only $149,- , 000 in cash, and $400,000 in stock. Competition ensued between these companies until October, 1882, when both companies agreed upon a price. The capital on which consumers in San Francisco now pay interest amounts to over $10,000,000 ; and therefore the price of gas in 1882 was $3.00 per 1,000 feet. In 1883, since the competition began, the price was $1.50 ; but in October, 1884, the price was raised to $2.25, where it now remains. Both companies paid only two per cent dividends during last two years. Population in 1880, 104,857. In 1849 the Providence Gas Light Company was organized, and has now a capital of $2,500,000. In 1863 the price of gas was $3.00 per 1,000 feet; in 1865, $4.40. In 1872 the Citizens’ Gas Light Company was organized as a competing coal gas company, but did not go into active operation, and its charter was purchased in 1874 by a naphtha gas company, which in 1876 laid pipes in the streets and built gas works, and competition began in 1877. In 1876 gas was sold for $2.25. In 18/7 gas was sold by the old company at $2.00 per 1,000 feet. In 1878 the Citizens’ Gas Company sold out to the old company 14 for $700,000, and competition ceased. Price of gas advanced at once to $2.25. The price of gas in 1883 was $2.10 per 1,000 feet; and in 1884, $1.90 and $1.80 per 1,000 feet. Gas sold in 1884, about 345,000,000 cubic feet. Amount to be added to cost of gas to pay ten per cent dividend, 70 cents. A new water gas company is now (1884) organized to compete, and has applied to city government for permission to lay pipes. INDIANAPOLIS. ^ Population in 1880, 75,056. In 1851 the Indianapolis Gas Light Company was chartered with a capital of $20,000, and has supplied the whole city ever since, with the exception of a short interval in 1867, when a new company. The Citizens’ Gas Light and Coke Company, having been organized to make gas from a patent process, competed for a short time, dug up all the streets and tlien sold out to the old company. , In 1867 the price was $3.00, and before that date it had been $4.50. \ In 1870 the capital of the company was $500,000. In 1883 and 1884, the price of gas was $2.00 per 1,000 feet. new ORLEANS. Population in 1880, 216,090. Up to 1870 the New Orleans Gas Light Company, which was in- corporated in 1835 and given an exclusive right for forty 3’ears, supplied the whole city. In 1870 the price of gas was $3.00 per 1,000 feet. In 1870 the Crescent City Gas Light Company was chartered, with the exclusive right after 1875. In 1875 the two companies consolidated, retaining the name of the New Orleans Gas Company. Z' In 1880 the Municipal Gas Company was organized, and was bought out by the New Orleans Gas Company for the sum of $1,250,000, which was added to the capital. The price of gas was then raised to $3.50 per 1,000 feet, and the united capital is \ now $3,750,000. Ill 1883 water gas was substituted for coal gas, and the price 15 reduced to $2.00 per 1,000 feet, but it has not been satisfactory to the consumer. In 1884 a new company, The Consumers’ Gas Company, was chartered, and another company has applied for a charter. cpr\ TROY, N. Y. Population in 1880, 56,747. The Troy Gas Light Company organized in 1848, with capital of $100,000 ; originally supplied the whole city. The West Troy Gas Light Company was then organized, and purchased a portion of the territory of the Troy Gas Light Company, and in 1870 the price for gas in Troy was $3.75 per 1,000 feet, and in West Troy, $4.50. The Citizens’ Gas Light Company was organized in 1875, with a capital of $600,000, and after a short competition purchase d a dis- trict of the o ld company ; and $700,000 was added to the capital on which consumers must pay interest. The price of gas in 1883 was $3.00 per 1,000 feet; in 1884, $2,75 per 1,000 feet. CHARLESTON, S. C. Population in 1880, 49,984. The Charleston Gas Company, with a capital of $400,000, sup- plied the whole city until 1857, when a new company was organized, The Carolina Gas Light Company, with a capital of $366,600, which built works, dug up the streets, and begun a competition with the old company, which lasted one year, and then the new c6mpany combined with the old company, with a united capital of $766,600. In 1883, the price of gas was $2.85 per 1,000 feet; in 1884, $'2.50. BUFFALO, N. Y. Population in 1880, 155,134. Up to 1870 the Buffalo Gas Light Company supplied the city without competition. In 1870 two companies were organized, the Buffalo Mutual Gas Company to make coal gas, with a capital of $750,000 in stock, and $200,000 in bonds, and the Oxy-hydrogen Gas Company, with a IG capital of $750,000, to make gas under a patent process, which was unsuccessful, and in 1874 it reorganized as the Citizens’ Gas Com- pany to make coal gas. / In 1870 the Mutual Gas Compan}^, without competition, bought a district from the old company. In 1874 the Citizens’ Gas Company bought a district from the \ old company, and ceased to compete. The additional capital on which to pay interest amounts to $1,700,000. All three companies, until 1884, charged $2.25 per 1,000 feet; in 1884 they charged $2.00 and $1.80. A fourth company now (1884) proposes to enter and compete. ALBANY, N. Y. Population in 1880, 90,758. / The Albany Gas Light Company supplied the whole city until a new company. The Peoples’ Gas Light Compan}^ was organized, when the usual competition ensued, ending, as usual, in the pur- chase of a district from the old com pany by the new, and an in crease of capital of $1,000,000 , upon which the consumers pay ^ interest. Amount of gas sold in 1884, 100,000,000 cubic feet. Price of gas in 1860, $3.50 per 1,000 feet. In 1883 and 1884, the price of gas was $2.00 to $2.50. Population in 1880, 503,185. The Chicago Gas Company was first organized, and made and supplied coal gas. Afterwards the Hyde Park Company was organized, and supplied a portion of the cit}", and has now a capital of $5,000,000. In 1855 a new company. The Peoples’ Gas Light and Coke Company, was chartered. In 1862 it bought a district from the Chicago Gas Light Company, and competition ceased. The price of gas sold by the Hyde Park Company in 1883 was $3.00 per 1,000 feet, hj the Chicago Gas Company $2.25, and by the Peoples’ Gas Company, $3.00, 17 J In 1884 a fourth company, The Consumers’ Gas Company, a water gas compan}^, was organized, and competition with the Chicago Gas Company began, and is still going on. The Chicago Gas Company charged $1.00 per 1,000 feet in 1884, and the Con- sumers’ Gas Company, $1.25. The Consumers’ Gas Company built works through a construc- tion company at a cost of about one and one half millions of dol- lars, and paid for them $2,000,000 in bonds and $3,000,000 in stock, — an added capital of $5,000,000. LOUIS. Population in 1880, 350,518. Up to 1870 the St. Louis Gas Light Company, with a capital of $600,000, supplied the city. In 1870 the Laclede Gas Light Company was organized, and has now a capital of $1,600,000. It began competition, which lasted less than a year, when the usual combination took place, and the St. Louis Gas Light Company sold a district to the Laclede Gas Light Company for $700,000. The price of gas sold by both companies^ was then advanced from $2.25 per 1,000 feet to $3.25. In 1874 the price of gas was $3.09 per 1,000 feet. In 1883 a water gas company, the St. Louis Gas Fuel and Power Compan}^, was organized to sell fuel gas, but finding that unprofitable began to make and sell illuminating gas, and competed with the Laclede Gas Light Company. The price of gas in 1884, when competition was* active, was $1.50. In 1883 the price per 1,000 feet was $2.50 ; and in 1884, $2.50 where there was no com- petition. ROCHESTER N. Y. Population in 1880, 89,366. The Rochester Gas Light Company was organized in 1848, with caiptal of $700,000, and until 1872 was the only company in the city, and supplied the whole city. The price of gas in 1870, was $3.50. In 1872 the Citizens’ Gas Company, a coal gas company was organized’ with capital of $500,000, and began competition in 1874, and after a short competition the old company sold to it its business and mains on the east side of the Genesee River. In 1881 the Municipal Gae Company was organized, and began competition, making and selling water gas. The gas of all three companies sold during competition for 80 cents to $1.00 per 1,000 feet. In 1883 the price was raised to $2.10 per 1,000 feet, and in 1884 a compromise was made, and all the companies charged $ 2 . 00 . The Municipial Gas Company issued $250,000 bonds and $500,- 000 stock, making, with an indebtedness of $200,000, a total cap- ital of $950,000 on which consumers must pay interest, besides on the capitals of the two other companies, $1,200,000. DETROIT. Population in 1880, 116,340. The Detroit Gas Light Company supplied the city of Detroit until 1873. In 1872 the price of gas was $3.00 per 1,000 feet, with discount, making the price $2.50 net per 1,000 feet. In 1871 the Mutual Gas Light Company was chartered. It orga- nized with a capital of $500,000, built its works, and competition ensued. Gas was at times sold as low as forty-five cents per 1,000 feet; and in 1874 and 1875 it was sold by the old company for $2.00 per 1,000 feet, and by the new company for $1.00 per 1 ,000 feet. In 1877 competition ceased, and a division of the city was made, the new company pa 3 fing $140,000 to the old company. Each com- pany supplied its own district, and the price of gas was at once raised to $2.50 per 1,000 feet, until 1883, when the price was fixed at $2.25. In 1884 the price was $2.00 per 1,000 feet. The new company in 1873 and 1875 issued $300,000 bonds, mak- / ing, with its capital, $800,000 additional capital upon which the people of Detroit must pay interest. JERSEY CITY. Population in 1880, 120,722. Until the year 1853, the Jersey City Gas Light Company supplied Jersey City, and after that 5 '’ear’ supplied Hoboken also. It has a capital of $750,000. In 1864, the Hudson County Gas Light Company was chartered. 19 and the Jersey City Gas Light Company sold to it its mains and business in Hoboken for $100,000. In 1868, the Peoples’ Gas Light Company — a third coal gas company — was organized, and purchased a portion of the old com- pany’s remaining territory, and, in 1883, sold 36,000,000 cubic feet of gas. In 1883 the capital of the three companies amounted to about $2,000,000, and the price of gas per 1,000 feet was $2.50. In 1883-84, a fourth company had been organized — The Con- sumers’ Gas Company — with a reported capital of $1,000,000, and $600,000 bonds, with the purpose of making water gas. RESUME. The three items of cost of illuminating gas are : — Firsts Cost of manufacture, including labor and material. Second^ Cost of distribution, including salaries and all ex- penses. Third, Interest on capital invested. Tlie Boston Gas Light Company has capital of $2,500,000, and sells about 900,000,000 cubic feet of gas. Amount to be added to cost of gas to pay ten per cent dividends $0 28 The New York Consolidated Gas Company must add to cost of gas to pay ten per cent dividends . . 1 00 The Baltimore Consolidated Gas Compan}^ must add to cost of gas to pay ten per cent dividends . . 1 20 The Brooklyn gas companies must add to cost of gas to pay ten per cent dividends . . . . . 110 COMPETITION HAS, TO SAY THE LEAST, RETARDED MATERIALLY THE GRADUAL DECREASE IN THE COST OF GAS WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, CAUSED BY THE DECREASE IN COST OF MATERIAL AND BY THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESSES OF MANUFACTURE.