1823.J on Gas Light 'Estahlishments, 7 



of retorts for the number of lights, which may be seen by a refer 

 ence to the table, yet it is stated to employ nearly double the 

 capital to the quantity of coals decomposed in comparison with 

 the City of London Company, and only a very little more than 

 the South London ; and notwithstanding all which the amount 

 of dividend varies but very little, and the premiums on the 

 shares are nearly the same in all. 



Without any design, the managers of a Company may often 

 times be mistaken in estimating their profits, more particularly 

 when their funds exceed the capital employed, as many expences 

 are charged to sunk capital which more particularly belong to 

 wear and tear, &c. ; for it is difficult to conceive that a gas esta- 

 blishment, like that of the City of London, with the wear and 

 tear of 170 retorts, the average number in lise — with the labour 

 necessary for working them — with the other expences in 

 management — of clerks — superintendants — inspectors — collec- 

 tors — directors, for, I believe, there are no gratuitous services — 

 law expences, &c. &c. should not expend above 7,839/.; and it 

 is still more difficult to beheve that the South London could 

 effect all this for 2,302/. ; while the Chartered Company is 

 expending 49,060/. Yet it is upon such documents as these 

 that Sir W. Congreve proposes to found his restrictive enact- 

 ments ; to regulate the price at which gas ought to be charged ; 

 and to do away with competition. For some years past, the 

 most enlightened part of our legislature have been using their 

 strenuous endeavours to do away with the evils that have arisen 

 from over legislation ; and here Sir W. C. wishes to submit the 

 Gas Companies to an infliction of all those evils ; but, we trust, 

 that Parliament at this present day is too well informed to attend 

 to such suggestions. He proposes that no competition should 

 be allowed, and that the mains of each Company should be 

 restricted to particular districts, that one may not interfere with 

 the other ; and to prevent any evil resulting from such a proce- 

 dure, he further suggests that the price of gas furnished by the 

 Companies should be fixed independent of their controul ; that 

 liable to all contingencies of increased expenditure, they of 

 course are not to be allowed to make an increased charge ; that 

 is to be left to some other direction. And how would the pub- 

 lic be benefitted by this? They may be secured against an 

 increase of price by legislative enactment instead of competi- 

 tion, but what security have they against a deteriorated article ? 

 against a scanty supply ? a diminished time of burning ? or a 

 slovenly and careless mode of supplying it? for gas may be 

 adulterated, and its illuminating powers diminished by various 

 methods ; the pressure on the gasometer may be diminished, the 

 mains may be suppUed for a less number of hours, and less care 

 may be taken in the purification of the coal gas. The Company 

 is secure from competition, and it may remunerate itself by such 

 means for the restriction it hes under. The reason which Sir Wv 



