GAS COMPANIES AND LOCAL BODIES.

Evening Star, Issue 3822, 25 May 1875, Page 2

GAS COMPANIES AND LOCAL BODIES.

One after another the cities and towns in England and Scotland—the system does not appear to exist to any great extent in the sister isle—have keen taking the management of local gasworks into their own hands through their representatives, and scarcely in a single instance has the proceedings been attended with failure. On the contrary, the result has in every instance of any note proved most advantageous to the public. The price of the gas has been considerably reduced, its illuminating power increased, and a handsome net profit rendered available for application either to the construction of public works, or the relief of the water rate. A. reference to some of the principal towns in which the system to which we allude has been adopted will be sufficient to verify our statements.

Manchester is a leading example of thi advantages derived from the gas supply ef a city being vested in the hands of the municipal corporation. It may be mentioned, as appears from the evidence given before the committee upon private Bills of the House of Commons iu 1870, on the Sheffield Gas Purchase Bill, that Manchester is an exception

to mart oitiei In this respect, inasmuch m there a company had never been formed tor the establishment of gasworks. The police commissioners managed the system of gas supply until some years ago, when the works were transferred to the corporation, •ince the works came into their possession d b ° en «? abl .ed to spend -1,30°,000 upon public improvem nts. while selling gas at a low priqe, considering its illuminating power. The water rate u a heavy and compulsory tax in Manchester, and towards its relief a sum of no less than 125.000 has been appropriated. The price of gas is only 3a 2d par 1,000 cubic feet, while a discount is allowed to consumers of over 6.000 ft per quarter. Many gas consumers with plant of their own have found it more economical to use the gas of the corporation. The public lamps are lighted at an expense of 25s each per annum in the city, burning 3,462 hours per day, and consuming at the rate of 2| ft per honr, or about 10.000 ft per annum. The illuminating power is 21.11 sperm candl< s. The extent of their gas works and the reticulation of the city and outlying suburbs may be gathered from the fact that there are 261 miles of mains within the city and 137 beyond. The average price of coal in Manchester is 14s. while the price of ooke, the principal residual product, is 5s per ton, Che following figures will show how the system has really worked in the hands of the Manchester Corporation for the stated below

The gross profits of 1871 were L 79.322, showing the steady increase of the annual profits, notwithstanding the large reduction in the price of the gas. During the ten years mentioned the appropriation of the gross profits was as follows

Of this surplus L 196,115 was applied to improvement purposes, and L 25.982 towards the reduction of the water rate. Manchester, it must be remembered, is not ™ xce , pti ?. nal caso In the early part of 1870, tha Bradford Town Council, becoming dissatisfied with the proceedings of the gas company in the town, resolved to adopt measures with a view of obtaining posseiHtiott of the local works. They in the first instmice addressed communications to fourteen different (ities and towns in which the local bodies had assumed the responsibility of supplying the gas in their respective districts. The following queries were put in each case -Ist. Whether the qualit* of the gas supplied had improved or deteriorated from the date of the transfer to the town council ? 2nd. Whether the price had advaaced or declined ? 3rd. Whether the acquisition of the works had proved profitable to the community or otherwise? Of the fourteen places addressed the reply of ten to the first query was that the quality had been improved, and from four that the quality was the same as previously ; thirteen out of the fourteen replied that the price had been reduced, and the other that the price remained unaltered; there was but one uniform reply from all as to the third, namely, that the acquisition of the gasworks had proved a public benefit. This information, as might have been expected. decided the question in the minds of the Bradford Town Council, and we accordingly find them towards the end of the year taking steps towards obtaining the works of the gas com . any on whom the town was depending for its supply, the resuit being that they succeeded in their 1858 the Halifax Council pur* chased the local company’s \yorks for L 35,000. The illuminatiog power used by the old company was only ten sperm candles, and the price charged 4j per 1,009 ft. The council in a short time increased the illuminating power to seventeen candles, but the price remained unaltered. Between the years 1861 and 1869 the gross profits derivable from the gas works were L 44.381. These profits had been applied in aid of the rates. In 1881 there had been a saving of Bsd in the pound, in 1363, 9d, and in 1869, 94«

I860., Gross profit. Price. £ s. d. - 64,779... Excess of assets. £ ... 68,280 1861.. [t o} ... 107,260 1862.. 4 0 ... 126,597 1863.. 145,201 1864.. {! 1} ... 163, Oil 1865.. .... 56.432... {1 1) ... 180,698 1866 .... 52,553 ... 3 2 ... 200,382 1867 .... 47,323... 3 2 ... 220,280 IH6H .... 49,547 ... 3 2 ... 239,685 1869 .... 52,736 ... 3 2 ... 362’374 1870 .... 65,343... 3 2 ... 286,861

£ B. Interojfc < ... 163,731 10 d. o Liquidation of mortgage _ debt 212,7^$ V/ 5 Surplus 222,097*19 ■S«