THE GAS SUPPLY OF BOSTON.

This article presents information on the competition prevalent in Boston regarding the supply of gas. First, however, some further reference should be made to the contracts for the public lighting. The much- vaunted contract of February, 1893, with the Brookline Company, had fixed a price of seventy cents for public lighting in Boston and it goes almost without saying that, after this contract, the other companies had to reduce their charges for public lighting. They made new contracts with the city on August 17, 1893, at prices much lower than they had charged before, but in no case so low as those of the Brookline Company. These contracts with the other companies differed from that with the Brookline Company in providing for coal gas of not less than 18 candle power instead of water gas of 25 candle power. During all these years the prices of gas securities were based on rumors and counter-rumors of deals, combinations, compromises, litigations, and threatened receiverships. It was plain almost from the beginning that, if the struggle were to be carried to the point of actual bankruptcy, the Brookline Company, both because of its comparatively simple legal organization and its financial strength, would come out victorious.