Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/626

 6l2 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

period of 187710 1887 from $2.15 to$i.6o; and during the last ten years from $1.60 to $1.00. If this result has been accomplished in the past by the city, is it not fair to assume that still further reductions are still possible, especially as the discussion of the whole question has pointed out the weak spots in our present administration of the gas works and indicated where improved methods can be introduced to advantage ? And it must also be borne in mind that in cities where private corporations have been supplying the gas there have been practically no reductions in the price of gas at all commensurate with those made in Philadelphia.

"If, as it is claimed, the city has no funds sufficient to make the improvements indicated as necessary by Director Thompson, in April, 1896, the city can dispose of its Ninth Ward station, which it has been very generally agreed can now be dispensed with, and which would probably yield a million dollars. Addi- tional sums can be secured during the next three or four years by terminating the contract with the Philadelphia Gas Improve- ment Company for water gas at 37 cents per 1000 cubic feet and accepting the properly conditioned and amply protected offer of Col. John I. Rogers to supply water gas at 25 cents per 1000 cubic feet.

"This would represent a yearly saving of about $250,000. Add to this the economies which it has been satisfactorily demonstrated can be made under efficient business management in the matter of coal and other supplies, and in the disposal of residuals, and by dispensing with those men who are only employed for political reasons and not because they are needed (because we have the sworn testimony of experts of the highest character that the labor account is three times what it should be according to the general experience of gas manufacturers), and we have the assurance of a profitable and satisfactory adjustment of the whole problem, according to the admissions of the advocates of the United Gas Improvement Company's ordi- nance."

This "modern instance" is, however, an illustration of how