Bought Gas Company

Ann Arbor capitalists have purchased the gas company located in Marshall and the people of that city are to be congratulated upon the fact as they will find their lighting plant will be made up-to-date and that the price of gas will be cheapened. For that is the way the gas investors in Ann Arbor who have purchased the Marshall plant are in the habit of doing business.

The Marshall Gas Light company was owned by a Philadelphia company which owns a number of plants, the Marshall plant not being large enough to suit their city ideas. So they sold it to Ann Arbor parties for $30,000. The promoters of the new cornpany were Samuel Douglas, of Detroit and H. W. Douglas, of this city. A meeting of the stockholders was held today and the following officers were elected: Directors, Moses Sea.bolt, Henry W. Donglas, Samnel Donglas, Charles E. Hiscock, and Mr. Fox, of Marshall. Moses Seabolt was elected president; C. E. Hiscock, vice president, and H. V. Douglas, secretary and treasurer, and Mr. Fox superintendent. The stockholders in addition to the above are E. D. Kiune, Fred Schmid, M .T. Fritz, O. M. Martin, David Rinsey and William Wagner.

The plant is in good condition, having 10 miles of gas mains. The Philadelphia company had owned it for eight years. The plant is assessed at 45,000. As the purchase price was $30,000 it would seem that in equity this assessment is too high. The present price of gas in Marshall is $1. 60 and the consumption is about 7000-10,000 feet a year. The company is capitalized at $45,000. It is not expected to sell the remaining $15,000 worth of stock. It is expected to double the capacity of the works. The price of gas will be reduced. At first the price will be reduced to $1.50; 5,000 feet will be sold for $6.50 and 10,000 feet for $12. When the increased consumption warrants it, the prices will be still further reduced. That is why the people of Marshall should be congratulated upon their plant falling into such good hands. H. W. Douglas, the secretary and treasurer is one of the best practical gas men in the state.